Future looks bright in 2012 for WVU

The beginning of the 2011 season was full of promise for the West Virginia men's soccer team.

The top 10-point earners returned from a 2010 squad whose season ended in the second round of the NCAA tournament at the hands of an Akron team that went on to win the national title.

Two players, senior defender Ray Gaddis and junior defender Eric Schoenle, began the season and still remain highly touted prospects for the 2012 MLS draft.

Despite retaining so much talent, the Mountaineers knew it wasn't going to be easy.

Three road games against NCAA tournament qualifiers in the first four games of the season, 10 ranked opponents in 20 games, and 10 total NCAA tournament qualifiers made WVU's schedule undoubtedly one of the most difficult in the country.

Arguably the toughest part of that schedule came at the beginning of the year, but thanks in part to exceptional play from freshman striker Andy Bevin, who paced the team with seven goals on the year, the Mountaineers were able to fight through it with success.

Then it seemed WVU was just reaching its critical mass of momentum after knocking off No. 1 Connecticut to earn its fourth win in the last five games, establishing it a serious contender for the Big East Conference regular season title.

Then, injuries hit the West Virginia squad in the most untimely manner across the next three games, as Gaddis, sophomore midfielder Allan Flott, junior midfielder and leader in overall points Shadow Sebele and junior forward Peabo Doue were all lost due to injury.

"Our team is built around speed, explosion and being dynamic and athletic, and we lost arguably three of our most dynamic, athletic guys in Gaddis, Doue and Sebele," said West Virginia head coach Marlon LeBlanc.

Sebele was the definition of dynamic in the Mountaineer midfield, pacing the team in overall points with seven assists to go with six goals, including a 3-for-3 mark on penalty kicks.

"If you look back at it you say, ‘Wow, if that team that was flying in October would have been at full strength with Gaddis, Sebele, Doue, and Flott, what could they have been towards the end of the year?"'LeBlanc said.

WVU also had to deal with unrest at the goalkeeper position for the first time in LeBlanc's tenure, as junior UNC-Charlotte transfer Pat Eavenson began and ended the season at keeper, but junior New Mexico transfer Justin Holmes started 11 matches in-between.

LeBlanc stressed throughout the season the importance of this team's depth, and that was proven true when the Mountaineers worked around these injuries to win two games on the road to end the regular season and advance to the second round of the NCAA tournament for the second straight year.

WVU's NCAA tournament run began with a thrilling overtime victory in the snow against No. 25 Xavier.

Then, just three days later, No. 5 Maryland, who handed WVU its first loss this year, ended its season in front of nearly 2,500 fans in College Park, Md.

WVU will have to deal with the loss of two team captains in Gaddis and forward Nick Claudio, plus consistent performers Matt Drake, Ruben Garrido, Franck Tayou and Uzi Tayou.

With multiple MLS clubs attempting to court Schoenle, his return for next season is still in question, as well.

If he does return, the Mountaineers will bring back their top-six point leaders and seven of their nine goal scorers from the 2011 season.

So, despite the personal losses, things are looking up for a WVU men's soccer program that has more wins over top 25 opponents than men's basketball and football combined over the last six years.

No announcement has been made regarding conference realignment for the program, as the Big XII Conference does not compete in men's soccer.

LeBlanc acknowledged rumors of a potential move to Conference USA or the Mid-American conference, but he stressed that no move has been made yet.

"No matter where we end up, we're an elite program, and we intend to stay there," he said. "(Athletic Director Oliver) Luck has gone public numerous times in saying that men's soccer will remain a priority, and that's all I need to hear, from my perspective."

"We're going to have a good home when all is said and done."