Loyola Greyhounds men's soccer
Encyclopedia
The Loyola University Maryland Greyhounds are a men's soccer team representing Loyola University Maryland in Baltimore, Maryland. The team competes at the NCAA Division I level in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC)
. To avoid ambiguity, the team is often referenced as Loyola MD or Loyola (MD), as there are two other institutions named Loyola that compete at the Division I level (Loyola-Chicago of Illinois and Loyola-Marymount of California).
The team is one of the most successful athletic programs at Loyola, winning numerous MAAC Championships (both regular season and MAAC Tournament
), consistently making NCAA Tournament appearances, and often holding national rankings in both the NSCAA/Adidas Poll as well as that of CollegeSoccerNews. The team is coached by Mark Mettrick
, a former youth and reserve player for Manchester United, who has been at the helm since 2000 and has led the Greyhounds to four NCAA Tournament appearances, reaching the Sweet 16 in 2001.
Loyola won the NCAA Division II Championship in 1976 - the only national championship in any sport in the school's history - and moved up to the Division I level following the conclusion of the 1978 season.
and Zach Thornton
who had international experience on US youth national teams as well as others from top level club programs throughout the country.
Sento's first season resulted in a 4-9-2 overall record, but that was Loyola's worst during his entire tenure. In fact, Loyola had only one other losing season under Bill Sento (in 1997). Sento almost immediately progressed the Loyola men's soccer program onto the national stage. In 1983, the team finished 17-3-0 including a 4-1 victory against the University of Maryland and finished as ECAC Metro Champions. Led by players such as the Koziol brothers (Stan and Joe) and Chris Webbert, in 1986 (17-1-4) and 1987 (17-4-2) the Greyhounds went to the NCAA Division I Quarterfinals; both years they beat the University of Virginia (coached by former US National Team manager Bruce Arena
) in the tournament and were ranked #1 in the nation going into the 1987 season.
Other successful seasons followed such as 1990 (16-2-5) and 1992 (16-4-1), and in 1993 (19-3-1) the Greyhounds - led by Thornton, Heiser, Mark Harrison, and Bill Wnek - again marched into the NCAA Tournament, this time losing to Virginia 2-1 in the second round after being up 1-0 for most of the game.
Despite other notable campaigns and MAAC Championships, the Greyhounds were unable to replicate the overwhelming successes of the late 1980s and early 1990s, and Sento did not have his contract renewned after the 1999 season despite a strong team with 13-6-2 record and being named MAAC Coach of the Year. The Sento Era ended with 407 total games played, of which 255 were wins against 112 losses and 40 ties.
and the defense led by Niall Lepper
and Michael Nelson - and led the team to a 12-4-1 record along with a #21 national ranking in his first season. Returning all but one starter in 2001, the Greyhounds were primed for a good season but started off with an incredibly poor performance in a season-opening tournament in California with a loss to the University of California and a tie against Cal St. Fullerton. However, Loyola turned things around quickly, catalyzed by a 1-0 victory at the University of Maryland, and went on a 19 game unbeaten streak before a loss in the Round of 16 of the NCAA Tournament at St. Louis. Loyola finished the 2001 season with a record of 17-2-2 and ranked in the Top 10 nationally. Loyola lost key players for the 2002 season including Nelson, Bobby Von Bremen, and Arturo Lopez, but Beatty and Lepper returned for their senior seasons and led the team to an early season #8 national ranking and an eventual 13-5-3 overall record before falling to Furman in the NCAA Tournament.
and including goalkeeper Milos Kocic
, these Greyhounds demonstrated offensive firepower as well with the likes of Jamie Darvill and Phil Bannister, and the team continued its success in the 2008 campaign, going undefeated in the regular season and earning a ranking as high as #6 in the nation before two upset defeats (in the MAAC final against Fairfield and in the NCAA Second Round against UNC Greensboro) prematurely ended the season. Loyola is well positioned for a strong start in the 2009 season, with two seniors and one junior named on the 2009 Men's Missouri Athletic Club
Hermann Trophy
Watch List. In addition to strengthening his non conference matches, Mettrick has called on Crystal Palace Baltimore defender and former Fairfield Stags
standout Bryan Harkin
as an assistant coach; and former Welsh youth International Gerwyn Jones to anchor his backline.
The team enjoys great support from the school's athletic department with generous funding and a level of 9.9 scholarships, the maximum allowance for NCAA Division 1 men's soccer programs.
The recent birth of two Loyola men's soccer-based organizations have given the program a significant boost. The first, the establishment of the North Charles Elite, an official Loyola College organization that serves as the student fan club of the Loyola Men's Soccer program. Started in 2007 by two Loyola students, the N.C.E. has been growing in size since its conception. The club looks to establish a European atmosphere to home games and has also been known to help the team by traveling to road games. It has been an important part of Loyola's recent resurgence, and has helped to turn Loyola home games into dreadful experiences for visiting opponents.
Additionally, the Loyola Soccer Club - currently chaired by Joe Barger, who played for the successful Greyhound teams of the late 1980s - is a group composed primarily of former Greyhound players, parents, and families. The Loyola Soccer club has been instrumental both for its enthusiastic support of the team as well as strong fundraising efforts that allow Loyola to build upon its proud tradition.
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the northeastern United States. MAAC teams compete in the NCAA's Division I. Most of the members are Catholic or formerly Catholic institutions; the only exception is the private but secular Rider...
. To avoid ambiguity, the team is often referenced as Loyola MD or Loyola (MD), as there are two other institutions named Loyola that compete at the Division I level (Loyola-Chicago of Illinois and Loyola-Marymount of California).
The team is one of the most successful athletic programs at Loyola, winning numerous MAAC Championships (both regular season and MAAC Tournament
MAAC Men's Soccer Tournament
The MAAC Men's Soccer Tournament is the conference championship tournament in soccer for the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference . The tournament has been held every year since 1988. It is a single-elimination tournament and seeding is based on regular season records...
), consistently making NCAA Tournament appearances, and often holding national rankings in both the NSCAA/Adidas Poll as well as that of CollegeSoccerNews. The team is coached by Mark Mettrick
Mark Mettrick
Mark Mettrick is a former English-American soccer midfielder who played four seasons in the Major Indoor Soccer League and three in the USISL. He is currently the head coach of the Loyola University Maryland men's soccer team....
, a former youth and reserve player for Manchester United, who has been at the helm since 2000 and has led the Greyhounds to four NCAA Tournament appearances, reaching the Sweet 16 in 2001.
Loyola won the NCAA Division II Championship in 1976 - the only national championship in any sport in the school's history - and moved up to the Division I level following the conclusion of the 1978 season.
Beginnings: 1940-1963
The rich tradition of Loyola Soccer began in 1940 with a simple five game schedule against local opponents; the team's first win did not come until the following season, with a 3-0 victory over local rival Towson University. Loyola's success in its early years was limited; the team had some difficulty in finding a long-term coach and Emil G. Reitz Jr. - the school's head basketball coach - filled the position three separate times on an interim basis. Loyola did have its first notably successful season in 1962 under the direction of Reitz with a 9-2-2 record, including victories against American, Georgetown, and a 5-0 massacre of local rival Johns Hopkins.The reign of Sento: 1980-1999
After Bullington retired from coaching following the 1979 season, local coach Bill Sento was hired at the coach of the Greyhounds, and he would lead the team for 20 seasons filled with great success at the NCAA Division I level. Despite Loyola's relatively small size as a Division I school and the lack of top quality athletic facilities, Sento proved an extremely capable recruiter and was able to bring top-level talent to the Evergreen, including several players such as Bill HeiserBill Heiser
Bill Heiser is a former U.S. soccer defender. He was a member of the FIFA U-16 World Championship 1989 held in Scotland. Currently, Dr...
and Zach Thornton
Zach Thornton
Zach Thornton is an American soccer player who currently plays for Chivas USA in Major League Soccer.-Youth and college:...
who had international experience on US youth national teams as well as others from top level club programs throughout the country.
Bruce Arena
Bruce Arena is a former coach of the United States men's national soccer team as well as a former professional soccer and lacrosse player...
) in the tournament and were ranked #1 in the nation going into the 1987 season.
Other successful seasons followed such as 1990 (16-2-5) and 1992 (16-4-1), and in 1993 (19-3-1) the Greyhounds - led by Thornton, Heiser, Mark Harrison, and Bill Wnek - again marched into the NCAA Tournament, this time losing to Virginia 2-1 in the second round after being up 1-0 for most of the game.
Despite other notable campaigns and MAAC Championships, the Greyhounds were unable to replicate the overwhelming successes of the late 1980s and early 1990s, and Sento did not have his contract renewned after the 1999 season despite a strong team with 13-6-2 record and being named MAAC Coach of the Year. The Sento Era ended with 407 total games played, of which 255 were wins against 112 losses and 40 ties.
Mettrick takes over: 2000-present
2000-2002
Following the departure of Sento, Loyola initiated a search for a new head soccer coach, receiving interest from several hundred local and national prospects. Eventually Mark Mettrick was offered the position and in January 2000, became the new head coach of Loyola Soccer. Mettrick inherited a team that had gone 13-6-2 in the previous campaign, had won the MAAC regular season and was upset in the MAAC Tournament final, so the cupboard certainly was not bare. Mettrick built the team around its core strengths - goalkeeper Reb BeattyReb Beatty
Reb Beatty is a former American soccer player who briefly competed at the professional level in Italy before prematurely leaving the game due to injury and personal motives...
and the defense led by Niall Lepper
Niall Lepper
Niall Lepper is a former Scottish international soccer player who competed for the Under 18 Scottish national team before playing NCAA Division I soccer, first for a year at Mount Saint Mary's before transferring for his final three seasons at Loyola College in Maryland...
and Michael Nelson - and led the team to a 12-4-1 record along with a #21 national ranking in his first season. Returning all but one starter in 2001, the Greyhounds were primed for a good season but started off with an incredibly poor performance in a season-opening tournament in California with a loss to the University of California and a tie against Cal St. Fullerton. However, Loyola turned things around quickly, catalyzed by a 1-0 victory at the University of Maryland, and went on a 19 game unbeaten streak before a loss in the Round of 16 of the NCAA Tournament at St. Louis. Loyola finished the 2001 season with a record of 17-2-2 and ranked in the Top 10 nationally. Loyola lost key players for the 2002 season including Nelson, Bobby Von Bremen, and Arturo Lopez, but Beatty and Lepper returned for their senior seasons and led the team to an early season #8 national ranking and an eventual 13-5-3 overall record before falling to Furman in the NCAA Tournament.
2003-2006
From 2003 to 2006, Loyola was unable to continue to build upon the success that Loyola had from 1999–2002, entering one of the worst periods of Loyola Greyhound soccer since the 1960s, including back-to-back losing seasons in 2005 and 2006. In 2003 Loyola lost for the first time at home since the 1998 season and during this period only had one MAAC Tournament final appearance (a loss in 2003) and no appearances in the NCAA Tournament as the team struggled with mediocre talent.2007-present
Fortunately Mettrick and the Greyhounds were able to turn things around quickly in 2007, returning to the national stage with a 19-3-1 record, a MAAC Championship, and the team's first NCAA appearance since 2002 that saw the team victorious in a first round match against Liberty before falling to Maryland in penalty kicks. Led once again by the defense captained by 2007 and 2008 MAAC Defensive Player of the Year Tennant McVeaTennant McVea
James Tennant McVea is a Northern Irish footballer, currently playing for FC Lahti of the Finnish Premier Division.-Early career in Northern Ireland:...
and including goalkeeper Milos Kocic
Miloš Kočić
Miloš Kocić is a Serbian footballer who plays for Toronto FC in Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:...
, these Greyhounds demonstrated offensive firepower as well with the likes of Jamie Darvill and Phil Bannister, and the team continued its success in the 2008 campaign, going undefeated in the regular season and earning a ranking as high as #6 in the nation before two upset defeats (in the MAAC final against Fairfield and in the NCAA Second Round against UNC Greensboro) prematurely ended the season. Loyola is well positioned for a strong start in the 2009 season, with two seniors and one junior named on the 2009 Men's Missouri Athletic Club
Missouri Athletic Club
The Missouri Athletic Club , founded in 1903, is a traditional gentlemen's club and athletic club in Downtown St. Louis, Missouri, USA, with a separate athletic campus in the St. Louis County suburb of Town and Country. The MAC awards the annual Hermann Trophy, the highest award in American...
Hermann Trophy
Hermann Trophy
The Hermann Trophy is awarded annually by the Missouri Athletic Club to the United States's top male and female college soccer players.-History:...
Watch List. In addition to strengthening his non conference matches, Mettrick has called on Crystal Palace Baltimore defender and former Fairfield Stags
Fairfield Stags men's soccer
The Fairfield Stags men's soccer team represents Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut and competes in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference of NCAA Division I. The Stags play their home games at Lessing Field on the campus of Fairfield University...
standout Bryan Harkin
Bryan Harkin
Bryan Harkin is a Northern Irish soccer player who currently plays for Crystal Palace Baltimore in the USSF Second Division.-College and amateur:...
as an assistant coach; and former Welsh youth International Gerwyn Jones to anchor his backline.
Team support
Despite the small size of the school with respect to many other Division I athletic programs, Loyola Soccer has always enjoyed a strong level of support from the school and the student body as well as the Baltimore community as a whole. During home NCAA Tournament matches in the 1980s and 1990s as well as recently, thousands of spectators are in attendance to cheer on the Greyhounds.The team enjoys great support from the school's athletic department with generous funding and a level of 9.9 scholarships, the maximum allowance for NCAA Division 1 men's soccer programs.
The recent birth of two Loyola men's soccer-based organizations have given the program a significant boost. The first, the establishment of the North Charles Elite, an official Loyola College organization that serves as the student fan club of the Loyola Men's Soccer program. Started in 2007 by two Loyola students, the N.C.E. has been growing in size since its conception. The club looks to establish a European atmosphere to home games and has also been known to help the team by traveling to road games. It has been an important part of Loyola's recent resurgence, and has helped to turn Loyola home games into dreadful experiences for visiting opponents.
Additionally, the Loyola Soccer Club - currently chaired by Joe Barger, who played for the successful Greyhound teams of the late 1980s - is a group composed primarily of former Greyhound players, parents, and families. The Loyola Soccer club has been instrumental both for its enthusiastic support of the team as well as strong fundraising efforts that allow Loyola to build upon its proud tradition.
Players, awards, and recognition
NSCAA Regional All-Americans
NSCAA National All-Americans
CollegeSoccerNews.com National All-Americans
|
Notable Conference Awards
First Team All-Conference
|
Results by year
| Year | Division | Conference | Coach | Record (W-L-T) | Goals Scored | Goals Against | Notables |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940 | N/A | N/A | Emil G. Reitz Jr. | 0-2-3 | 4 | 8 | |
| 1941 | N/A | N/A | Francis McDonough | 6-1-0 | 19 | 4 | |
| 1942 | N/A | N/A | Henry Steingass, Sr. | 3-2-0 | 9 | 6 | |
| 1946 | N/A | N/A | Bish Baker | 3-4-0 | 12 | 10 | |
| 1947 | N/A | N/A | Bish Baker | 6-4-1 | 35 | 19 | |
| 1948 | N/A | N/A | Bish Baker | 6-1-0 | 22 | 8 | |
| 1949 | N/A | N/A | Bish Baker | 4-4-0 | 17 | 10 | |
| 1950 | N/A | N/A | Bish Baker | 5-3-0 | 22 | 17 | |
| 1951 | N/A | N/A | Bish Baker | 3-3-0 | 14 | 8 | |
| 1952 | N/A | N/A | Emil G. Reitz Jr. | 0-5-1 | 6 | 20 | |
| 1953 | N/A | N/A | Emil G. Reitz Jr. | 2-6-0 | 15 | 21 | |
| 1954 | N/A | N/A | Tom Lind | 4-4-2 | 24 | 16 | |
| 1955 | N/A | N/A | Tom Lind | 3-2-4 | 22 | 18 | |
| 1956 | N/A | N/A | Tom Lind | 2-7-0 | 15 | 32 | |
| 1957 | N/A | N/A | Tom Lind | 2-7-0 | 16 | 30 | |
| 1958 | N/A | N/A | Tom Lind | 2-6-2 | 14 | 31 | |
| 1959 | N/A | N/A | Tom Lind | 4-5-2 | 18 | 26 | |
| 1960 | II | N/A | Tom Lind | 7-5-0 | 36 | 22 | |
| 1961 | II | N/A | Emil G. Reitz Jr. | 4-7-1 | 15 | 28 | |
| 1962 | II | N/A | Emil G. Reitz Jr. | 9-2-2 | 35 | 9 | |
| 1963 | II | N/A | Emil G. Reitz Jr. | 3-6-1 | 11 | 18 | |
| 1964 | II | N/A | Jim Bullington | 4-8-0 | 16 | 33 | |
| 1965 | II | N/A | Jim Bullington | 6-5-0 | 25 | 23 | |
| 1966 | II | N/A | Jim Bullington | 7-6-0 | 28 | 20 | |
| 1967 | II | Mason-Dixon | Jim Bullington | 12-2-1 | 44 | 15 | |
| 1968 | II | Mason-Dixon | Jim Bullington | 9-0-2 | 43 | 11 | |
| 1969 | II | Mason-Dixon | Jim Bullington | 9-2-3 | 37 | 22 | |
| 1970 | II | Mason-Dixon | Jim Bullington | 12-2-0 | 40 | 9 | |
| 1971 | II | Mason-Dixon | Jim Bullington | 16-0-0 | 67 | 11 | Mason-Dixon Regular Season and Tournament Champions, NCAA Division II South Region Champions |
| 1972 | II | Mason-Dixon | Jim Bullington | 11-3-0 | 60 | 20 | |
| 1973 | II | Mason-Dixon | Jim Bullington | 11-2-0 | 45 | 12 | Mason-Dixon Tournament Champions |
| 1974 | II | Mason-Dixon | Jim Bullington | 14-2-2 | 50 | 16 | Mason-Dixon Regular Season and Tournament Champions, NCAA Division II South Region Finals |
| 1975 | II | Mason-Dixon | Jim Bullington | 11-4-0 | 41 | 7 | NCAA Division II South Region First Round |
| 1976 | II | Mason-Dixon | Jim Bullington | 21-1-0 | 89 | 21 | Mason-Dixon Regular Season and Tournament Champions, NCAA Division II National Champions |
| 1977 | II | N/A | Jim Bullington | 12-2-0 | 42 | 15 | NCAA Division II First Round |
| 1978 | II | N/A | Jim Bullington | 14-4-0 | 64 | 23 | NCAA Division II Second Round |
| 1979 | I | ECAC | Jim Bullington | 9-6-3 | 34 | 21 | |
| 1980 | I | ECAC | Bill Sento | 4-9-2 | 15 | 26 | |
| 1981 | I | ECAC | Bill Sento | 10-5-3 | 33 | 17 | South Atlantic Regional Champions |
| 1982 | I | ECAC | Bill Sento | 11-7-1 | 32 | 23 | ECAC Metro Champions |
| 1983 | I | ECAC | Bill Sento | 17-3-0 | 55 | 11 | ECAC Metro Champions |
| 1984 | I | ECAC | Bill Sento | 10-6-3 | 37 | 24 | |
| 1985 | I | ECAC | Bill Sento | 14-5-0 | 41 | 19 | |
| 1986 | I | ECAC | Bill Sento | 17-1-4 | 56 | 20 | ECAC Metro Champions, South Atlantic Regional Champions, NCAA Quarterfinals |
| 1987 | I | ECAC | Bill Sento | 17-4-2 | 47 | 16 | ECAC Metro Champions, South Atlantic Regional Champions, NCAA Quarterfinals |
| 1988 | I | ECAC | Bill Sento | 11-6-3 | 52 | 25 | |
| 1989 | I | MAAC | Bill Sento | 12-5-3 | 44 | 17 | MAAC Regular Season and Tournament Champions |
| 1990 | I | MAAC | Bill Sento | 16-2-5 | 84 | 15 | MAAC Regular Season and Tournament Champions |
| 1991 | I | MAAC | Bill Sento | 12-8-2 | 59 | 20 | MAAC Regular Season and Tournament Champions |
| 1992 | I | MAAC | Bill Sento | 16-4-1 | 50 | 13 | MAAC Regular Season and Tournament Champions |
| 1993 | I | MAAC | Bill Sento | 19-3-1 | 61 | 9 | MAAC Regular Season and Tournament Champions, NCAA Round of 16 |
| 1994 | I | MAAC | Bill Sento | 15-5-2 | 78 | 17 | MAAC Regular Season and Tournament Champions |
| 1995 | I | MAAC | Bill Sento | 15-6-0 | 53 | 20 | MAAC Regular Season and Tournament Champions |
| 1996 | I | MAAC | Bill Sento | 11-9-2 | 42 | 27 | MAAC Tournament Champions |
| 1997 | I | MAAC | Bill Sento | 9-10-2 | 36 | 34 | |
| 1998 | I | MAAC | Bill Sento | 11-8-2 | 35 | 30 | |
| 1999 | I | MAAC | Bill Sento | 13-6-2 | 38 | 15 | MAAC Regular Season Champions |
| 2000 | I | MAAC | Mark Mettrick Mark Mettrick Mark Mettrick is a former English-American soccer midfielder who played four seasons in the Major Indoor Soccer League and three in the USISL. He is currently the head coach of the Loyola University Maryland men's soccer team.... |
12-4-2 | 27 | 10 | MAAC Regular Season Champions |
| 2001 | I | MAAC | Mark Mettrick Mark Mettrick Mark Mettrick is a former English-American soccer midfielder who played four seasons in the Major Indoor Soccer League and three in the USISL. He is currently the head coach of the Loyola University Maryland men's soccer team.... |
17-2-2 | 48 | 14 | MAAC Regular Season and Tournament Champions, NCAA Round of 16 |
| 2002 | I | MAAC | Mark Mettrick Mark Mettrick Mark Mettrick is a former English-American soccer midfielder who played four seasons in the Major Indoor Soccer League and three in the USISL. He is currently the head coach of the Loyola University Maryland men's soccer team.... |
13-5-2 | 37 | 21 | MAAC Regular Season and Tournament Champions, NCAA First Round |
| 2003 | I | MAAC | Mark Mettrick Mark Mettrick Mark Mettrick is a former English-American soccer midfielder who played four seasons in the Major Indoor Soccer League and three in the USISL. He is currently the head coach of the Loyola University Maryland men's soccer team.... |
11-7-3 | 40 | 27 | MAAC Regular Season Champions |
| 2004 | I | MAAC | Mark Mettrick Mark Mettrick Mark Mettrick is a former English-American soccer midfielder who played four seasons in the Major Indoor Soccer League and three in the USISL. He is currently the head coach of the Loyola University Maryland men's soccer team.... |
11-6-1 | 37 | 32 | MAAC Regular Season Champions |
| 2005 | I | MAAC | Mark Mettrick Mark Mettrick Mark Mettrick is a former English-American soccer midfielder who played four seasons in the Major Indoor Soccer League and three in the USISL. He is currently the head coach of the Loyola University Maryland men's soccer team.... |
8-9-2 | 24 | 26 | |
| 2006 | I | MAAC | Mark Mettrick Mark Mettrick Mark Mettrick is a former English-American soccer midfielder who played four seasons in the Major Indoor Soccer League and three in the USISL. He is currently the head coach of the Loyola University Maryland men's soccer team.... |
7-11-2 | 22 | 30 | |
| 2007 | I | MAAC | Mark Mettrick Mark Mettrick Mark Mettrick is a former English-American soccer midfielder who played four seasons in the Major Indoor Soccer League and three in the USISL. He is currently the head coach of the Loyola University Maryland men's soccer team.... |
19-3-1 | 39 | 12 | MAAC Regular Season and Tournament Champions, NCAA Second Round |
| 2008 | I | MAAC | Mark Mettrick Mark Mettrick Mark Mettrick is a former English-American soccer midfielder who played four seasons in the Major Indoor Soccer League and three in the USISL. He is currently the head coach of the Loyola University Maryland men's soccer team.... |
18-2-1 | 49 | 14 | MAAC Regular Season Champions, NCAA Second Round |
| 2009 | I | MAAC | Mark Mettrick Mark Mettrick Mark Mettrick is a former English-American soccer midfielder who played four seasons in the Major Indoor Soccer League and three in the USISL. He is currently the head coach of the Loyola University Maryland men's soccer team.... |
11-8-2 | 32 | 21 | MAAC Tournament Champions, NCAA First Round |