By Patrick Tintle
Sports Assignment Editor
Coming off a promising preseason record of 2-1, the men’s soccer team fell short of their season opener against Delaware last Sunday with a 3-0 score.
Despite the loss, Coach Mel Mahler saw some positive aspects from his team throughout the match.
“In all fairness to how we played, I thought we did well,” Mahler said. “The first two goals were just unfortunate – what we call soft. I felt good about where we were at as a team defending wise.”
As the Bonnies are figuring out the chemistry between the number of new players on the team, they opened their season against arguably the best team on their schedule.
According to Mahler, bringing the team together can take some time.
“We’re still learning, we’re still growing as a team,” Mahler said. “That was our first game, (Delaware has) already played three. With all the new faces, we still don’t have an identity as to how we truly want to play.”
The Bonnies’ offensive performance played a big role in the team’s loss, according to Mahler.
“We’re defending better than attacking only because that’s been our focus during preseason,” Mahler said. “I think eventually we will become a more dynamic attacking team. It’s just going to take some time and some training to get to that point.”
Senior defender Eric Smolarek was also disappointed by the outcome of last Sunday’s match.
“We just got off to a shaky start,” Smolarek said. “Two kind of fluky goals went in the net. It’s our first game, we’re starting a lot of new faces, and they were a tough team to go up against.”
The Bonnies’ next match will be at home on Sunday, Sept. 14 against Niagara (1-3) at 1 p.m. The Western New York rivalry will resume its intensity and competiveness, according to Smolarek.
“It’s a big rivalry,” Smolarek said. “I’m not so much sure it’s as big as Duquesne or another A-10 team, but definitely Canisius, Niagara and St. Bonaventure are always a rivalry.”
Smolarek was confident that the Bonnies can improve to 1-1 this weekend as he reflected on last season’s match against Niagara.
“(Niagara) had some good players,” Smolarek said. “I remember they had some quick guys on the outside that liked to get forward. They created a lot of chances. They’re a dangerous team, but I know they also graduated a lot of seniors, so I know they have a lot of freshmen coming in so it’s hard to tell what they’re going to be like.”
Rather than training on a specific aspect of their game, Smolarek said team unity will be the focus when preparing to go head to head against the Purple Eagles.
“I think it’s more about trying to play together,” Smolarek said. “It’s just tough to get so many new players and try to get together in one week and play.”
Mahler, who recognizes the regional rivalry as an exciting matchup, is looking forward to see how his team responds to a season opening lose.
“There’s always a bit of high energy,” Mahler said. “I anticipate it to be a spirited, competitive game. Our goal is to bounce back and get a win and build from there.”
