LOCK HAVEN, Pa. - This upcoming season marks the 30th anniversary of Lock Haven University men’s soccer team 1977 NCAA Division III national title and this year’s squad will take to the field looking to live that same dream.

The 2007 the No. 19 Bald Eagles certainly have the chance of their own championship season as sixth-year head coach Doug Moore has assembled one of his most talented and depth laden squads in his tenure at LHU.

Last season saw the squad compiled an impressive 17-6-1 overall record while going 13-3 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC). In 2006 the Bald Eagles were PSAC finalists and NCAA Division II Northeast Region finalists.

Moore’s squad will enter the 2007 season ranked 19th in the country by the National Soccer Coaches Association of American (NSCAA).

The key to this year’s squad is its depth as they have talent all over the field and up and down the bench with every player capable of making significant contributions.

According to Moore this a huge benefit as they can go two deep in every position and it will also help where they have been hurt with injuries in the past.

“The trick is always to have two players at each position and that is exactly what we have this year,” Moore said. “We’ve never been the biggest team, and we play in a very physically demanding conference.”

“We got punished defensively last year, and we didn’t really have the size to deal with it,” says Moore, who focused on bringing in size in this year’s recruiting class.

Goalkeepers:

Any successful soccer team needs solid defense and that starts with the goalkeeping position where the Bald Eagles have no shortage of talent.

Lock Haven returns two All-Region caliber keepers in senior Chad Feerrar (Lock Haven, Pa./Central Mountain) and junior Billy Trimble (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township).

Feerrar, an athletic goalie earned All-NCSAA Northeast Region Second Teams and All-PSAC honors last season when he took over for Trimble part way through the season. Feerrar went on to start 13 games while allowing 14 goals and making 58 saves.

Trimble is fearless in net while bringing a high level of aggression and skill. In nine games he allowed only seven goals and made 43 saves before his 2006 season was cut short.

This season, the battle will be on in the net between Feerrar and Trimble.

Also in the mix is be senior Matt Deming (Gibsonia, Pa./Pine Richland) who could arguably start for several other teams in the conference.

“He has the best understanding in the net,” More said. Deming started 12 games for the Bald Eagles back in 2003 of all the keepers and can certainly contribute if called upon.

Investing in the future, Moore will also look to bring in two freshman in the likes of Chris Custer (Aston, Pa./Sun Valley) and Chad Badorf (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township).

Custer, who is very highly regarded out of high school could be a future starter and

Badorf will look to make the squad as a walk-on, and is from the same high school as fellow goalkeeper Trimble.

“We have really become a strong goalkeeping school, which is vital because it is such an important position,” said Moore. “The depth is also nice to have because the position is also injury prone which is something that we have seen in the past.”

Defense:

The battle tested All-PSAC performer Andrew Clemens (Lebanon,Pa./Cedar Crest) returns with a year under his belt after playing every minute of every game in a virtually mistake free freshman campaign.

“His maturity level was astounding, I can’t recall him making any big mistakes the whole year and he was only a freshman,” said Moore of Clemens’ play last season.

Joining Clemens at the center back position will be either senior Phil Liversedge (Darlington, England/Texas A&M International) or highly decorated junior-college transfer Lyndell Pompey (Aripero, Trinidad/Wheeling Jesuit).

Liversedge jumped right into the starting lineup after transferring in from Texas A&M International University a year ago and never looked back. The physical presence played every minute of every game alongside the freshman Clemens and earned Second Team All-PSAC for his efforts.

Moore raves of Pompey, saying, “Lyndell is a wonderfully skilled player who the crowd will absolutely adore.”

Pompey comes to the Haven after earning NCAA Division II All-Appalachian Region honors last season at Wheeling Jesuit University and is a former member of Trinadad & Tobago’s Under-20 National Team.

With Pompey and Liversedge being so gifted talent wise Moore will have a tough decision to make.

Liversedge has the ability to be a dynamic center-midfielder and also provide an added physical presence leaving Pompey playing center back along with Clemens.

Freshman Derek Hartman (Shermansdale, Pa./West Perry) also has the ability to man the center back position if need be.

A few spots will need to get filled on the back line however as the Bald Eagles lose three outside defenders on the back line from a year ago in the forms of Zach Gibbon, Garrett Neumann and Jon Young, who all exhausted their eligibility after outstanding careers.

“In losing those three, we lost all of our orthodox outside backs. Those spots will be wide open coming into the season,” said Moore.

Among those looking to fill the two spots is a familiar face to Lock Haven fans, senior Liam McManus (State College, Pa./State College) and a handful of freshman.

McManus, who did not play last season returns after the year off refocused and ready to go. He was a starter on the 2004 PSAC Championship squad and will bring vital experience to the back line.

Of the recruits to fill the other spot, Hartman could have the inside track.

Other freshman with chances of competing for the open spots are Zach Miller (Girard, Pa./Mercyhurst Prep), Austen Callaro (Malvern, Pa./Great Valley) and Kevin McCune (Butler,Pa./Butler).

“The toss-up of the whole defense will be if we choose to disturb the chemistry between Andrew and Phil,” said Moore of a defense that has plenty All-Conference candidates.

Midfield:

The Bald Eagles lost three starting midfielders from a year ago including All-Region performer and team captain Pat Long as well three-year starters Andrew Meehan and Chris Spinks.

The Haven has lots of work to do in the midfield, however, there is no lack of talent on the roster.

The key could be Liversedge or Pompey, whichever player Moore decides is the best anchor the midfield.

Of the players best suited to fill the empty slots in the midfield, senior Adam Wolf (Telford, Pa./Souderton) could be counted for a bigger role this year. After being “great team player,” over the last three seasons Moore would like to play Wolf further forward as opposed to in years past.

“Wolfy has the skills to play further forward in the midfield. He has all the tools, but he needs to step up, make his mark, and become more effective this year,” Moore said.

Last season, Wolf saw action in 20 contests, starting seven of them and tallied one goal in the 5-0 rout of Millersville University.

Returning to the program will be junior Tommy Ehrlich (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty) a clever midfielder who missed last season with injuries. In his freshman campaign, Ehrlich saw action in 15 contests.

“If Tommy comes back healthy, he can be one of the most skilled players on the team, and can cause opponents real problems with his ability to get past people,” Moore said.

Leadopoe Geian (Philadelphia/Bartman) will contend for an outside midfield spot after scoring three vital goals coming off the bench last year including one against West Chester University in the PSAC Semi-Finals. Geain can always be counted on for a spark when Moore inserts him into the lineup.

For additional help in the midfield, Moore will look to three highly rated recruits in Kyle Yoder (State College, Pa./State College), Mark Auman (Clearfield, Pa./Clearfield) and John McMahon (Collegeville, Pa./Methacton).

Yoder, who has the talent to be the top overall recruit in this year’s class is the most game ready and can play anywhere in the midfield.

Auman who is a highly skilled passer could be a “Pat Long” type player and has the ability to split the defense with only one pass.

McMahon can play an outside midfield role, is very clever, is strong on the ball, and will contend for time immediately.

The “X” factor in the whole lineup could be former Lewisburg High School star and Robert Morris University transfer Bryn Zeigler (Lewisburg, Pa./Robert Morris University) who joins the program with junior eligibility.

Zeigler was heavily recruited by Moore out of high school two years ago and is equally at home playing in the attack or supporting the midfield. He will be looked to take pressure off Lock Haven’s talented forwards.

“Even though we lost so many players from a year ago (8), I don’t want to change the makeup of our team and the way we play,” said Moore.

Forwards:

The offensive attack with again be potent for the Haven.

And speaking of potent attack it’s difficult not to think of senior Ashley Rosindale (Bradford, England/Beckfoot School) who has been both an All-NCSAA Northeast Region and All-Conference selection in his first three seasons as a Bald Eagle.

This season Rosindale, who is always respected by his teammates, has been named team captain, and will be looked to for leadership as well as a goal scoring punch.

Last season, Rosindale was the squad’s main offensive weapon, tallying 12 goals and eights assists.

“Ashley will be talked about in every teams lock room before every game. He will be heavily marked, and when he touches the ball, defenders will be on him quick. We need to just give him space and let him do what he does,” says Moore.

Not to be overlooked is Rosindale’s prime running mate from a season ago in junior Paul Huckett (Grimsby, England/Grimsby College).

Huckett, who was named Second Team All-NCSAA Northeast Region and First team All-PSAC a year ago and will again be a solid contributor.

Huckett finished second on last years squad with an impressive 11 goals and nine assists while splitting time between forward and outside midfield.

Also returning for the Bald Eagles is sophomore Colin Callaghan (Drexel Hill, Pa./Upper Darby) who saw significant action last season as a freshman and is already a proven goal scorer, scoring four goals a year ago. He will be counted on for his toughness and physical play.

The other forwards are freshmen Terrence Gochera (Lancaster, Pa./Conestoga), Doug Moran (Butler, Pa./Butler) and Martin Pletz (Pittsburgh/Carylton).

Moran and Gochera are both burners, and Pletz will add size and toughness. Gochera, who was highly regarded out of high school red-shirted last season and will use his quickness to create opportunities.

Moran, a noted sprinter in high school, will rely on pure speed and a nice touch to provide a spark as a true-freshman.

Pletz’s size up top will be a great asset, and will be looked at as a “hybrid” forward by utilizing his size as well as his ability on the ball.

The biggest obstacle for this year’s team will be integrating 14 new players into the program. Moore hopes that bringing back two graduates from a year ago as assistant coaches, in the likes of Pat Long and Chris Spinks will ease the growing pains that the team will experience together at the beginning of camp.

“Ashley will be the captain and lead by example while Clemens will be the vice-captain adding more leadership, but others will be looked upon as well,” Moore said.

Moore also feels that the battle in the net could spark a fire under his team.

“When the squad sees Chad, Billy and Matt pushing each other on a weekly basis fighting for that starting job, the other players will almost certainly feed off their intensity and step up,” says Moore.

Whatever the case the squad certainly has the talent to compete in the conference, as well as on a regional and national level.

“I’ve never had a team with depth like this before here at LHU. I’m going to have headaches picking who makes the squad and who starts, but I’m not complaining,” Moore said. “It’s a good problem to have.”

The Bald Eagles 2007 season kicks off tomorrow on the road at Kutztown University with the game time set for 1 p.m