The Barry Buccaneers finished fourth in the Sunshine State Conference last season after being picked there in the pre-season poll. Improvement is in the cards for the Bucs if the pollsters are right. Barry is ranked third behind national semifinalist Lynn and defending conference champs Saint Leo.
But, though the conference looks to be even tougher this season with those two and improvement from perennial powers Tampa and Florida Tech, head coach Steve McCrath sees even more potential in this year’s team.
“I think we should be back in the playoffs this season,” McCrath said. “We have the necessary tools and maturity to be the type of team that we came to be known for.”
The Bucs have 12 lettermen back from last season’s fourth-place finisher in the SSC. Offensively, forwards Lee Yakubowich and Emmanuel Miranda and midfielders Jason Wiles and Henry Apaloo give the Bucs a nucleus to build around. In the defensive third, keeper Chris Rich and back Mike Mikulin will provide stability in a unit that saw considerable change over.
“The guys have set good goals and are very focused,” McCrath added. “The season has to play itself out, and health is always a concern, but we are in good shape to make our own destiny.”
The Bucs are a very diverse group this season with 12 different countries represented on the roster.
Forward
For the second year in a row, Yakubowich is the leading returning player up top for the Bucs. His seven goals lead the squad and he is tied for first with four assists and one game-winner. Miranda split time last season between forward and the wing, but was most effective up top. He scored twice in a 3-1 win over Florida Tech and hit the game-winner against archrival Lynn. Chris Dappen gives the Bucs a hard-working reserve off the bench who can be dangerous around the goal.
Marcus Reynolds, who played defender his first season at Colorado-Colorado Springs before switching to the top and leading the Mountian Lions with seven goals, has exceptional speed and a solid shot.
Henry Apaloo, Trismarc Saunders and Paul Harleman could also see some time up top.
Midfielders
The midfield is the deepest unit on the field for the Bucs. Apaloo returns to his right wing position after an all-conference campaign last season. Jason Wiles, who manned the right back slot primarily last season, moves into a more attacking role in the central midfield this season after tying for second on the team with four assists. He has the ability to find openings and create connections between the defense and forward line.
Saunders, a senior like Wiles, looks to join Apaloo on the outside. He has outstanding speed and is playing with more confidence this season. Fellow senior Serkan Sener ensures that there is plenty of experience in the midfield. Junior Mirza Halilbasic has the ability to be effective but is still working on consistency. Sophomore Patrick Miller, who also produced four assists last season, is poised for a breakout season.
Newcomers Harleman, CJ Horvath and Rolando Vazquez also figure to contribute to the mix. Harleman is a playmaker who creates offensive opportunities with deft passing. Horvath and Vazquez bring solid skills and determination to the outside.
Additionally, defenders Tommy Nodland, Ryan Alexander and Abilio Yamane could also see time in the midfield.
Goalkeeper
The Bucs return the two primary keepers from last season and add a promising rookie to the mix.
Chris Rich, who has held the starting job the last two seasons making 32 starts, is back for his senior year bigger and stronger then before. The most athletic of the corps, Rich is improving his reactions and timing on long shots. His grasp of the nuances of the position get better with every training session. Ido Langer, who has made 18 starts of his own, is more technically polished and is improving his direction from the back. The pair make the keeper position the most hotly contested job in training camp.
Freshman Gio Cobielles is a raw talent with great potential for the future.
Defender
Though the defensive backfield returns only one member of a unit that shaved a third off the team’s goals against average, the addition of three quality transfers should make it an even stronger unit this season.
Mike Mikulin is back in a central defender role for the third straight season. He has started 31 of 32 games over the last two years and brings tremendous toughness and speed to the back. With two years experience under his belt, his vocal leadership is emerging.
Yamane returns this season after a red-shirt in 2005. His rehabilitation work has added a toughness to his technically skilled game. His foot skill makes him adept at starting counter attacks out of the back. Alexander, who also took a red-shirt last season, was the most improved player on the team in the spring. His understanding of the college game is catching up to his athletic skills and he will challenge for a starting spot. Harding, who joined the team in the spring, is another tall, athletic defender who will add depth.
Samuel Fessehazion, Stephen Hume and Nodland bring a wealth of experience to team in their first seasons. Fessehazion is a big central defender who will complement Mikulin well. Hume and Nodland both bring more speed and even better size than the starters on the outside last season. Both also bring good offensive skills that will serve them well in overlapping runs. Toyin Ajisafe joins the team for just one season and will be a wild card. He has great skills and athletic ability, but needs to find a way to blend them into the team.
Schedule
The Bucs will face off against a slate of opponents that features five teams ranked in the NSCAA Top 25.
“We have to test ourselves early,” McCrath said. “By playing top teams and by playing on the road, we hope to be ready in November when the NCAA comes calling.”
After opening at their own tournament against Nyack and Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras, the Bucs host the 16th-ranked New York Tech Bears.
The Bucs hit the road for the next four games, visiting Florida Tech to start SSC play, Georgia Southwestern and Alabama-Huntsville, then at Palm Beach Atlantic.
They close the month with a tough stretch of SSC games that could determine post-season opportunities. They host Tampa on Sept. 17 then entertain arch-rival Lynn (ranked #3) on Sept. 23. After a trip across town to face off with Nova Southeastern, they come back home for Rollins (#25).
They start off October at home, hosting PBA and Florida Southern, then close with four on the road. They visit Eckerd on the 10th, then head to Tennessee to face Lincoln Memorial and #23 Tusculum. The regular season ends on the 21st against defending conference champs Saint Leo (#10). NCAA bids are announced on Oct. 29.