2009 Outlook

The outlook this fall for the 2009 Gwynedd Mercy College men’s soccer team is very bright as a core of big, talented and experienced players return to lead the Griffins as they begin play in the school’s sparkling new outdoor athletic complex, proudly situated by the front entrance of the campus. Center midfielder Tim Mumford, a fifth year senior and second year captain, is back for a final season along with senior Bob Nelms, juniors Tim Munsey and Lennon Alexander and sophomores Tom Petroski and Lou Vessels, to give this year’s squad plenty of size, strength and skill down the middle of the field. Add in sophomore goalkeeper co-captain Mike Leonard, playmakers - co captain Ryan Murray, Matt Meier and Steve Carr, all of whom are juniors and vastly improved sophomores Chris Playford and Tom Dempsey, and one can see why head coach Dave Bontempo expects big things from his club this fall. 

Following a busy off season that included the addition of eight ready for prime time recruits, an expanded strength training and conditioning program and the completion of the afore-mentioned state of the art stadium, replete with Sprint-Turf, the veteran coach believes that his charges are primed for a big year under the bright lights. Bontempo, entering his seventh season at Gwynedd, anticipates a fast paced, multi-faceted attack, sparked by the speed of Playford, the strength of Vessels and the tenacity of the Four M’s (Mumford, Murray, Munsey and Meier). They will be supported by newcomers Jon Bush, Richard Karuschkat and Nick Stangler. In addition, the seasoned skipper foresees his rejuvenated side playing their traditional, lock down no holds barred defense spearheaded by “Petro” (Petroski) and the “Beast” (Leonard) with plenty of timely contributions from sophomore Ryan Bozarth as well as freshmen Rich Trusdell, Joe Moses, Kevin Fetsick and John Furphy. 

Entering their second season in the highly competitive Colonial States Athletic Conference, the Griffins have their sights set on the CSAC’s Fall Festival 2009, the circuit’s first ever combined fall sports championship event. Before tackling that ambitious goal, Bontempo and his crew will sharpen their skills during the month of September with a non-league tournament against Pennsylvania soccer powers Elizabethtown and Franklin & Marshall College. They will also be challenged by strong teams from Wilkes, Delaware Valley, Albright, Haverford, Kings, Farleigh Dickinson, Juniata and Susquehanna.

October is conference time and the Griffins hope the days of August and September will have them battle tested and ready as they begin the drive to the conference playoffs.

The venerable head coach will once again be capably assisted on the sidelines by defense and goalie coach Bob Denney Jr., in his sixth season. Former Griffin player David Bontempo, Jr '07 returns for his third tour and the program will be bolstered by the return of former GMC all-conference standout Steve Mumford ’05. So with a home slate that boasts ten contests in one of the region’s finest new outdoor sports facilities – including five under the lights – and a roster brimming with big, physical and strong willed players, 2009 promises to be one of the memorable seasons ever for men’s soccer at Gwynedd-Mercy College.

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