Young MMA soccer team continues to rebuild

There are a lot of new faces on the Maine Maritime Academy soccer team as second-year coach Charlie Gross continues a rebuilding process with a young Mariner team.

In fact, Gross has been starting five freshmen and three of his returning starters off last year’s 4-10-1 team are sophomores.

“Goal scoring is our concern, and the reason we struggle to score goals is our inexperience in the midfield,” said Gross. “(Senior) Jon Merrill is our only experienced midfielder. He handles the midfield nicely, but the others are still learning what to do with the ball. So we have a hard time distributing the ball and building up our offense from the midfield. Our forwards can score if we get them the ball, but getting them the ball is what we have to work on.”

Co-captain Merrill, who was not in school last year, is the only senior starter and is leading the Mariners in goals with three through MMA’s first five games. The Mariners lost their first three games (5-0 to Lyndon State, 2-0 to Massachusetts Maritime, 6-1 to Bowdoin), but have rebounded to win their last two, 4-3 over the University of Maine-Machias and 3-1 over Unity.

Gross thinks his team’s defense is its strength with junior co-captain Scott Varney at stopper, talented sophomore Paul Walker at sweeper, and sophomore veteran Scott Williams at fullback. Freshman Dave DesRoberts is the other starting fullback.

Freshman Teague Berry will get a lot of playing time at fullback.

Merrill is joined in the midfield by freshmen Tucker Lehigh and Bill Perkins. Michael Chaine, another freshman, and junior Benny Donaher also play in the midfield.

Up front, junior striker Chris Blanchard and impressive freshman Chad Wozniak have a pair of goals apiece and freshman Jeff Grant has been seeing regular service.

The goalie is sophomore Matt Frank, who saw limited service a year ago.

“He’s much better than he was last year,” said Gross.

Gross thinks this team is better than last year’s, and the team goal is to finish around the .500 mark.