July 26, 2000

In eyeing the future it is often important to understand the recent past.

Larry Sullivan fully comprehends the travails of 1999 that his Villanova Wildcats endured. An infusion of youth coupled with a rugged schedule added up to a difficult campaign that ended with a 2-14 record (0-11 in the potent Big East Conference.)

Yet if the bottom line was harsh, there were items immersed there that suggest 2000 can be a much more satisfying outing for the Wildcats soccer program.

"I think we played better than our record showed," Sullivan states. "The game is 90 minutes long and we usually played well for 70 or 75 minutes. Part of it was injuries, part of it was we had freshmen who were learning as they went along. There were games I thought we had won that got away from us.

"The best thing to come out of that, though, is that the players are as fed up with losing games as I am. That was the general attitude I sensed in the spring. I thought this past spring we started to play more cohesively in crucial times. When the games were on the line this spring, we stuck together and played a team game."

The 2000 Wildcats remain a predominantly young squad. The roster is replete with sophomores and freshmen. But they are not alone. A pair of accomplished veterans return to offer their skill and leadership as a guide out of the forest.

At the heart of the Wildcats stands senior midfielder and defender Jim Curtin.

Curtin is unique. Standing 6-4, he towers over some of the opponents he is asked to mark. Yet he is fast and steady with the ball on his foot. He can step up into the attack when the opportunity presents itself and possesses a terrific feel for the game.

Just how good is Curtin?

Well, he was voted first team All-Big East despite the fact he played for a club that did not win a conference game. That is just one measure of respect opponents have for this product of Bishop McDevitt High School and native of Oreland, Pa.

"Jimmy is a natural athlete," says Sullivan. "He could play any sport, I'm sure. What makes him a very good soccer player is his athletic ability. He sees the field well and has a very competitive nature. There is what I would call a `disciplined mean streak' within Jimmy. He understands that there are times when you have to be a little nasty to make a play but that you have to do it in a disciplined way."

Curtin scored three goals last year but statistics in soccer don't always tell the story.

"People want to look at numbers," Sullivan states, "but in this sport they don't necessarily mean you are the best player on the field. Jimmy isn't going to have the opportunity to put up big scoring numbers because of where he plays. But he is an integral part of what we do.

"Jimmy has great potential, both as a soccer player and as a human being."

Curtin's classmate, Joe Noonan, also plays midfield and defense. The Wilmington, Del., native led the Wildcats with five goals last year and also had two assists, for a total of 12 points.

"Noonan is a very good player for us," Sullivan states. "He is never lazy and has a great attitude. This guy is a doer, a reactor. You want him in the foxhole with you. For Joey, the challenge is to learn what he has to do when he is out of the foxhole."

Ironically, Curtin and Noonan are quite different as players and people. The benefit of that may be that their styles can complement one another on the field as the Wildcats aim to improve.

"These two kids are complete opposites, both physically and emotionally. It helps me as a coach because they demand the things that are necessary to be a good coach. We have had our moments but on the field both of these kids give it to me. They never leave the field not having given their best effort."

Noonan and Curtin give the Wildcats strength in the midfield. So too does senior Brian Williams.

Williams started all 16 games he appeared in last year and generated nine shots on goal. He is a fifth-year senior with much game action under his belt.

Another veteran who figures to see action in the midfield, as well as on the attack, is junior Tony Rod. Rod, a product North Catholic High School in Philadelphia, started seven games and appeared in 13 contests. He did not enter the scoring column but did have two assists as a freshman in 1998.

The greatest area of concern is on the attack. The Wildcats graduated Dave Francalangia and Donovan Hornsby, who each contributed four goals and ten points on the season. Also gone is Conor Porter, who added five points from a midfield position.

Among those seeking to pick up the slack is sophomore forward Liam Murphy. The Farmington, Conn., product saw action in 16 games, starting four and recording one goal and one assist.

"Murphy gained some valuable experience and that should help him," Sullivan states.

Also in the picture up front is holdover Koji Hamada, who earned two starts last year at the striker position. Sophomore forward Felipe Freire appeared in 15 games and notched two assists.

Defensively, a pair of sophomores figure to carry large burdens.

Stephen Leaman was one of the pleasant developments of 1999. As a freshman the Lancaster, Pa., native started all 16 games he played in and was a steady defender. His play in front of the Villanova net will be vital.

Sean Teesdale, another second-year man, gained valuable experience as the understudy to the graduated Matt Malek in goal. Teesdale started five games and made 33 saves with a 2.52 goals against average in a little more than 600 minutes of action.

Teesdale enters the year with the inside track to handle the chores in net for Villanova.

Sullivan is convinced a crop of freshman that includes Dan Massimini, Scott Rodemer, and Patrick Walsh can offer immediate help. A pair of transfers, sophomore Frank Williams and junior defender David Jones also should see plenty of action.

"One area that hurt us last year was team speed," says Sullivan. "This class of newcomers will really help us with that. We've added some people who can move the ball and use there speed to get by defenders.

"Of course, we saw last year that it's always a tough transition for kids making the jump to Division I soccer. It's not easy and that's something we'll have to live with."

It will be incumbent upon Curtin and Noonan to help guide their younger mates through the invariably choppy waters of the Big East.

"Those guys were fortunate to be a part of a team that reached the Big East Tournament when they were freshmen," Sullivan states. "They have experienced some success. Now they are in a position where they can really help this program lay the groundwork for more success in the future. They may not be around to see the fruits of those efforts pay off, but they can play an important role in this development."

There are no bold predictions to be heard from the Wildcats. Frustrating campaigns like 1999, have a way of tempering any kind of bravado that might exist.

Still, the feeling is that the frustrations of `99 might one day serve as a milepost, the place where an upward climb back into the thick of the Big East championship race began.

"I believe we will be more competitive this year," Sullivan states. "We have improved our team speed and we have sophomores and freshman who are going to be good players. It's a matter of them learning what it takes to play at this level and that's not something you can pick up in a week or two.

"As I said, I like what I have seen in terms of attitude. I haven't seen the tendency to freelance that cropped up at times last year. This group stuck together in the spring and that's a good sign. Now we have to see how we hold up in the heat of battle."