Keene State Men's Soccer Team Looking to Contend for an LEC Championship; Video Interview with Coach Butcher and Luke Sisco

KEENE, N.H., 8/27/10 – You’d think losing his top goalie, midfielder, and striker would dampen the spirits of head coach Ron Butcher as he gets set for his 40th season at the helm of the Keene State men’s soccer program. But that’s not the case at all. 

“You’re always optimistic about a new season,” said Butcher. “Even though we lost a lot up the middle with departure of Peter Kersker, Ross Stanton, and Shawn Shand, I think we can replace all three. But it’s going to take time to find out exactly what we got.”

Returning to the pitch following a 13-7 (6-2 LEC) season, the Owls have a lot of work ahead of them if they hope to contend for the Little East championship. In addition to filling the vacancies in his line-up, Butcher, who enters the season fifth on the all-time list of wins (553) by a collegiate coach, must also integrate several new players into the system and define a style of play.  

Not lacking for options, Butcher is hoping to find the winning combination among the returning seven starters and 21 letter-winners that led KSC to a share of last year’s LEC regular season title, and a group of talented newcomers.

Butcher feels he has the talent, not to mention the team leadership to get the job done. “We have some returning players ready to step up and several newcomers that I’m really excited about,” he said. “So the competition is on.”

Keene State has four candidates to replace Kersker in goal. Senior Tom Conran (South Windsor, Conn.) and Paul Blackmer (Boylston, Mass.), a junior, are untested veterans who will battle for the top spot. Nick Allman (Newburyport, Mass.) and Malcolm Cheney are also in contention. Allman is a sophomore transfer from Endicott College and Cheney is a talented freshman keeper from Hopkinton, Mass., who hopes to join the team in a couple of weeks after recovering from a broken foot.

            The Owls appear to be solid in the backfield with sophomore Joe Bohenek (Rockland, Mass.) on the right, senior Rob Musto (Guilford, Conn.), a LEC All-Star, on the left, and sophomore Blake Nyman (Plymouth, Mass.) in the middle. Preston Ingram (Newport, Vt.), who joins the team after attending West Virginia University last year, has impressed the coaching staff and could see time in the other inside position. Sophomore Kyle Leavitt, who missed last season with an injury, junior Kevin Gomes (Halifax, Mass.), and sophomore Ian Ferguson (Millwood, N.Y.) will also see significant time along with Greg Shannon (Mahopac, N.Y.) and Tim Culity (Pembroke, Mass.), a pair of surprising freshman backs.

            After struggling to find the right mix at midfield last year, Butcher feels he has found the solution this season. Veterans Danny Silverman (Maynard, Mass.), Luke Sisco (Pine Plains, N.Y.), Brian Holms (Sharon, Mass.), and Sean Fortier (Alstead, N.H.) are determined to turn the midfield into one of the teams’ strengths this fall. Michael Broder (Peterborough, N.H.), who attended Hobart College last year, and freshman Tom Izykowski (Rexford, N.Y.) are also expected to make an impact.

            With seven strikers, Butcher feels he can put together a powerful offensive arsenal up front. Sophomore Joe Senecal (Manchaug, Mass.), the Owls’ top returning scorer (10 goals) and a second-team LEC all-star, will once again be a focal point on the frontline. He will be joined up top by a group that includes returnees Cam Blair (Keene, N.H.), Alex Larson (Williamsport, Penn.), Eric Martens (Peterborough, N.H.), Nick Greenwood (Peterborough, N.H.), and first-years Scott Douglas (East Greenwich, R.I.) and Tory Rysnik (Wilton, N.H.). 

            “Right now we’re probably a middle of the pack team in the Little East, but everyone has lost players,” said Butcher. “For us it’s all going to depend on the returning players coming of age and the new players stepping up and making a big contribution.”

            “I think this team is going to compete and hopefully it will translate into winning,” Butcher added. “Is that enough to win the conference and get an NCAA bid? That’s our goal.”

Click here for an interview with Coach Butcher and senior captain Luke Sisco!