With a 1993 schedule loaded with four '92 NCM Tournament teams, Mary Washington College head coach Roy Gordon knew that a future trip to the '93 NCAAs would take an impressive effort from his young team. After his first five games, Gordon realized this Eagle team could compete on a national level. Later, October wins (1-0) over Methodist and Roanoke cemented MWC's first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 1990.
As host of the four-team South Region, the Eagles' season concluded with a first-round loss (3-1, OT) to Virginia Wesleyan. The Eagles finished 1S-4-1 for the second straight year, while winning a third straight Capital Athletic Conference.title.
Mary Washington opened 1993 at the Messiah College Tournament, and while failing to win in two games, competed at a high level against two eventual NCAA teams. After a 1-0 loss to Elizabethtown and a 2-2 tie against host Messiah (an eventual NCAA quarterfinalist), MWC registered three crucial victories. A 2-1 win over eventual Virginia Intercollegiate Soccer Association champ Randolph-Macon preceded overtime wins over 1994 CAC entry Salisbury State and powerful NAIA school Bloomfield en route to a Blue-Ridge Tournament (at Lynchburg) title.
Following a 2-1 overtime loss to Virginia Wesleyan, the Eagles cruised to eight straight victories, including a 1-0 Homecoming win over third-ranked Methodist. But the NCAA bid was clinched with a 1-0 road win at eventual South Region champion Roanoke. The Eagles followed up with a win over Shenandoah, and then CAC Tournament shutouts of Goucher and York.
A large turnout at the Battleground Complex saw MWC claim a 1·0 lead over Virginia Wesleyan in the NCAA first round, as Chris Blelloch (Fr./Hampton, VA) scored early in the second half. But VWC gained the equalizer with six minutes remaining, and scored twice in the first IS-minute overtime to advance to the regional final. Still, Gordon realized that his Eagles showed great character and poise which belied a team with four underclassman starters.
Seven players scored 10 or more points in a balanced attack. Organizing the offense was midfielder Tommy Walthall (Sr./Dale City, VA),named the CAC and VISA Player ofthe Year after an eight-goal, 15-assist season. His 51 assists already ranks first in MWC history. A skilled ballhandler with great vision, Walthall impressed observers enough to merit First-Team All-South Region honors, and was named just the third All-American (First Team) in MWC annals.
Joining Walthall on the All-Region First Team was sweeper Jeff Kramer (So./Springfield, VA), an exceptional distributor who, like Walthall, made First-Team All·CAC and All-VISA (All·Star Game MVP). Fullback John Lee (Sr./Falls Church, VA) was named First-Team All-CAC for the third straight season, anchoring a defense which shut out 11 of its final 14 opponents.
Keeper Ryan Wilvert (Sr./Springfield, VA) registered nine of those blankings, with a 0.92 goals-against average. Frontrunners Blelloch, Gustavo Rodriguez (So./ Alexandria, VA) and David Holt Or./Newport News, VA) were named Second-Team All-CAC. Blelloch and midfielder Andy McDonald Or./Roanoke, VA), also a Second-Team All-CAC choice, led MWC with nine goals apiece, while Holt had four and Rodriguez (also a First-Team All-VISA pick) had three.
MWC will face another rebuilding phase with the graduation losses of starters Wilvert and fullbacks Lee, Ted Keirn (Medford Lakes, NJ), a co-captain, and Victor Balestra (Coral Gables, FL). However, the development of underclassmen Rodriguez, Blelloch and midfielder Casimir Yasutis (So./ Alexandria, VA),along with the aforementioned proven entities (paced by Walthall and Kramer), should offer the firepower for a possible seventh NCM trip in 10seasons, and a fourth consecutive CAC Tournament championship.