The 1996 season began with Mary Washington College's men's soccer team looking to improve on 1995's 14-4-1 record. When the smoke cleared at the end of the season, the Eagles stood with 17 wins (tied for the most in school history), the CAC championship for the sixth straight year, and the experience of advancing to the region finals in the NCAA Tournament.
Along the way, the Eagles won the Salisbury State University Tournament (in which three NCAA Tournament teams participated), had six players earn first team all-CAC honors, and tied a school record for consecutive wins, with nine. MWC also ended with a regional ranking of second and a final regular season national ranking of 15th.
After dropping the first game of the year, the Eagles reeled off 12 wins in their next 14 matches, including five shutouts. MWC peaked at the right time, winning five of its last six matches by a combined score of 17-2. Included in those wins was a 1-0 victory over Methodist College, three CAC Tournament wins, and a 2-0 NCAA first-round victory over Maryville College.
Offensively, the Eagles were led by All-Region and All-CAC first-team midfielder Chris Blelloch (16 goals, nine assists), who ended his career as third-highest scorer in school history with 51 goals and 19 assists. All-CAC junior forward Jason Fusaro (Huntington Station, NY/Walt Whitman) finished second on the team in scoring, with seven goals and seven assists. Also lost to graduation is midfielder Brad Kroll, who contributed two assists in '96.
The Eagles received outstanding play from Second team All-Region and First-team All-CAC goalkeeper Jim Hummel. Hummel gave up just 13 goals in 22 games, allowing just .63 goals per game while compiling five solo shutouts.
Heading the list of returnees for the Eagles is senior captain Craig Gillan (Kennett Square, PA/Unionville), who had five goals and three assists from his back position in '96. Gillan earned Second team All-Region and First Team All-CAC honors for his stellar play. Joining Fusaro at forward is Dan Guarriello (East Brunswick, NJ/East Brunswick), who tallied five goals and four assists as a frosh in '96.
Defensively, the Eagles return two All-CAC picks: backs Brendan Madigan (Charlottesville, VAlGeorgetown Prep) and Jordi Kleiman (Fairfax Station, VA/Hayfield). Two goalies with experience return for 1997: senior Ed Burrier and junior J.T. Nino. Burrier was instumental in the Eagles' success in '95, starting five games, and playing in eight games last fall. Nino played in three games, including the NCAA First-round game, when Hummel was knocked out of action.
With a talented group of returnees and another good recruiting class, the Eagles of '97 look to keep improving and build on the 1996 season and make a return trip to the NCAA Division III Tournament