Dartmouth will seek to regain the edge that enabled them to secure the Ivy League title from 2014 to 2017 and four consecutive berths in the NCAA Tournament. Several of the newcomers look to be capable of providing a boost on the offensive side of the ball.
Departures and Gaps – Dartmouth will enter the 2019 season without ten seniors from the 2018 team. Departures include forwards Eddie Ikoba (5g, 1a) who was a 2018 First Team All-Ivy League section, Yima Asom (1g, 3a) and Max Heffron, midfielders Justin Donawa (2g, 1a) and Noah Paravicini (0g, 3a) who were four-year starters, and back Jonny Nierenberg (0g, 1a) who was a 2018 All-Ivy League First Team honoree.
Opportunities for Improvement – The development of additional playmakers on the offensive side of the ball. The ability to close out games.
Coach's Recruiting Class Comment – Bo Oshoniyi stated, "I am really excited about our class of 2023. These eight young men are not only talented, but they will be a great representation of Dartmouth men's soccer in the classroom and in the community. I personally would like to acknowledge the work of assistant coaches Chad Duernberger and Stewart Flaherty, who worked tirelessly putting this unique class together. I am extremely fortunate to have them be a part of our staff. They are the best in the country at what they do and we look forward to many exciting years ahead for Dartmouth men's soccer."
Summary – Dartmouth was 7-5-5 last year with a 4-1-2 mark in Ivy League play. Four ot their five losses came against non-conference opponents during their first six contests of the year. Their fifth and biggest impact loss of the 2018 season was a 1-0 defeat in overtime against Columbia that cost them a fifth consecutive Ivy League title and berth in the NCAA Tournament. Dartmouth's margin for error was razor thin last year as reflected in the fact that ten of their seventeen contests went into overtime. The Big Green was hampered last year by injuries to forward Eduvie Ikoba and midfielder Justin Donawa that limited each to a total of six contests. Had Ikoba and Donawa been healthy Dartmough might have had the extra firepower that they needed to prevail in several of the contests that they tied. Both were four-year starters and impact players. Despite playing in only six games Ikoba led Dartmouth in scoring with five goals including two game winners. Donawa also contributed two game winners during limited time on the pitch. Both have graduated which means that Dartmouth once again faces the challenge of replacing the playmaking ability that they brought to the pitch.
Junior Tiger Graham (4g, 0a) who appeared in fifteen contests last year with seven starts looks to be the among the most likely candidates to add punch to Dartmouth's attack up-top in 2019. Junior midfielder Dawson McCartney, who was a 2018 All-Ivy League Second Team selection and a starter for the past two seasons, could develop into a go-to goal scorer in the middle of the park. Most likely it will be offense by committee at Dartmouth in 2019 without a single dominent goal sorer.
Seniors Jesse Scanlon (0g, 1a) who played in fourteen contests in 2018 and Will Chisholm who appeared in seven contests are among others who could be in the mix up-top. The midfield has the potential to be a team strength in 2019 with seniors Braden Salvati (2g, 0a) and Zach Kalk and junior Kota Sakurai (1g, 2a) returning along with McCartney. Garrett Socas out of the Bethesda Academy is among the newcomers who will likely challenge for minutes in the midfield.
Sophomore Matt Pickering (1g, 0a) who was a 2018 All-Ivy League First Team selection, senior Henry Baldwin who has been a starter the past two seasons, junior Matthew Ranieri who appeared in fifteen contests last year, and sophomore Jordan Bailon who saw action in ten contests in 2018 are among returning backs. Dartmouth returns three goalkeepers who saw action last year. Junior Chris Palacios started ten contests, senior Henry Stusnick started six, and sophomore Alex Budnik started one contest in 2018 in goal.
Chances are pretty good that the Ivy League race in 2019 will come down to the final week of the season. Dartmouth has definite gaps that must be addressed but they appear to have the pieces on board to contend for the Ivy League title in 2019. It is also a plus that Bo Oshoniyi now has a year at the helm of the program under his belt.
The Big Green's season will ultimately be defined by how well they perform in Ivy League play. Nonetheless early season contests against Wake Forest in Winston-Salem and at home against Michigan State will provide the opportuity for recognition on the national scene and give Oshoniyi a good indication of just how competitive his team will be. Dartmouth's ceiling in 2019 will be determined by improvement in their ability to close out games which will hinge on whether or not they have the little something extra needed on both sides of the ball that was lacking last year. The development of a playmaker or two among returning players, perhaps Graham and McCartney, and the ability of a few of the newcomers to contribute could be the differnece between a good and a really good season at Dartmouth in 2019.
Newcomers –
David Alino – Forward – Stratford, Connecticut – Fairchild Wheeler Magnet School – Played for the new York City FC Academy. Team captain.
George Altirs – Forward – Saddle River, New Jersey – Dwight Englewood School – Played for Cedar Stars Academy – Monmouth. Co-Captain and leading scorer. Trained with Chelsea FC Academy and AFC Ajax Academy.
Pedro Campos – Midfielder – Sao Paulo, Spain – Colegio Santa Cruz – Played for Esporte Clube Pinheiros. Selected to interclubes all-star team in 2016 and 2018.
Jack Casey – Midfielder – Tampa, Florida – Plant High School – Played with Tampa Bay United Rowdies Soccer Club. 2019 Florida All-State team selection. Team captain.
Clayton Molter – Forward – Manhattan Beach, California – Capistrano Connections Academy – Played with the LA Galaxy Academy for multiple seasons.
Eric Sachleben – Midfielder – San Francisco, California – Marin Academy – Played for Marin FC Academy. Team captain. Four-year starter for Marin Acadey Varsity. BCL League MVP.
Garrett Socas – Midfielder – Mclean, Virginia – The Potomac School – Played for the Bethesda SC Academy. Played for McLean Hotspur. Member National ODP team in 2016.
Alex Van Schalkwyk – Forward – Cape Town, South Africa – The Northwood School – Played fro Ubuntu Football Academy. Captain of Black Rock FC. All-Star team for the Cape Town Tygerberg league in 2013 and 2015.
