Metro East Sun

The Lewis & Clark Community College men's soccer team had a hard act to live up to this season.

The 2015 Trailblazers went 18-4-1 and earned a trip to the National Tournament, finishing 10th in the nation in scoring, according to stats.njcaa.org. Their counterparts this season have had more adversity through injuries, but still managed a 7-4-1 record through their first 12 games.

“I think we're doing OK,” Trailblazers head coach Tim Rooney said in an interview with the Metro East Sun.

The season seemed to go awry early with the loss of forward Blake Cearns. The sophomore, a second-team National Junior College Athletic Association Division I All-American selection last year, was the team's leading scorer in 2015, with 23 goals, good for 10th best in the nation. However, he tore a knee ligament this year and is out for the season.

That left the team trying to figure out who would take over that role, Rooney said. The scoring hasn't been as prolific this season – as of Sept. 30, Lewis & Clark was 74th nationally, with 20 goals – but the goals have been spread around. Markell Saddler, whom Rooney said was moved from the wing to play up front, led with three goals, but Nick Harper, Lochman Reus, Rhys Saunders and AJ Underwood had two goals apiece. Reus, who was a National Soccer Coaches Association of America second-team All-American in 2015 after leading the nation in assists, led the squad with eight shots and six shots on goal. Harper had a team-high four assists.

After being an offensive force last season, defense may be the key part of the team this season.

The Trailblazers had allowed an average of 1.22 goals per game in their first 12 contests, which placed 35th nationally. In contrast, last year's squad gave up 1.61 goals per contest.

“I think we're doing a much better job as a group defensively, and I think that's kept us in games,” Rooney said.

The coach cited center backs Darcy Madden and Darron Duncan as being individual leaders on the defense.

“They've got a good physical presence, and they've got good leadership qualities,” Rooney said.

The main netminder this season has been Ryan Meskell. Through his first seven games in net, he had 48 saves and an .828 save percentage – both numbers ranking 32nd nationally – and had a 1.43 goals-against average. Last season, in 11 games played and six starts, Meskell had 50 saves, an .833 save percentage and a 1.36 goals-against average.

Rooney said Meskell – who replaced NSCAA first-team All-American Nick Johnson as starter – has improved over last season. Meskell came into this season fit, the coach said, and most of the goals that were scored on him early in the season were ones that were mistakes in defensive play.

“Because you've got that experience and, you know, people know that he can do the job, so you've got a lot of confidence there,” Rooney said.