2021 CU Men's Soccer Preview

Men's Soccer | 8/30/2021 6:50:00 PM

Two years ago the Clarkson University Men's Soccer team came within a goal of reaching the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1998. Despite losing a pair of talented classes to graduation, the Golden Knights are well-positioned to return to the Liberty League playoffs in 2021 and take another shot at a conference championship.

Guided by fourth-year coach Carter Lincoln and first-year assistant Adam Kelley, the Green and Gold are fortunate enough to have a pair of Liberty League All-Stars Mack Walton and Brandon Bahr returning from last year's graduating class. Those two, along with three-year standout Greg Schebece, headline a talented group that is looking to vie for the Liberty League title.

2021 Clarkson University Men's Soccer Schedule
2021 Clarkson University Men's Soccer Roster
2019 Clarkson University Men's Soccer Statistics

Like most teams in the country, much of the Golden Knights' roster has yet to play a collegiate game, but 12 members of the team were part of the team that made the post-season run in 2019. More importantly, in recent years Clarkson has created a culture that believes in strong defense. Two seasons ago, the Knights finished among the national leaders in shutouts, blanking opponents 12 times in 20 games for the fifth-highest shutout percentage in the country. The team also ranked 16th in save percentage and was 41st in goals against average (0.77 GAA). The prior year, the Knights ranked in the top 20 nationally in all three categories and in 2016 the team was in the top 35 in all three stats as well.

Clarkson is without much of its scoring punch from two years ago, but the team's top offensive performer from 2019 is back in Walton, who led the team with 11 points on four goals and three assists. Senior Bobby Guilfoil also scored a pair of goals in his sophomore season two years ago, while classmate Ben Root has produced two goals and three assists in his two collegiate seasons with the Knights. Defensively, both Bahr and Schebece will provide a steadying influence in back as each started 17 games in 2019.

The veterans will be buoyed by two incredibly talented classes of players, both the student-athletes who have a year of experience at Clarkson and one that is just beginning to show its promise in early season practices. On a roster of 33 players, 13 will be suiting up in the Green and Gold for the first time when the campaign begins against Plattsburgh State on September 1st.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#18 Brandon Bahr: D; 5' 7"; Senior

#11 Bobby Guilfoil: D; 6' 0"; Senior

#17 Ben Root: F; 5' 8"; Senior

#5 Greg Schebece: D; 6' 0"; Graduate Student

#10 Mack Walton: M; 5' 10"; Graduate Student

Players Mentioned

#18 Brandon Bahr
: 5' 7"; Senior
: D

#11 Bobby Guilfoil
: 6' 0"; Senior
: D

#17 Ben Root
: 5' 8"; Senior
: F

#5 Greg Schebece
: 6' 0"; Graduate Student
: D

#10 Mack Walton
: 5' 10"; Graduate Student
: M