by Matt Koll
Talk about making a great first impression on a program and on a conference.
That’s exactly what Franciscan soccer has done to the PAC and what first-year head coach Brent Ridenour did for the Barons.
Franciscan is in just its second full season as a member of the Presidents Athletic Conference, yet they came into the championship tournament as the No. 2 seed and has now earned a berth into the title match.
It’s very exciting for myself, our coaching staff, the team and the University,” said Ridenour. “I came to Franciscan because I knew we had the talent and the attitude to win championships. I also knew that the PAC was a competitive conference from top to bottom and that every game was going to be a challenge. Finishing tied for first in the regular season was a great first step for us and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to compete for the tournament title.”
The Barons have now won eight of their last 10 games and used a shutout Wednesday against Westminster to advance to the final, junior goalkeeper Jax Mautone’s fifth of the season.
The No. 5 seed Bethany Bison, fresh off an upset win over No. 1 seed Grove City, meet them on the other side of this title match on Saturday at 7 pm. Bethany didn’t score until the 62nd minute of the game, but they also didn’t allow Grove City run after with the contest in the first half. The goal by sophomore Sebastian Arrocain tied it at one, and then sophomore Arnold Fontes-Candida netted the game winner in the 72nd minute. The Bison had gotten the best of Grove City earlier in the season as well, winning a 3-2 double overtime match after erasing a two-goal deficit on October 23. In fact, Bethany has made a habit of notching comeback wins lately, as they went down 1-0 to W&J on October 27, only to come back to beat the Presidents 2-1.
Things didn’t go so well for Bethany when they played Franciscan earlier in the year, though. The Barons scored four goals in the first half that led to a 4-2 victory. Though it was a significant win, Franciscan head coach Brent Ridenour says there really isn’t much to learn or apply from that game to this title match on Saturday.
“It’s been over a month since we last played Bethany. Both teams have changed since then. They are well coached and have continued to improve throughout the season,” Ridenour said.
Ridenour is not wrong about that improvement. After losing each of their first three conference games, Bethany has won seven of their final eight games of the season, including that tournament win over Grove City in the semifinals.
Stylistically, Franciscan brings an efficient offense to compliment a stifling defense. While only ranking 6th in shots, the Barons are 2nd in the PAC in goals and goals per game and also rank first in team assists. Defensively, they’re first in goals allowed and second in goals against average per game.
“What I love about our team is that everyone contributes. It’s difficult to prepare to play us because we don’t really have a single identity. We can attack well as a team, we can defend well as a team and we just find ways to win,” said Ridenour.
Bethany’s offense is almost the opposite. While it has found more success in registering shots, coming into Saturday with the second most shots totaled in the conference, it ranks 6th in goals scored and goals per game. But, what the Bisons share with the Barons is quality defensive play. Bethany comes in third in the PAC in goals allowed and goals against average.
Sophomore Modou Faye embodies Bethany’s aggressive approach in getting shots toward the net. He leads the PAC in that category, while showing up in the top 10 in points and goals.
Franciscan brings a two-headed monster in graduate student Sebastian Koehler and freshman Jonathan Schriner. They’re the fourth and fifth-leading point scorers in the conference respectively, while senior Mikey Irvin has come alongside them to become the PAC’s third-best assist man.
It’s the conference newbies against the upset specialist No. 5 seed in the 2021 PAC title match.
Who will come out on top?
