2008 Woodie Awards
Benedict's play has been lone certainty for Hawks
James Hill '11
Issue date: 10/10/07 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
Amid a season full of adversity for the Saint Joseph's men's soccer team, goalkeeper Bryan Benedict, '09, is gaining comfort and confidence between the posts. The junior has played every minute of the first eight games, making 47 saves and holding opponents to a respectable average of three goals per game.
"A goalkeeper's job is to run the defense," said Benedict, who knows his teammates are looking to him to help lead them to success and victories, which have been in short supply so far.
The Hawks have started the year 1-6-1, most recently tying a match 1-1 with New Jersey IT in Newark, N.J. The team started the season by dropping a match 6-0 to Furman. It then defeated Coastal Carolina, 3-2, for the lone high point this season. After that came a string of lopsided losses, 4-0, 4-0, and 4-1.
Benedict does not feel the defensive pressure rests solely on him.
"Naturally, being the last line of defense comes with a certain amount of pressure," he said. "However, the pressure is not fully on me. I am the 'last' line of defense, which means there are other lines in front of me with the same goal. It's a shared pressure."
In spite of the adversity Benedict and his team have faced, the goalkeeper has not lost heart and is still looking to improve.
"I had a bit of a luck year last year," he said. "I need to find that form again and hopefully post some shutouts and keep that form through the summer and into next year. For the team, we just need to pick ourselves up and find our scoring touch. Also the defense and I need to keep the scoring lines down. If we can do that, we can post some wins."
Benedict's leadership, and, in turn, the defensive play of the Hawks, will be crucial as the Hawks begin conference play Saturday against the Temple Owls at 7:00 p.m. at Finnesey Field. The Hawks then step out of conference for a date with Philadelphia University before playing their final eight regular season games against Atlantic 10 foes.
"A goalkeeper's job is to run the defense," said Benedict, who knows his teammates are looking to him to help lead them to success and victories, which have been in short supply so far.
The Hawks have started the year 1-6-1, most recently tying a match 1-1 with New Jersey IT in Newark, N.J. The team started the season by dropping a match 6-0 to Furman. It then defeated Coastal Carolina, 3-2, for the lone high point this season. After that came a string of lopsided losses, 4-0, 4-0, and 4-1.
Benedict does not feel the defensive pressure rests solely on him.
"Naturally, being the last line of defense comes with a certain amount of pressure," he said. "However, the pressure is not fully on me. I am the 'last' line of defense, which means there are other lines in front of me with the same goal. It's a shared pressure."
In spite of the adversity Benedict and his team have faced, the goalkeeper has not lost heart and is still looking to improve.
"I had a bit of a luck year last year," he said. "I need to find that form again and hopefully post some shutouts and keep that form through the summer and into next year. For the team, we just need to pick ourselves up and find our scoring touch. Also the defense and I need to keep the scoring lines down. If we can do that, we can post some wins."
Benedict's leadership, and, in turn, the defensive play of the Hawks, will be crucial as the Hawks begin conference play Saturday against the Temple Owls at 7:00 p.m. at Finnesey Field. The Hawks then step out of conference for a date with Philadelphia University before playing their final eight regular season games against Atlantic 10 foes.
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