Coach has positive outlook as season comes to a close

Rob Cain

Last year the men’s soccer team had a frustrating season. The team finished out its season with a final record of 8-10 and were knocked out of the playoffs in the first round.

This year the team has a new attitude. During the off season, the team acquired eight freshmen to try to avoid the disappointment it faced last year. So far the team’s record is 4-8-2 and they have three games left. Two of the games, Alvernia and Eastern, are Pennsylvania Athletic Conference games and are a must win in order to achieve their goal of getting into the playoffs and winning the PAC.

Doug Meder is the coach of the men’s soccer team. Meder has had a lot of past experiences with the game of soccer. “I started playing when I was eight and I have not stopped since,” Meder said. Meder credits his father and his uncles as beings the driving force in his decision to play soccer.

“I like the game of soccer,” Meder said. Meder is originallys from Northeast Philadelphia. He attended Northeast Public High School and was a member of its soccer team for all four years while he was there. After graduating from Northeast Public, Meder moved on to attend Spring Garden College. He played all four years in college as a starter.

Meders coaching experience first started in 1990. He started out as the assistant coach at Spring Garden College and then later became the assistant coach at Cabrini College. After a few years as assistant, Meder became the head coach of the Cabrini men’s soccer team.

Meder has been the head coach of the men’s team for the past five seasons. For him, this season has started out rough. “The team’s been struggling. We get the lead and can’t hold on to it,” Meder said. But there is a light at the end of the tunnel. “The captains are starting to pick up and work hard for 90 minutes. The guys are really jelling together and are having fun.”

Meder has a lot of faith in his team and their abilities as player. Also by his side are his assistant coaches Bill Dirita and former Cabrini player Danny Jelleyman. Meder said that they are a big help and that this season their chances are really good in winning the PAC.

Posted On The Web By: Rob Cain