STANDISH, ME - Few onlookers suspected the caliber of season that the men's soccer team experienced in 2008. After posting a 5-11-3 record in 2007 and gaining little consideration in the ‘08 GNAC pre-season poll with an eighth-place prediction, the Monks, led by first-year Head Coach Joel Bancroft, entered the 2008 campaign with the goal of earning the respect of their fans as well as the league.

The side, composed of three seniors, seven juniors, six sophomores and eight freshmen, went on to surpass all expectations. Using a team-first mentality - proven by the fact that eight different players netted game-winning goals during the season - the Monks posted a 12-7-3 overall record to break the program record for winning percentage (.632) and tie the team mark for wins in a season. St. Joe's posted a 6-2-1 GNAC record to earn the #3 seed in the league playoffs and hosted the program's first playoff contest since the 2000 season. The Monks blanked both #6 Johnson & Wales and #2 Lasell College en route to a trip to the championship game, where St. Joe's fell to top-seeded Norwich University, 2-1. The program's first-ever ECAC Tournament berth ensued as the Monks were named the #6 seed and took on #3 Coast Guard Academy, falling 1-0 in overtime to the eventual tournament champs.

The 2008 Monks, behind a stingy defense anchored by GNAC First Team All-Conference keeper Will Pike ‘10 (Gorham, ME), set new team records with the longest undefeated streak (8 games), consecutive shutouts (4), shutouts (10) and fewest goals allowed (20). St. Joe's led the GNAC in goals-against average (0.87) and tied for first in both fewest goals allowed (20) and shutouts (10). In all, six SJC players were listed on All-Conference teams following the season.

Pike, a junior transfer from Division I Mount St. Mary's, played a pivotal role in the Monks revival in 2008. Pike posted SJC single-season records in goals-against average (0.90), save percentage (.867) and shutouts (8) and made a GNAC playoffs record 17 saves in the championship game against Norwich. He was named GNAC Goalkeeper of the Week on four occasions and collected ECAC New England Defensive Player of the Week honors on September 23rd after helping the Monks post a 1-1 tie against regionally-ranked Norwich with 12 stops in goal. St. Joe's was the only GNAC team to take points away from the 2008 Cadets.

Leading the way on offense was Doug MacCallum ‘10 (Hingham, MA), who tallied 15 goals, one shy of the SJC single season record, and five assists for 35 points, which was the second-highest total in the conference. His last goal of the season against Norwich in the title game gave him 26 career markers and broke the program's career goals record. The junior scored all four of the SJC goals in the GNAC tourney and garnered GNAC Second Team All-Conference and All-Tournament honors. He was also named GNAC Player of the Week on one occasion.

Paul Robins ‘11 (Cornwall, England)registered five goals, a program record 10 assists and 20 points for the Monks and was also received GNAC Second Team All-Conference honors. Senior captains Kevin Melega (Easthampton, MA) and Lane Hubacz (Mapleville, RI), both invaluable members of the side on and off the field, combined to score 19 points and both were named to the All-Conference Second Team. Greg Cavanaugh ‘10 (Haverhill, MA), the team's emotional leader and an integral member of the backline, was listed on the All-Conference Third Team.

Freshman midfielders Timothy Davison (Danvers, MA) and Michael Sanfilippo (Walpole, MA) both were key components of the Monks machine, as were backliners Joseph Happnie ‘11 (Rockland, ME) and Mathew Loiselle ‘10 (Woburn, MA). Derek Osmond ‘12 (Rockport, MA) and Andre Cushing ‘10 (Hampden, ME) combined to score 12 points.

The club will return 10 of 11 starters from the GNAC Runner-up side next fall, with an eye on building off their successful 2008 campaign. Six of the team's seven defeats in '08 came at the hands of opponents who advanced beyond their conference tournaments. USM, Husson, U.S. Coast Guard and Lasell all played in the ECAC tourney and Norwich and Framingham State both played in the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament. Those seven losses were by a combined nine goals. Look for the Monks to play another highly competitive slate in 2009 in preparation for a postseason run of their own.