United States Coast Guard Academy - Department of Athletics - 2008 Season Review

Coast Guard played some of its best soccer of the season late in the year and the team went out as champions, as the Bears captured the ECAC Division III New England Championship by knocking off top-seeded Eastern Connecticut 1-0 at home in the championship game.

The Bears, who were outstanding at home this season, losing just once and finishing 10-1-1, got a little revenge as well in the championship game as Eastern Connecticut was the only team to knock off the Bears on its field this season, a 1-0 loss in the regular season.

Third-seeded Coast Guard, which was competing in its fifth ECAC tournament in the last six years, won all three tournament games by shutout with junior goalkeeper Tim Olah registering all three shutouts to capture the programs third ECAC Championship and first since 1998. Olah was solid in goal all season as he recorded eight shutouts and finished with a 1.16 goals against average.

Senior defender James Toohey earned Most Outstanding Player honors for the ECAC Tournament. Toohey scored the game winner in the championship game with just 2:40 left. He also scored a goal in the 2-0 win at second-seeded Curry in the ECAC semifinals.

Coast Guard beat sixth-seeded St. Joseph’s (Maine) at home in the first round 1-0 to give head coach Chris Parsons his 100th collegiate coaching victory.

The Bears finished the season 13-8-1 overall and 3-3 in the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC). Coast Guard was the fourth-seed in the conference tournament and lost in the semifinals to eventual champion, top-seeded Babson 2-1. The Bears advanced to the semifinals after playing fifth-seeded Springfield to a 3-3 tie, but advanced on penalty kicks 4-1.

Senior midfielder David O’Brien, who had five goals and two assists, earned first team All-conference honors for the second straight season while senior forward Peter Deneen (7 goals, 4 assists) and Toohey (3 goals, 2 assists) were each named to the second team for the second straight season.

Deneen and senior Thomas Cameron (7 goals, 4 assists) led the Bears with seven goals and 18 points each while junior Jacob Larsen had a team-high six assists to go with his four goals.