GETTYSBURG, Pa. – After having an extraordinary 2019 campaign that included a trip to the Centennial Conference semifinals and the NCAA Division III Tournament, the Gettysburg College men's soccer team is hungry and motivated to get the 2021 season underway.
 
The Bullets did not compete during the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but will finally see the playing field this week that will feature a new squad ready to compete.  
 
"It's great to be back," said eighth-year head coach Mark Mettrick. "I'm excited for the group that we have. It's going to be an enjoyable experience to help this team and see who develops in our program as we have many new players. Hopefully, we continue with the momentum that we had in 2019."
 
On a diverse roster, that has representation from 11 different states and three countries, 19 are freshmen and sophomores who have never played a game on Clark Field, while 16 members from the 2019 squad return. Since most Division III institutions did not compete during the 2020 season, the NCAA granted an extra year of eligibility with many of the players taking advantage of that opportunity.
 
Senior Jonathan Molina (Adelphi, Md./Dematha Catholic) and junior Connor O'Donnell (Newtown, Pa./Council Rock High School North) are serving as the team captains this season. Molina, who was limited by injury in 2019, earned all-conference second-team honors, tallying two goals and two assists while starting 12 games in 2019. He is the team's lone senior and using his extra year of eligibility to return to the Bullets squad this season. O'Donnell was an all-conference honorable mention selection in 2019, finishing third on the team with 12 points (three goals and two assists), including scoring the game-winning goal at Haverford College in the opening round of the conference playoffs. He appeared in 19 games while making 18 starts in his first season after transferring to Gettysburg.    
 
Juniors Jack Carroll (Leonia, N.J./Bergen Catholic), Nikko DiSimplico (Hockessin, Del./Salesianum School), and Connor Fife (Newtown, Pa./Holy Ghost Prep) all played in 20 or more games in 2019, which will provide extra depth in the forward and midfield position. Carroll netted six goals and five assists for 17 points, the second-most on the team in 2019.
 
Members of the junior class who also saw playing time in the forward, midfield, and defense position in 2019 are Matt Midura (Hamilton, N.J./Nottingham), Pape Diallo (Jamaica, N.Y./Proctor Academy [N.H.]), Cooper Macaulay (Cresson, Texas/Everman Joe C. Bean), Julian Burden (New York, N.Y./Riverdale Country), Brandon Raudenbush (Lumberton, N.J./Rancocas Valley Regional), Mike Carracino (Cranford, N.J./Canford), Lucas DiGiacomo (Madison, N.J./Madison), and Matt Tennant (Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury).
 
The 2019 squad finished 12-8-1 overall and qualified for the conference postseason for the third consecutive season. After playing one of the toughest schedules in the nation, the Bullets earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs. After an 18-year hiatus, the Bullets made a triumphant return to the "Big Dance" and raced past 22nd-ranked Oglethorpe University 5-0 in the opening round. The memorable season came to a close with a 3-2 setback to 11th-ranked Washington & Lee University in the next round.
 
"We want to compete at the highest level that we can," said Mettrick. "If you want to go to the national tournament, you have to play really good teams. Taking advantage of the strength of the Centennial Conference and a good out-of-conference schedule gives you a strength of schedule that puts you in the picture for an at-large bid. It's our goal to go to the national tournament every year."
 
Four CC teams, including the Bullets, made it to the national tournament in 2019, tying a conference record. Johns Hopkins University, the reigning conference champions, Franklin & Marshall College, the conference runner-ups, and Swarthmore College, who didn't compete in the conference playoffs, advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16. The CC was second to the New England Small College Athletic Conference in the number of institutions earning bids to the NCAA tournament.
 
Gettysburg, which holds a steady ranking in the Mid-Atlantic Region on a weekly basis, has another loaded schedule for 2021. Three teams won their conference title, and five competed in the national tournament in either 2019 or 2021. Four teams ranked in the 2021 United Soccer Coaches Top 25 NCAA Division III Men's Preseason National Poll – Swarthmore (No. 16), Johns Hopkins (No. 17), F&M (No. 18), and Christopher Newport University (No. 22).  
 
Gettysburg opens the season on Clark Field this Wednesday against Catholic University, the reigning Landmark Conference Champions and 2019 NCAA tournament participants, at 7 p.m. The Bullets start conference play against Ursinus College on Sept. 18 at 7 p.m. on Clark Field.
 
For those who are unable to attend home games, follow along with live video along and live stats.