UDC Men’s Soccer 2010-2011 Season Recap
Washington, DC - The University of the District of Columbia Men's Soccer program has completed a successful 2010-2011 campaign. The team finished with an 8-5-4 record, a dramatic turnaround from the 4-13-1 record in 2009. The season officially concluded Thursday, October 27th, when the Firebirds traveled to Sparkill, NY to take on St. Thomas Aquinas. The Men's Soccer Team completed a 17-game schedule against some of the stronger teams in the East Region, including Millersville University who is currently competing in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament, the nationally ranked California University of Pennsylvania who advanced to the Sweet Sixteen in this year's NCAA Tournament, and the # 11 nationally ranked University of Charleston.
The schedule featured eight home games, seven away games, and two neutral site games at the Shippensburg Tournament. The Firebirds took on future ECC foes in Queens College (September 18th), Mercy College (September 28th), and St. Thomas Aquinas (October 27th). The UDC Athletic Department joined the East Coast Conference (ECC) effective July 1, 2011, and this season marked the last for the men's soccer program as an independent. The Firebirds will compete in a full ECC schedule in the 2012 season.
Under the leadership of new Head Coach Matthew L. Thompson, UDC finished their season with an overall record of 8-5-4, doubling their win total from the previous season. Thompson took over the helm of the Firebirds as head coach in June of 2011, and immediately transformed the Firebirds attitude, confidence, and level of play. Thompson came to UDC from Lees McRae College, where he led the Bobcats to a 13-5-3 record, winning the 2010 Conference Carolinas Regular Season and Conference Tournament Championships as well as earning a 2010 NCAA Tournament berth. The Firebirds roster included 9 returning players and many new faces that arrived at UDC under Coach Thompson. The team was highlighted by Freshman Captain Bakary Coulibaly (Hyattsville, MD (Mali) - La Lumiere HS) who led the team in scoring with three goals, while Junior Midfielder Tansu Korkmaz (Istanbul, Turkey - Ozel Dogan Lisesiwas) the team leader in overall points and assists, picking up one goal and five assists on the year. Defensively, the team was lead by senior back Nana Bamfo (Upper Marlboro, MD (Ghana) - Largo HS). Bamfo was the lone senior on this year's squad, which points to a bright future for the Firebirds next season.
The coaching staff has definitely developed a united, disciplined work ethic within the program with a winning mentality. Coach Thompson's outlook on the performance of his team this past season is summed up in the following statement, "We were somewhat satisfied with the season given that we doubled our win total from the previous year, but we felt we had the ability to win 10 games instead of 8. So on the one hand we are extremely happy with the progress, but we of course would have liked to have won a couple more games as well. The players worked very hard, and we took some significant steps towards getting this program where it needs to be. We'll continue to work hard off the pitch during the spring and look at adding one or two difference makers for the fall. Overall, it was a satisfactory year and the future is bright."