By Alex Frazier
Meet…Dan Meuleners
Big. Strong. Fast. Skilled.
Souderton will certainly be relying on senior Dan Meuleners to lift the Indians out of a two-year slump.
Coach Tom Quintois thinks he’s capable of doing it.
“He’s a fabulous athlete,” he said. “He can play multiple positions; he can play up top and run at you and he’s probably one of the best defenders in the area. He brings a lot to our team.
“It’s big for us that he sets an early tone scoring goals, doing a lot of little things on the field. He’s not a guy that’s going to dazzle you, but at the end of the night, he’s going to do a lot of little things that are going to help get us back on track.”
Meuleners came to soccer late in life as soccer players go. He started his athletic career playing football and didn’t see the light until seventh grade at Penn View Christian School.
“I was getting tired of football,” he said. “I needed a change. It turns out I like soccer a lot better.”
When he went to Souderton in ninth grade, he played jayvee and then started on varsity as a sophomore.
Meuleners’ main position has been a central defender, but he’s also been asked to move up top because of his scoring ability and because of an injury to starter Chris McGonahy.
“I played there a little bit with my club team, so I have a little bit of experience,” he said. “I’m just starting to get to know it better and better. A first I didn’t like forward, but I’m starting to get to like it more now. I like the change and the versatility. Scoring goals is more exciting than stopping them.”
One of four captains Meuleners is trying to find a balance between coach and players.
“I like it,” he said. “The coach comes down hard on a lot of players and you have to support what the coach says, and you also have to keep the team balanced and not too frustrated. I’m glad to be a captain, glad the coach gave me an opportunity to do that, to be a leader.”
Besides soccer, Meuleners is also an excellent runner although he has been plagued by injury the past two seasons and has had to settle for running relays rather than individual events. His 4x800 relay finished sixth in the state last year.
“I’ve had some bad luck,” he said.
His last individual event was in his freshman year when he finished 11th in District One.
“I’m just trying to stay healthy this year and train hard,” he said.
Though he’s accomplished at both sports, he prefers soccer.
“I like soccer more because it’s a game and track is just pure competition,” he said. “I concentrate more on soccer. I play that all year round. Track I just use to keep in shape.”
Meuleners isn’t sure whether he will play soccer or even run track in college. He’s had looks from some D-III schools like Franklin and Marshall and Eastern, but he has his heart set on a D-I program.
“My dream has been to play Division I athletics,” he said. “I would either walk on at a Division I school for soccer or see what I could do for Division I in track.”
Since his father works at Penn State, he has an opportunity to attend that university on a three-quarter scholarship, which is hard to pass up.
He plans on majoring in some aspect of business.
“I like numbers,” he said. “I took accounting two years ago and was interested in that. I need to define what my niche is because it’s a huge field.”
The Indians will take the field with a lot of experienced players, ones who started as freshmen and remember what it was like to go to states.
“They have a taste of it,” said Quintois. “Everybody’s a little embarrassed right now, what’s happened the last two years, me included. We have a lot to prove.”
And Meuleners may just be the catalyst.
“He’s a guy we’re excited about,” said Quintois. “He’s going to have a big year.”
Around the league – It was a topsy-turvy week of action in the SOL. The game of the week featured Council Rock North upending Pennsbury – ranked first in Southeastern Pa. coaches poll – 2-0 in the league opener last Tuesday. The Falcons held a 15-13 advantage in shots, but Rock North’s Steve Neumann (Erik Mazurkiewicz assist) scored what turned out to be the game winner in the 65th minute. Matt Cannon added an insurance goal in the 77th minute for the Indians, who were ranked third in the Southeastern Pa. coaches poll. The Falcons came back to down Bensalem 4-0 on Thursday while Rock North earned a 6-0 win over Truman.
In other action, Central Bucks East used goals from Miguel Diaz and Fran Miller to down North Penn 2-0.
A.J. Androkites (Kyle Nelson assist) scored the game’s only goal in the 74th minute, giving Souderton a 1-0 win over Hatboro-Horsham.
William Tennent received a pair of goals from Bob Note while Ryan Eppley, Justin Massaro, George Breslin and Tim Reinboth all added single goals in the Panthers’ 6-0 win over Bensalem.
Central Bucks South defeated Quakertown by an identical 6-0 score, using a pair of goals Mike Serban as well as single goals from Jeff Reinhart, Tyler Donde, Jack Turchick and Todd Rainey.
Pennridge needed two overtimes to down Central Bucks West 1-0, using a goal from Michael Gaito (Kevin Bailey assist) in the 92nd minute.
In American Conference play, Cheltenham defeated Upper Dublin 4-3 while Plymouth Whitemarsh edged Upper Merion 2-1. Upper Moreland downed Norristown 3-0.
On Thursday, William Tennent notched a 3-1 win over Abington in a key National Conference game. Council Rock South, which defeated Truman 2-0 earlier in the week, earned an impressive 2-0 win over Neshaminy.
On the heels of its 3-1 win over Springfield, Wissahickon downed PW 2-0. Norristown upended Upper Merion 2-1, and Cheltenham defeated Upper Moreland 2-0.
Souderton upped its record to 2-0 with a 1-0 win over Central Bucks West on Thursday. Christian Benner (Chris McConaghy assist) scored the game’s only goal.
North Penn picked up a 3-1 win over Hatboro. The Knights received a pair of goals from Chris Davidson and a single goal from Brendan Gorman and while Ryan New scored for the Hatters. Pennridge edged Central Bucks South 2-1.
Central Bucks East received goals from Fran Miller, Steve Adams and Eric Vare in its 3-0 win over Quakertown.
Matt Gordon and Gabe Fellus each scored goals in Upper Dublin’s 2-0 win over Springfield.
Pa. Soccer Coaches Poll (Large School)
1. Council Rock North (1)
2. Mt. Lebanon (7)
3. Manheim Township (3)
4. Lower Merion (1)
5. Upper St. Clair (7)
6. Parkland (11)
7. Unionville (1)
8. Central Dauphin (3)
9. Emmaus (11)
10. Conestoga
Honorable Mention: Carlisle (3), Chambersburg (3), Delaware Valley (2), Great Valley (1), LaSalle (1), Wilson (3)
NSCAA National Rankings - Region 3 (Sept. 15, 2009)
1. St. Benedict’s Prep (Newark, N.J.) 0-0-0
2. Council Rock North (Newtown, Pa.) 3-0-0
3. The Pingry School (Martinsville, N.J.) 1-0-0
4. Mt. Lebanon (Pittsburgh, Pa.) 4-0-1
5. Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.) 0-0-0
6. Manheim Township (Lancaster, Pa.) 2-0-0
7. Ramapo (Franklin Lakes, N.J.) 0-0-0
8. Lower Merion (Ardmore, Pa.) 4-0-1
9. Scotch Plains (N.J.) 0-0-0
10. Upper St. Clair (Pittsburgh, Pa.) 3-0-0
11. Columbia (Maplewood, N.J.) 1-0-0
12. Parkland (Allentown, Pa.) 3-0-1
13. Rancocas Valley (Mt. Holly, N.J.) 0-0-1
14. Unionville (Kennett Square, Pa.) 4-0-0
15. Central Dauphin (Harrisburg, Pa.) 3-1-0
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