Defensive-minded Hawks head into season knowing offense will develop with time

QUINCY — The exhibition results weren’t scintillating, but they revealed what Quincy University men’s soccer coach Mike Carpenter always preaches.

Defense wins.

The Hawks scored just two goals in their three exhibition games and need time to develop the connections offensively that lead to goal scoring opportunities. As that camaraderie and chemistry builds, QU will lean on its defense to hold strong.

“We’re not going to be as sharp, based on what we’ve seen so far, in front of goal and scoring goals,” said Carpenter, now in his 10th season at the helm as the Hawks prepare for season opener against Wisconsin-Parkside at 2 p.m. Thursday at Legends Stadium.

“We need to be solid defensively and not concede bad goals. If you’re not at your best going forward, every goal you concede makes it that much more difficult. So we need to be really focused defensively. Not that we’re not talking about that anyway, but at the start of the season when you’re not quite at your midseason form, you need to put a little bit more emphasis on it.”

It’s somewhat easier to do when you have experience in back.

Junior goalkeeper Michele Barletta returns for his second season as the starter, and he will have senior Spencer Van Nest, junior Alex Lehmann and sophomore Nick Chapman in front of him. Junior midfielder Alsadiq Hasan, a third-team All-Great Lakes Valley Conference selection in the spring, adds defensive depth to the midfield.

“We have to defend as a whole 11,” Carpenter said. “We have to be committed to defending from front to back and have everyone involved. Everyone has to be fully committed to their role and defend as a group.”

They need to score as a group, too.

Senior forward Aubrey Reis, an all-stater from Quincy Notre Dame, returns after scoring seven goals with three assists in the spring, leading to first-team All-GLVC honors for the second time in his career. Senior forward Cole Hayes, another former QND all-stater, had six goals and three assists to earn third-team All-GLVC plaudits.

Sophomore forward Jack Rhead had four goals and three assists and has the physical tools to dangerous posting up in front of the goal.

Others will be asked to join the attack, especially on the wings and from the midfield.

“We have to rebuild the understanding and chemistry of the attack,” Carpenter said. “We have some new players coming in and hoping a few guys step up and take some spots and take a few minutes. It’s all part of the process.”

That’s nothing new. The Hawks went 10-5-1 in the spring and reached the semifinals of the GLVC Tournament, but they started 3-3-1. They promptly won seven of their next eight before losing to Maryville 3-2 in the postseason.

“You try to be as good as you can be to start the season,” Carpenter said. “But we need to continue to get better.”

“If we start well defensively, we’ll start well overall,” Carpenter said.