BOONE, N.C. -- Appalachian State men's soccer opens the 2019 season Friday, hosting Lincoln Memorial in an exhibition match. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. at Ted Mackorell Soccer Complex.
App State returns to the pitch this fall after ending the 2018 season as the conference's top defensive team with seven shutouts. The Black and Gold posted its highest finish in the Sun Belt and tallied seven All-Sun Belt selections The Mountaineers finished 8-5-3 in the regular season, marking head coach
Jason O'Keefe's best record since joining the squad in 2016.
The Mountaineers look to repeat as the league's top defensive team with a strong group of goalkeepers. The Apps return redshirt freshman goalkeeper
Jacob Madden and add three newcomers,
Nick Buchholz,
Kellen Reinsborough, and
Caleb Garbuio.
"We feel great about the core of our four players," O'Keefe said. "Like I say with every position, the starting spot is for whoever grabs it. Whoever earns it is going to get it. We're excited about these four stepping up and making plays."
Madden returns to the field this fall after taking a redshirt his freshman season. A native of Round Rock, Texas, Madden spearheaded his club team, Lonestar U-18, to its best record in club history. He helped Lonestar achieve a No. 1 ranking in the country for multiple weeks and posted a 13-4-2 mark in 19 starts. Madden finished the club season with five shutouts and a .680 winning clip.
Garbuio transferred in the spring from Spokane Falls Community College. While in Washington, Garbuio was named a NWAC All-Star as a freshman after posting a .63 goals-against average. As a sophomore, the keeper was named All-Region after making 54 saves. He also helped his team to an Eastern Division NWAC Championship and third place in the NWAC Tournament.
Freshmen
Nick Buchholz and
Kellen Reinsborough look to make a splash during their rookie season. Buchholz was a three-year letterwinner at New Harford High School in New York. As a senior, the keeper helped his squad to a 12-3-1 mark en route to capturing a league championship. He posted a .943 save percentage and allowed just six goals throughout the season, earning him team MVP and All-Conference honors. Buchholz played club ball under Steve Axtell at the Syracuse Development Academy.
A native of Dallas, Texas, Reinsborough played for the U19 USSF Development Academy with the Solar Soccer Club in the Frontier Division. He has international playing experience, training in Bolivia for two seasons and in Spain at Real Sociedad.
