College

He's A Keeper By Steve Myrick
James Thorpe Gains National Attention In Ravens' Net
December 10, 2004
Freshman James Thorpe always dabbled in the net during his high school career at Springfield (Mass.) Cathedral High School, and his prep year at Bridgton Academy in Maine. But those happened to be teams that needed the outstanding athlete to contribute from the front. He scored 26 goals in his senior year at Cathedral, leading his club to a Western Massachusetts championship. But when Koolman invited him to Franklin Pierce, the coach made it clear he wanted Thorpe as a goalkeeper. It was the right call.

Playing behind a solid defense anchored by sophomore Andre Elphic, Thorpe recorded 14 shutouts, with a gaudy 0.68 goals-against average.

James Thorpe of Longmeadow, MA

However, the feats which drew attention to the standout keeper (and landed him in the "Faces in the Crowd" feature of Sports illustrated) were two incredible scoreless streaks. Early in the season, Thorpe did not let a ball get by him for 518 minutes and 38 seconds. He topped that with a stretch of 578:52 later in the season. The shutouts and the two scoreless streaks are all school records.

Thorpe says his time playing forward positions has helped him be successful in goal.

"You read the game so much better," said Thorpe. "I have that slight advantage of knowing what's going to happen next. I'm one step further than the kid who has the ball."

And here is the scary part: His coach says Thorpe will only get better.

"He still has to learn to become a complete goalkeeper," said Koolman, named the New England Coach of the Year by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. "He still has a lot of positives coming."

Joyce A Choice Pick

Graduate student Christopher Joyce will return for the 2005 season, spreading a healthy dose of fear among Northeast-10 defenders in the process. Using his 6-foot-3, 195-pound frame to maximum advantage, Joyce led the Ravens with 22 goals this year, and added eight assists. Six of those scores were game winners.

"He put away many a goal, and has been a handful for every opponent we've played," said Koolman. "His leadership has been tremendous, and has definitely led to success."

Joyce, who hails from Jarrow, England, is one of many European players brought to Franklin Pierce by Koolman in his four years as head coach.

A native of the Netherlands, Koolman earned All-American honors when he played for Gannon University in Erie, Pa. He capitalizes on a network of continental connections to combat the recruiting power of neighboring Division 1 schools like Boston College, Boston University, Providence College, and the University of Connecticut.