The comeback kid
2005 back-up keeper makes return to St. Michael's men's soccer team

Michelle Thomas | staff writer
mthomas4@smcvt.edu

Since Fennessey has made his suprise return to the men's soccer team, he has been able to fit in with ease. Here he directs his defense on a Wednesday, Oct. 24 practice. Alex McIntire photo

Jason Burnett, St. Michael’s College men’s soccer team goalie, recently came down with mono and was forced to step down for the remainder of the season. In response to the loss of head coach Wade Jean’s back-up keeper, he was forced to make a quick decision, which resulted in asking senior Ed Fennessey, who hadn’t played since the fall of 2005, to join the team instead of playing red-shirted first-year, Matt Geary.

Coach’s decision

Wade had a decision to make when Burnett could no longer play. He knew that the team needed an “experienced goalkeeper.” Because Fennessey has played for the team before, Wade knew he was a great person and would be willing to help the team out, he says.

Although Fennessey was out for over a year, he is working hard to prepare himself.

“He looks real good in practices and seems to be getting back into the groove,” Wade says.

Coincidentally, Fennessey was almost thrown into the fire after current goalkeeper, Tim Williamson, was clipped in the ribcage in a game over the weekend. Fennessey is willing and ready to step in and that’s all the team can expect of him, Jean says. The other guys on the team greatly appreciate Fennessey’s readiness, he says.

Wade feels that his red-shirt first-year is going to be a talented goalkeeper. Geary was a hockey and soccer goalie and just recently made the decision to commit to soccer. As a young goalie, Wade didn’t want to throw him in such a tough situation.

“Because he is red-shirted first-year, it would have been unfortunate to play one game and lose a whole year of eligibility,” he says.

By Fennessey joining the team this late, he actually helped give young Geary an extra year of soccer.

Fennessey back in action

Fennessey played for the men’s soccer team his first and sophomore years. After coming down with appendicitis the summer before his junior year, he was forced to quit and has not played since. Fennessey has been spending most of his time focusing on baseball and diving, but when Jean contacted him, he was “unbelievably excited,” he says.

Fennessey’s decision to quit soccer allowed him to work harder to become a starter on the baseball team instead of being a back-up for the soccer team, he says.

“I love the game and the guys on the soccer team,” Fennessey says.

Now that Fennessey is back on the soccer team he is now the only three sport athlete at St. Michael's College, competing in Diving, Soccer and Baseball as the shirts in his closet show. Alex McIntire, photo

Some of Fennessey’s closest friends are seniors on the soccer team. He is extremely excited for this opportunity to play the game he loves in his last year of college, he says.

If anything is to happen to the current goalie, Tim Williamson, Fennesey believes he will be ready to play.

“I’m still a little rusty but I am just shaking it off day by day,” Fennessey says.

Jean is trying to get Fennessey back into the swing of things and Fennessey says he feels he will be able to assume the role of goalkeeper if need be.

“I think I’ll be able to hold my own and take care of business the way the team would like me to,” he says.

What's good for the goose is good for the gander

Senior midfielder Matt Healy thinks it is great to have Fennessey back on the team. Healy says that Fennessey would do anything for the team so he will only be a positive addition, and he believes that it is the most logical decision for the team to have Fennessey come back.

“He has two years of collegiate experience and definitely has the skill-level to play,” Healy says.

Geary hasn’t quite reached the level to play back-up goalie for the team yet, but Geary will be a great goalie when the time comes, Healy says.

Chemistry starts with the upperclassmen and because Fennessey is friends with all the seniors he fits right in, Healy says.

“All the older guys know him so the younger players see this and accept him right away,” he says.

Defender and senior Brandon Beaudoin, feels equally excited to have Fennessey on the team. Beaudoin says that he is one of the greatest kids he knows, and also he knows how to keep the ball out of the back of the net.

“He has what it takes and it’s great to have him back,” he says.

Beaudoin agrees with Healy and knows that Fennessey fits right in with the team’s chemistry. When Fennessey joined the team he knew most of the players so he only had to learn to mesh with the first-years. Because he is such a great and personable guy, this was easy for him, Beaudoin says.

Mathematically, the soccer team can make the play-offs with a tie or better in their final game of the season on Thursday, Oct. 25 over The College of St. Rose.  And though the season has come down to the wire, with Fennessey backing up Williamson, the team feels comfortable.