Even after a 17-save performance in Mount St. Mary's 7-4 loss to then-No. 17 Towson, freshman goalkeeper Matt Vierheller wasn't entirely sure he had accomplished enough to convince defensive coordinator Tim McIntee to name him the starter for Wednesday's home game against Georgetown.
"I don't know if it's enough for Coach Mac to name me the starter," Vierheller said after the loss. "I don't know what his plan is for the future. I just go out during practices and during games ready just in case he calls my name."
Head coach Tom Gravante took the guesswork out of the equation Tuesday afternoon, when he confirmed that Vierheller will start for the Mountaineers (1-2) against the Hoyas (1-2) at Waldron Family Stadium at 4 p.m.
The coaching staff had considered junior Frankie McCarthy, but with Vierheller tied for ninth in Division I in goals-against average (7.50) and tied for second in save percentage (.651), Gravante said giving the defense some continuity was a priority.
"It's not that they don't feel confident in Frankie, but I think they feel a little bit more stable with Matt in there in terms of stopping the ball," he said. "He's got an edge and he proved it, and Frankie realizes that. So Frankie might be better coming off the bench. We're going to have to find out. We're going back with Matt tomorrow, but he's got to be ready to play. We told that to Matt when we started Frankie against Delaware."
There's no official word on if Vierheller will be the every-game starter. But Gravante said that a coach's job is to go with his best players.
"You can't win by not playing your best players," he said. "You've got to play your best players, and I know Tim McIntee feels the same way. We've got Furman, and I don't want to travel all that way and not play our best players. We're going to play our best players. As Matt continues to separate himself in terms of his ability over Frankie, that's the guy we're going go with."