Matt Vierheller was the winning goalkeeper in an 11-8 Mount St. Mary's victory at VMI on Saturday, but the freshman won't make a second consecutive start.
Junior Frankie McCarthy is slated to start when the Mountaineers (1-0) welcome Delaware (1-2) to Waldron Family Stadium in Emmitsburg on Friday, coach Tom Gravante said.
Gravante said he backed associate head coach/defensive coordinator Tim McIntee's decision to go with McCarthy, who recorded a 10.29 goals-against average and a .520 save percentage in nine games (including four starts) last season but had been slowed in his recovery from a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
"They're both very quality young men, but we want to give Frankie an opportunity and see how he handles the start," Gravante said. "Not that winning isn't important, but we want to create some depth on our team, especially as we move into the season and as we get into [Northeast Conference] play. We want to let it be a two-horse race and see which one gets it.
"We're pleased with Matt's performance, but my associate head coach Tim McIntee feels that he'd like to give Frankie – who played nine games for us last year – a start and see how he handles it. I think they're both good goalies and very confident in their abilities. So I'm OK with it. Once we get going, they're going to compete, and the better kid is going to continue to be the starter."
Vierheller, who made 11 saves in the win against the Keydets and had a .579 save percentage, would seem to have a valid case for protesting this move. But Gravante said Vierheller has been an accommodating teammate.
"We're going to give Frankie the start and see how he handles it," Gravante said. "If we feel he doesn't have it, then Matt's going in to the job, and the job will be his. He gets it."