Men's Soccer

By Jim Fenton, ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER

BROCKTON — His first bid to make the Southern New Hampshire University men’s soccer team as a walk-on ended in disappointment.

Gabe Mercier of Middleboro went through training camp with the Penmen as a freshman, but failed to make the roster in 2004.

“A coach told me I wasn’t good enough to play in the program,’’ said Mercier. “It was definitely devastating. It was a wake-up call for me. I knew that it was going to take a lot of work for me to make it.’’

Mercier went right to work, building his strength through lifting, and made a better impression during workouts in the spring of 2005 before finally securing a roster spot in the fall of that year.

The 2004 Middleboro High School graduate is an example that hard work can pay off, as he went from not even making the team as a freshman to receiving All-Northeast-10 Conference second-team honors in this, his final season at SNHU.

Mercier, a midfielder, helped the Penmen (15-2-4) reach the NCAA Div. 2 East Regional as the No. 1 seed after winning the NE-10 tournament last weekend. SNHU hosts either UMass-Lowell or Molloy College on Sunday afternoon.

“It’s been a fun ride,’’ said Mercier, a key cog for SNHU with his leadership and ability to set up his teammates. “I worked hard and I dreamed big. Some people said I wouldn’t play for an elite program like this and I did.

“I was more determined to play here (after being cut) and prove to the coach that I was good enough. It really made me work hard to earn it.’’

Mercier was part of a dream season as a senior at Middleboro High, scoring 16 goals to go with 20 assists when the Sachems represented Eastern Massachusetts in the Div. 2 state championship game. Middleboro lost to Westboro, 1-0, in the final.

He was interested in Stonehill College, Merrimack College and Iona, but the rich soccer history of SNHU (national champs in 1989 and finalists in 2002) drew Mercier to Manchester, N.H.

“I wanted to be part of it,’’ he said. “I wasn’t recruited, but I liked the school when I came up for a visit. It just felt right.’’

Not making the team as a freshman was a bump in the road, but Mercier appeared in 16 games as a sophomore in 2005, scoring two goals with one assist. He made 20 starts as a junior, getting a goal and an assist, and had two game-winning goals and three assists in 17 starts last season.

Mercier earned a degree in sports management last spring and returned this season as a graduate student. He is pursuing a degree in business and has three assists in 20 games.

“He’s had a great year,’’ said Marc Hubbard, in his first season as SNHU’s coach. “He’s the first kid I met when I got here in January and I’m glad he came back.

“He’s got a tremendous work ethic and is a great leader. He’s been very instrumental for us. He’s just a ball winner and very industrious.’’

After being a main offensive weapon at Middleboro High, Mercier is focused more on defense at SNHU, which shared the NE-10 regular-season title and is ranked 13th in the nation.

“In high school, I was expected to score goals,’’ he said. “Here, I’m more defensive-minded. I win balls and get them to the playmakers.’’

Mercier has put together a solid four-year career for a top Div. 2 program and will be making his second appearance in the NCAAs this weekend.

It is a long way from the beginning of the ’04 academic year when Mercier didn’t make the roster at SNHU.

“I always knew I could play at this level, so I really didn’t let it discourage me,’’ he said. “I just got myself in better shape. I worked really, really hard. I did something I didn’t do in high school — lifted weights — and focused on getting stronger. I played soccer in the gym every day I could.

“I’ve come a long, long way. I thought I was good in high school and had the skills to be a good player. But it takes a lot of hard work and good coaching to make it in college.’’