After coming off of a season which produced a record of 1-15-1, the Point Park University men’s soccer team lost a 1-0 overtime contest to Notre Dame College (Ohio) ending the season with a record of  8-9 and a record of 2-6 in the American Mideast Conference (AMC). Had the Pioneers won the game, the team would have achieved its first winning season since 1998.            Still, sophomore midfielder Alex Sala was able to reflect on the season      “For me, it was both positive and negative,” Sala said. “We had two big goals. The first was to make the playoffs and the second was to have a winning season, and we couldn’t reach both of them,” Sala said. “On the other hand, the improvement we made compared to last season and the way we played against teams this year. It kind of showed us that we were close to where we want to be, but we are not there yet. I feel that the season was more positive than negative.”            Nevertheless, fourth-year Head Coach Jeroen Walstra did not consider the season to be entirely satisfactory.             “I don’t think it’s monumental. I would call it monumental if we had a 19-0 season,” Walstra said. “I do think that we’re on the right track. The whole group should be intact next season and I think that we’ll be able to recruit some better players because of the results. It’s not monumental, but it is important.”            The season provided the team with some highlights, and Sala noted some of these noteworthy events.           “The win against Walsh, after we tied it up and … scored the winning goal, was definitely a highlight,” Sala said. “I think Notre Dame was also a highlight, even though we lost. We had the chance to win, but I definitely think … that was a highlight as well.”             Despite those highlights, Walstra felt there was still a lot of work to do in the off-season.              “Some things are individual, some players need to work on some skills and some players have to get physically stronger,” Walstra said. “Aging will take care of some of it, but they also need to train. Others need to get technically stronger. It’s hard to say that there is one thing that we can improve on. They all have their homework.”                At the end of the season, the team received some All-AMC honors, with Sala named to the All-AMC first team, forward Manuel Schneckenreither became the AMC Freshman of the Year as well as a member of the All-AMC second team and goaltender Zeke O’Donnell was named to the All-AMC second team. Both junior midfielder and defender Shane Lucas and junior defender Andres Escobar were named All-AMC honorable mentions.                These awards pleased Director of Athletic Communications Kevin Taylor.                “Point Park had its best [AMC] representation ever,” Taylor said. “Teams around the AMC, really took note of Point Park having a huge increase in their talent. We have guys who are among the best players in the AMC and it shows in the awards. With Alex being first team, Schneckenreither being named to second team [as] Freshman of the Year and Zeke O’Donnell being voted among the top four goalies, [those] are great honors.”                   The awards also pleased Walstra. However, he also mentioned the lack of homegrown talent on his team, as well.                   “We were very pleased with that because in other years we never had a player further than honorable mention,” Walstra said. “One of the problems we have is that we have trouble recruiting within Western Pennsylvania. So, even though it’s great that … Schneckenreither, Sala and Escobar [were] recognized,  but they are foreign players and I would like to see a guy like Zeke and Shane Lucas who are local players and I would like to attract more of that talent.”                      Reflecting, Sala focused on the season as well as reiterating one of the team’s goals.                       “We made a huge step forward, but there is still a little step that is missing to be where we want to be, and that is to be in the playoffs.”                        Both Sala and Walstra believe in the impact of fan support at home game.                       “Without people, it’s not going to be fun,” Walstra said. “If you compare our games to games where we go where there are 400 to 500 people watching the game, it is a huge difference. They root for their teams, too, and that motivates there’s no doubt about it. I don’t see how we can get there without our facilities close to the college. It’s too hard. It would be nice to have more Fan Vans, but I am very appreciative of how many people still come out.”