Brian Eichelberger enters his 6h year as head men's soccer coach for Hagerstown Community College men's soccer program in 2011. Coach Eichelberger has led the Hawks to a 40-44-7 record, while guiding the Hawks to five straight MD JUCO playoff appearances.
Last season, the men's team squared off against seven nationally ranked teams, on their way enduring their toughest schedule in the program's history. The Hawks were also invited to thir first tournament, hosted by Howard Community College. During the season, HCC would take #14 CCBC-Essex to a double overtime draw. They would also ride a four-game unbeaten streak, where they would outscore their opponents 18-1. Hagerstown would host CCBC-Catonsville, whom they beat earlier in the season, in the Region XX First Round. HCC would drop the match, concluding their season with a 6-9-2 overall record.
In 2010, the Hawks kicked off the season 6-0-0, outscoring their opponents 20-2. HCC was rewarded by their record start, by cracking the national polls for the first time in the program's history. The Hawks were ranked #17 in the NJCAA and NSCAA polls. During the stretch, the team would also knock off then #5 Prince George's Community College, 4-0. For the second straight year, the Hawks earned a first round bye, but this time they squared off against defending Region XX Champion, CCBC-Essex. HCC would take a 2-0 lead late into the game, but Essex would eventually win the heart breaker match 3-2 in overtime. The Hawks would finish the season with a 10-9-1 overall record.
In 2009, Eichelberger led the team to an 11-6-2 overall record, finishing #6 in the conference and earning a #2 seed in the MD JUCO playoffs. Along the way, HCC would ride a six game unbeaten streak and outscore their opponents 30-5. They also defeated then #10 College of Southern Maryland 3-2. With the Hawks record they garnered a first round bye and met the College of Southern Maryland again in the Region Semifinals. HCC would fall to CSM 2-1 in the match concluding their season.
In 2008, HCC finished #6 in the conference with an overall record of 11-6-1. Hagerstown would kick off the season strong, netting 16 goals, on their way to a 3-0 start. Later in the year, they defeated then #3 in the nation Montgomery Rockville 2-0 before earning the #4 seed in the Region Playoffs. The Hawks would play Harford Community College, whom they defeated during the regular season, in the first round. Harford would avenge the loss and defeat HCC and end their season.
In 2007, his first year at the helm, Eichelberger would take over a struggling program and finish 2-14-1. Prior to this season he was the assistant coach for the program for one year.
A 2005 graduate of Shepherd University, Eichelberger earned his BA degree in Psychology. He transferred from Hagerstown Community College, where he played for two seasons and earned back to back First Team All MD JUCO and First Team All Region awards. He also broke the school record for goals scored as a freshman.
Eichelberger is a 2000 graduate of Smithsburg High School (MD), where he played all four years on the varsity squad. From 1997-2000 he was selected to the First Team All-County, First Team All-Area, and First Team All-Conference teams. Eichelberger also competed for the Hagerstown Soccer Club and Frederick Excel Soccer Club.
"Our goal for this program is to continue to be successful every year while teaching quality soccer to our student athletes so they may tansfer on and have highly successful careers at the 4 year school level. Our ultimate goal is to win our region and get a berth to the national championship. We have made huge strides with this program and with our commitment as coaches our goal is becoming a reality. We promote discipline and accountability from our student athletes and the hard work, dedication, and commitment of the players that have come through our program has led to the success of where we are now." Coach Eichelberger
Links:
[1] http://www.hagerstowncc.edu/sites/default/files/sports/players/brianeichelberger.jpg
