It’s hard to find a good goalkeeper. The Daniel Boone High School boys’ soccer team had one in Bernie Roell. Roell was a four-year starter for the Blazers, the team captain for two years, and was the runner-up on the Berks County Player of the Year race. He also earned All-State recognition his senior season at Boone.
For the past four years he’s been doing pretty much the same for the Bloomsburg University men’s soccer team.
In this, his senior season, Roell has started in all 15 of Bloomsburg’s games, making 93 saves with a 1.57 goals against average.
His 13 career shutouts places him second all-time in that category. He’s only five shutouts short of the top spot, but he’s running out of games to catch the leader.
“I feel my soccer career has gone very well for the four years I’ve been her,” said Roell. “Playing soccer at the college level teaches you a lot of life lessons. It teaches you how to manage your time, to be a team player and be a leader.”
Roell has been all of those things for his Bloomsburg team. Bloomsburg head coach Paul Payne couldn’t be happier with Roell’s performance.”
“Bernie has had a huge impact on our men’s soccer program from the time he stepped on the field as a freshmen four years ago,” said Coach Payne”He’s the ultimate competitor, whether it’s in training or a match. As coaches, we are always looking for ‘personality’ players, and Bernie is certainly that.
“He’s the heart of this team and the emotional leader. I never saw Bernie play until he stepped on the field here at Bloomsburg. I had heard so much about his presence on the field and what a quality individual he was from everyone I spoke to in the Berks County soccer area. They were all spot on. He is a ‘big-time keeper’ and’big time’ person. That was never more evident than when he led us to the 2011 PSAC Finals, earning All-Conference honors and prevailing in a 17 PK shootout with Lock Haven in the PSAC semifinals.”
Roell has been playing goalie since he was seven years old. He immediately fell in love with the position, attracted to the high pressure and the demands to be a team leader.
“I also found out I couldn’t score goals, so I might as well save them,” he said.
By the time he was in ninth grade his skills in goal were developed. He took over as the starting goalie for Boone as a freshman and never gave up the job until he graduated.
” What I remember the most about my time at Daniel Boone was going to the county finals, playing in front of the killer DB Super Fans, having a great coach and finally playing with some of the best group of guys anyone could ask for.”
After graduation, he went on to Bloomsburg where there was a bit of a learning curve. He needed to get used to the higher speed of the game, not to mention the skill level of the shooters was much higher.
But it wasn’t a long transition period. Roell placed in 10 games as a freshman and had a 1.32 goals against average with three shutouts.
In his sophomore year, Roell was the starting goalkeeper for 14 of the team’s 16 games, sporting an impressive 0.88 goals against average and four shutouts.
Last year he split time in goal with Ramon Lobo, not something he liked, but the team always comes first in his book. In eight games, he had an G.A.A of 1.73.
But this year he’s back in goal every game for the Huskies. doing what he does best – stopping the other team from scoring.
“We know that with Bernie in goal, Bloomsburg will be in every match.” said Coach Payne. “Bernie is always preaching to his teammates that they have to believe, and that’s something he has done since he’s been here, and know that will be the same until he plays his last game here. Bernie will always be one of the players who made coaching fun for me, and he will leave a legacy for others to follow.”
Roell is a business management major at Bloomsburg. “When I graduate I want to get a job,” said Roell. Then I’d like to give back to the soccer community that gave so much to me.”
