Posted: Sep 01, 2011
Though some of the conference teams will have to replace some scoring, veteran savvy and leadership due to graduation, there is a ton of talent back this year in the form of 16 All-SUNYAC selections.
There will be two new faces on the SUNYAC sidelines this season, as Geneseo and New Paltz made coaching changes in the offseason. Geneseo hired Dominic Oliveri, which isn’t an entirely new face as he has been on the sidelines as an assistant coach for seven years, while New Paltz welcomed Gene Ventriglia to its staff. The other eight head coaches all return.
The 2011 season is about to begin, with most teams opening with nonconference contests on Sept. 1 or 2. Conference play begins on Sept. 23 and runs through October 22, when the regular season champion will be crowned and the six-team playoff field will be set. This year's playoff dates are also set, with the high seed hosting each game. The men's quarterfinals will take place on Saturday, Oct. 29 and the semifinals will be Wednesday, Nov. 2, with the two winners advancing to the championship on Saturday, Nov. 5.
Quick Team Overviews
BROCKPORT
2010 Record: 14-3-3 Overall, 7-2 SUNYAC
Head Coach: Gary LaPietra, 16th season
The Golden Eagles climbed to as high as 13th in the national Division III soccer polls in the 2010 season and made the school’s third trip to the NCAA’s in the past five years, will 2011 bring trip number four? Back for coach Gary LaPietra are 10 players from last year’s squad including nine field players who all played in 15 or more games. While most of the defense returns, featuring third-team All-SUNYAC Brian Duffy, Brian Guildemeyer and Aubrey Brown, the biggest loss is Joe Marino, the standout goalie who earned All-American honors after setting a school record with 12 shutouts. The defense allowed 13 goals in 20 games. On the offensive end, Bobby Ross, 2010 Rookie of the Year and Second-Team All-SUNYAC is the top returning scorer after netting six goals.
Brockport opens its season in the Doug May Tournament at Nazareth on Saturday and Sunday.
BUFFALO STATE
2010 Record: 4-14 Overall, 1-8 SUNYAC
Coach: Rudy Pompert, 12th season
In 2010, the Buffalo State men’s soccer team won two of their first three games, the way any team hopes to start a season. The finish, however, wasn’t what was planned. So the goal for 2011 is to be consistent and find a way to win. On a positive note, 16 of the 20 goals scored last year were by returning players including leading scorer Andrew Dugan who netted four marks. Defensively, the Bengals will be looking for a new starting goalkeeper, and sophomore Ben Spillman gives Buffalo State a viable option. He saw action in two matches last year.
Buffalo State travels down the road to Daemen on Friday September 2 at 7:30 before returning home to host D’Youville on Sept. 7.
CORTLAND
2010 Record: 6-11-1 Overall, 4-5 SUNYAC
Coach: Dwight Hornibrook, 8th season
Cortland earned their sixth straight conference playoff berth in 2010 but may have a lot to overcome to make it seven in a row. The Red Dragons graduated their starting goal-keeper and top four scorers who accounted for 15 of the teams 21 goals. Third-team All-SUNYAC selection Lukas Wear returns to defense and will partner with fellow starter Ian Cusack to give the Red Dragons some time until the offense can find its way. Wear started 14 games and held lead a defense that allowed one goal or less 12 times. Helping out the defense while supporting the front line will be midfielder E.J. Reutemann who played in all 18 games.
Friday Sept. 2 will feature Cortland against Muhlenberg at 6pm.
FREDONIA
2010 Record: 10-9 overall, 7-2 SUNYAC
Coach: PJ Gondek, 13th season
It appears as though the strength for Fredonia in 2011 will lie in the midfield and defense. Senior midfielder David Thoin was All-SUNYAC Third Team making 18 starts while junior midfielder Ryan Smith and senior goalkeeper Bobby McGinnis made the SUNYAC All-Tournament Team. The biggest loss is on offense. The 2010 senior class combined for 21 of the teams 28 goals. Finding viable scoring options to fill the void will go a long way towards the Blue Devils chances at success. Luke Tylutki is the leading scorer among 2010 returnees. He had two goals and three assists as a freshman.
They open this season Sept. 1 vs. St. John Fisher at the Flower City Classic hosted by the University of Rochester.
GENESEO
2010 Record: 9-7-2 Overall, 5-4 SUNYAC
Coach: Dominic Oliveri, 1st season
The Blue Knights enter the 2011 season with new leadership under Interim head coach Dominic Oliveri. But don’t expect too much to change as Oliveri spent the last seven seasons on the sideline as an assistant coach. Geneseo can find experience in any position on the field returning eight players who started 10 or more games. The forward line returns first-team All-SUNYAC Ian Mort, who led the conference in goals (10) and points (22). Colin Begy and John Piaggione can be expected to control the midfield once again as the entire defensive line; Matt Solimano, Rob Loccisano, Pat Lynch and Nick Cava, will be back in full force to help goalkeeper Sam Murphy.
The Knights open their season by travelling to Penn State-Behrend on Saturday, September 3, with the home opener slated for September 17 against York (NY).
NEW PALTZ
2010 Record: 8-9-1 Overall, 4-5 SUNYAC
Coach: Gene Ventriglia, 1st season
First year Coach Gene Ventriglia and the 2011 squad enter the season with hopes of making the SUNYAC tournament after narrowly missing in 2010. The Hawks last tournament appearance came in 2004. The defense expects to be strong returning three of the four starters and both goalies who split time in net. Senior midfielder and first-team All-SUNYAC Tommy Garafola and classmates Joe Emberger and Michael Santalesa will control play in the middle in hopes of setting up third-team All SUNYAC Jimmy Altadonna, who is back as the go-to option on the forward line.
New Paltz opens its schedule on Friday Sept. 2nd against Montclair State which is one of six consecutive contests on the road before taking on Union College at home September 17.
ONEONTA
2010 Record: 11-4-4 Overall, 7-2 SUNYAC
Coach: Ian Byrne, 9th season
The SUNY Oneonta men's soccer team is optimistic about 2011 as they return a six All Conference players and 11 players who were starters throughout the season. Returning senior, Max Siegelman backstopped the Red Dragons with six shutouts while allowing 13 goals in 18 appearances and earned 3rd team All Conference honors. Fifth-year senior's Jordan Flores, Mike Boland and junior Ian Tenzer will lead the defense in 2011. Tenzer finished fourth on the team with eight points. A deep midfield is anchored by senior All Region and First-team All Conference selection Jon Kowalski. Kowalski’s leadership on the field led to six goals and 14 points. Joining Kowalski will be Evan Jedynak, returns after missing the 2010 campaign but was the team's leading scorer in 2009. Spearheading the attack in 2011 will be 2010 leading scorer Danny Josepher who finished with seven goals and three assists.
The Red Dragons will open its 2011 schedule at home against FDU-Florham on Sep. 1.
The Red Dragons will open its 2011 schedule at home against FDU-Florham on Sep. 1.
OSWEGO
2010 Record: 5-10-1 Overall, 3-6 SUNYAC
Coach: Robert Friske, 7th season
The Oswego State men's soccer team will need to increase their scoring opportunities if they hope to return to the SUNYAC playoffs for the fifth time in seven seasons. The lone all-conference selection for Oswego State in 2010, senior Byran Pacchiana, returns to defense where he scored three goals and eight points. The Lakers scored only 11 goals last year and will look to get more productivity upfront out of senior Max Guliani and sophomores John McLoughlin and Mike Naab who all played in at least 12 games.
The Lakers open the 2011 season by hosting D'Youville in the second annual Oswego State Tournament on Friday September 2at 5 p.m.
PLATTSBURGH
2010 Record: 13-5-4 Overall, 6-3 SUNYAC
Coach: Chris Waterbury, 27th season
The Cardinals are coming off a 13-5-4 season that included the SUNYAC Championship title and their tenth NCAA appearance. But 2011 looks like it could be a rebuilding year as graduation disseminated the starting line-up. Senior Pat Shaughnessy and junior Andy Heighington headline the list of returnees as both were second-team All-Conference picks a year ago. Shaughnessy finished with nine goals, second most in the conference, and 20 points. Heighington limited opponents to 17 goals in 2040 minutes of action, posting 11 shutouts. Mike Payne returns to midfield/forward where he added four goals and two assists.
Plattsburgh hosts the Cardinal Classic this weekend and will take on St. Joseph’s College on Friday at 7:30pm followed by Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts on Saturday.
POTSDAM
2010 Record: 2-13-2 Overall, 1-8 SUNYAC
Coach: Adam Parker, 2nd season
With 10 returning letter winners and 15 newcomers, second year head coach Adam Parker looks to turn things around from the teams 2-13-2 record. Potsdam will be led by senior Chris Mack and A.J. Ramirez. Mack, a defender, started 14 games last season and finished tied for the team lead in scoring (6 points). Ramirez, a midfielder, started 16 games and led the team with three goals. Senior Chris Nieves returns to the front line along with some new faces who look to give Potsdam that scoring punch they lacked a season ago. Junior Joe Glackin will returns to the front of the net for the third-straight season. Glackin started 15 of the Bears’ 17 contests in 2010, recording three shutouts and a 2.17 goals-against-average.
Potsdam opens its 2011 season in Newton, Mass., when the Bears face Baruch College on Sept. 3, in the first round of the Lasell Kick-Off Classic.
Potsdam opens its 2011 season in Newton, Mass., when the Bears face Baruch College on Sept. 3, in the first round of the Lasell Kick-Off Classic.
