THE COLLEGE at BROCKPORT GOLDEN EAGLES (SUNYAC)
Last season: Finished 3-10-2 and 2-6-1 in conference
Coach: Gary Lapietra (210-127-43 – .609 winning percentage/22nd season. Became the school’s all-time winningest coach on October 15th, 2012)
Top returners: Justin Mercer (Sr. Defensive Midfielder/Brockport HS); Connor Melanophy (Sr. Defender/Arlington HS); Quintin Volpe (Jr. Midfielder/St Anthony’s HS); Christopher Ahern (Sr. Defender/North Rockland HS); Stephen Latino (Sr. Defender/ Our Lady of Lourdes HS) and Christopher Shepard (Sr. Defender/Lindenhurst HS)
Top newcomers: Jason Hayes (So. Midfielder/Brockport HS) and Russell Hines (So. Midfielder/ Jordan Elbridge HS)
First game: September 1st vs. R.I.T. in the Doug May Classic. Complete schedule here.
Outlook: The College at Brockport is preparing for a very competitive non-league and SUNYAC schedule. The Golden Eagles will be a very young talented team looking to improve daily so we can fight for a post season spot in the SUNYAC tournament.
FINGER LAKES COMMUNITY COLLEGE LAKERS (NJCAA Region III)
Last season: Finished 8-8
Coach: Vincenzo Correa (8-8/second season)
Top returners: Angelo Hutchins (So. Defender/Rochester); Mason Fess (Jr. GK/Wayne, N.Y.) and Joel Greene (So. Defender/Big Flatts, N.Y.)
Top newcomers: “We have 24 new faces this year and we are excited about all of them,” Correa said. “I think that each of them brings a certain skill set that translates well into our system of play. This year’s recruiting class is a group of determined young athletes that I believe will make our community proud and continue to move the program in a positive direction.”
Next Game: Saturday, September 2nd vs. St. John Fisher College (JV). Complete schedule here.
MONORE COMMUNITY COLLEGE TRIBUNES (Western New York Athletic Conference/NJCAA Region III)
Last season: Finish: 9-5-1. Region III Champions. Lost to Rowan College at Burlington County in the Northeast District Tournament
Coach: Nelson Cupello (348-129-35/29 seasons)
Top returners: Vincent Mauro (So. Midfielder/2 goals, 2 assists); Ryan Gray (So. Midfielder 1 goal, 2 assists) and Anthony Paris (So. Midfielder 4 goals, 1 assist/First team All-Region. MVP of the Region III championship)
Top newcomers: Matt Murray (Fr. Defender/Cork, Ireland); Michael Hunter (Fr. GK/Rochester – World of Inquiry); Kevin Kabongo (Fr. Midfielder/Toronto) and Jordan Sullivan (Fr. Midfielder/London, England)
Next game: Saturday, September 2nd vs. ASA College, 2 pm. Complete Schedule Here.
Outlook: MCC will certainly have a different look, as the roster features close to 20 new faces. The Tribunes, however, will still be the favorites to come out of Region III. The team brings back just 12 goals from last year’s squad, but Cupello is counting on Mauro, Gray, and Paris to provide a solid scoring punch as well as veteran presence on the pitch. Hunter, a freshman keeper, will be looked upon to anchor the defense.
NAZARETH GOLDEN FLYERS (Empire 8)
Last season: Finished 6-8-2 overall, 1-4-2 E8 (5th place)
Coach: Matt Tantalo, (126-101-21/15 seasons – three at Elmira, 11 at Keuka, one at Nazareth)
Top returners : Chris Rowland (Sr. F – 1g, 6a in 2016); Caz Lopata-Linn (Soph. D); Frankie Viavattene (Soph. M); Derek France (Soph. D); AJ Muoio (Jr. M); Dylan Pettit (Gr. F/returning from knee surgery); Dilan Campbell (Soph. D); Jonathan Montella (Jr. M); Brian Wilkin (Soph. G/1.24 GAA, 1 shutout)
Top newcomers: Matt Gasbarre (Fr. F, 6-3, 185 from Fairport); Zach Mullally (Fr. M, 5-9, 155 from Canandaigua); Serkan Ozay (Fr. M, 5-10, 160 from Webster); Adrian Padilla (Fr. D, 5-10, 160 from Pittsford); Justin Pumputis (Fr. D, 6-4, 185 from Aquinas)
First game: Sept. 1 vs. Rutgers-Newark at 5 p.m. at home. Complete schedule here.
Outlook: Nazareth improved from a winless season in 2015 to a six-win campaign in 2016 under the direction of new coach Matt Tantalo, who won more than 100 games in 11 seasons at Keuka. The Golden Flyers will look to make another step forward in 2017 with a roster that will feature 11 new players and just three seniors. Nazareth lost its top scorer, Lucas Bennett (7 goals) to graduation, but will rely on some experienced defenders to be competitive in the Empire 8. Sophomore keeper Brian Wilkin had a strong first season, but missed the last eight games with a broken wrist. Freshman Matt Gasbarre is a possible player to watch after leading Fairport to a Section Five title in 2016.
ROBERTS WESLEYAN REDHAWKS (East Coast Conference)
Last season: Finished 4-11-1 and ninth place out of 10 teams in the ECC.
Coach: Scott Reber (14-18-3/third season)
Top returners: John Ciavaglia (Sr. GK – started 14 games last season; logging 1,226 minutes in net; made 73 saves on the season); Sam Moody (Sr. Midfielder/Forward – five goals, three assists last season; was the second leading point scorer on team) and Elijah Jarvis (So. Defender)
Top newcomers: Marko Mitrevski (Fr. Midfielder/Churchville- Chili HS) and Johanz Tusiime (Fr. Forward/Our Savior New American School in Centereach, N.Y.)
Next game: Saturday, September 2nd vs. Seton Hill.
Outlook: Roberts will need players to step up on offense this season and find the back of the net. Returning players only combined for nine goals last season. It’s a fairly young team, but the newcomers will play an important role on the team this season.
ROCHESTER INSTITUTE of TECHNOLOGY TIGERS (Liberty League)
Last season: Finished 5-9-3 overall; 1-6-1 Liberty League (8th)
Coach: Bill Garno (172-161-37/22nd season)
Top returners: Peter Cinibulk (Jr., GK/ 0.95 goals against average, .810 save percentage, five shut outs, Honorable Mention All-Liberty League selection); Will Schiesswohl (So. Midfielder/ 15 games played, 921 minutes, Honorable Mention All-Liberty League selection); Anthony DeFeo (Jr. Forward/ two goals, two assists, six points, led the team in scoring) and Simon Garno (So. Midfielder/ team-leading three assists)
Top newcomers: Jared Short (Fr. Defender/Midfielder – 6-0, 190, Grafton, WI); Mason Perry (Fr. Defender – 6-1, 170, Victor, N,Y.) and Nick Simone (Fr. Forward – 5-8, 165, Hilton, NY).
“Both Nick Simone (midfield) and Jared Short (center defense) have had very good preseasons and are currently projected to start on Friday,” Garno said. “Pretty pleased with the competitive level of all seven freshmen, and expect other to contribute as well.”
First game: Friday, September 2 – Home vs The College at Brockport – 5 p.m. Complete schedule here.
Outlook: RIT looks to rebound after winning five games in 2016. The Tigers return junior keeper Peter Cinibulk who was an Honorable Mention All-Liberty League selection in 2017. Up front, juniors Anthony DeFeo and Gene Sicoli along with seniors Dean Kouroupas and Akram Meza who will add depth return in 2017. DeFeo led the team in scoring last season, while Sicoli dished out a pair of assists. Sophomores Simon Garno and Will Schiesswohl will lead the midfield while Cam Shipley, and co-captain Tristan Scott will lead the back-line along with verterans Mike Reverdatto and co-captain Dakota Kegler. The Tigers open the season versus SUNY Brockport (Sept. 1) and No. 8 Rutgers-help Newark (Sept. 2) at home in the Doug May Memorial Classic.
St. JOHN FISHER COLLEGE CARDINALS (Empire 8 Conference)
Last season: Finished 6-10-3 and won the Empire 8 Conference title
Coach: Rob Searl (148-190-38/22nd season)
Assistant coach: Chris Bowman
Top returners: Dallas Kaiser (Jr. Defender/2016 Empire 8 Honorable Mention/Pittsford Sutherland); Matthew Kaiser (So. Forward/2016 Empire 8 Honorable Mention & Empire 8 Championship game MVP – six goals, one assist, 13 total points/Pittsford Sutherland); Jeff Meyers (So. Forward/Empire 8 Honorable Mention – seven goals, 14 points); Bryan Rollins (Sr. Forward/ Empire 8 Honorable Mention – four goals, two assists, 10 total points); Tyler Randall (Jr. Midfielder – three goals, six assists, 12 total points/Churchville-Chili) and Joe Catalfamo (Jr. GK/83 total saves, 1.67 goals against average)
Top newcomers: Justin Boule (Fr. Forward, 6’2); Aaron Wilkins (So. Transfer, Midfielder 6’2) and Joey Balls (So. Transfer, Midfielder 6’0)
First game: September 1st, 4 p.m. vs. Misericordia @ University of Rochester Flower City Classic
Outlook: St. John Fisher will be looking to make another post season run after posting its first ever conference title in 2016 and to get back into the NCAA championship.
UNIVERSITY of ROCHESTER YELLOWJACKETS (University Athletic Association)
Last season: Finished 9-5-3, 2-3-2 in UAA and advanced to first round of NCAA playoffs
Coach: Chris Apple (211-87-49/19th season overall-16 years at UR, 192 wins, 59 losses, 46 ties)
Top returners: Patrick Conway (Jr. GK/ 42 saves, 1.08 GAA, six shutouts); Redd Brown (Sr. GK 40 saves, 0.92 GAA, three solo ShO, three shared); Lucas Loecher (Jr. Defender); Lasha Alkhazishvili (Jr. Defender); Geoff Rouin (Jr. Midfielder/two goals, one assist, five points); Bryce Ikeda (Jr. Midfielder/two goals, three assists, seven points) and Mitch Volis (So. Forward/four goals)
First game: Friday, Sept. 1, 7 pm vs. Illinois Wesleyan University in opening round of UR Flower City Classic at Fauver Stadium. Other teams are St. John Fisher and Misericordia University (PA). Complete Schedule Here.
Outlook: Rochester has reached the NCAA Division III playoffs 10 times in the last 12 years, four times in the last five years… Yellowjackets will make that a target again this season, built on a sturdy defense and a balanced attack… In 2016, UR posted six shutouts by then-sophomore GK Patrick Conway (1.08 GAA, 42 saves) and held five other teams to one goal. He will be challenged for the starter’s shirt by senior Redd Brown who sat out last year, but had a 0.92 GAA in 2015 with 40 saves, three solo shutouts, and three shared shutouts… Graduation claimed three All-UAA performers: F Jeff Greblick, M Ben Swanger, D Tanner Chester… Eight men who scored at least one goal in 2016 return to the lineup. Mitch Volis had four goals. Bryce Ikeda had two goals and a team-best three assists. Other returnees who started all 17 games last year are M Geoff Rouin, D Lasha Alkhazishvili, and D Lucas Loecher.
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