Orange Men's Soccer Ready for 2004 Season
8/19/2004 9:18:12 PM | Men's Soccer
Take three experienced goalkeepers who notched a 1.47 goals against average in 2003, add in two returning starters from a defense that allowed less than two goals per game, mix with a midfield consisting of a fifth-year senior and last season’s top scorer, and blend with two returning forwards who have combined for 18 goals and 21 assists in their careers. Mix well and garnish with eight talented newcomers, including a junior college All-American. This is the Orange’s recipe for success in 2004.
After several near-misses last season, including a school-record five ties and five one-goal losses, Syracuse has the pieces in place to make a run at its first BIG EAST Tournament appearance since the 2000 season. The Orange returns four of its six top scorers from a year ago. Sophomore midfielder Frank Bruno, last season’s top goal scorer, returns along with junior forward Jeff Evans who tied for the team lead in both points and assists. Seniors Jarett Park and Ryan Hickey are back for their final season. Both are looking for redemption after injury-riddled junior seasons. The defense returns two-year starter Mike McCallion and junior Alejandro Nuno, who started 12 games last season, helping SU limit opponents to two-or-fewer goals 10 times, including five shutouts. Junior Alim Karim is back in net after logging 1,469 minutes of work with a 1.53 goals against average and 65 saves last season. Junior Rich Scheer and senior David Rabazzi also return to provide depth in the goal.
How well the mix of returning talent and the large number of incomers blends will determine the Orange’s fate in 2004.
"Any time you have eight new players, it’s going to have an impact on team chemistry and on the way we play," said SU head coach Dean Foti. "We think they’re good players, but it is still their first year and they have to settle in. How quickly they do that will really dictate how comfortable they are on the field. It will be interesting to see how this team’s chemistry and personality develop."
FORWARDS
One of Syracuse’s biggest goals for 2004 is to improve offensive production. Park and Evans provide a solid one-two punch up front for the Orange offense. Both are experienced players who have proven they can produce. Park is already among the Orange’s top five in all-time assists (20), assists per game (0.43) and points per game (1.02). Evans finished his freshman campaign in 2002 with two goals and three assists in the final four games. He carried the momentum into last season, registering three goals and three assists. Another option up top is redshirt freshman Isaac Collings. Collings missed last season with a knee injury suffered while playing for the U.S. Under-18 National Team. A graduate of Oriskany High School, Collings was a McDonald’s All-American in 2002. He scored 23 goals and had 25 assists as a senior, finishing his scholastic career with 91 goals and 91 assists. Added to the mix this season are freshmen Nick Mafi and Pete Rowley. Mafi tallied six goals and six assists as a senior. In his four years at Thomas Worthington High School (Ohio), Mafi helped the Cardinals win a state championship, two conference championships, three district titles and two regional crowns. Rowley finished his scholastic career at Muhlenberg High School (Pa.) with 66 goals and 65 assists. He was the Berks County Player of the Year and was named an NSCAA Regional All-American in 2003. Senior Chuck Sullivan, who is in his third season with the Orange, will also provide depth at the forward position. Sullivan, a transfer from St. John Fisher, has been hampered by injuries and has not yet played a game for Syracuse.
"One of the questions we have to get answered this season is can we consistenly score goals?" Foti said. "We have guys who have scored and created chances, but it needs to be something we can sustain during the entire season."
MIDFIELDERS
The midfield is perhaps the Orange’s deepest position. Bruno is the Orange’s top returning goals scorer, while Hickey provides leadership and experience in his fifth season. Also in the mix is sophomore Richard Asante, who tallied a goal and two assists last season. Bruno and Asante both gained valuable experience after last season while playing for the Under-20 Canadian National Team that advanced to the quarterfinals of the FIFA World Youth Championship. Hickey has played in 43 games for SU despite being hampered by groin and hip injuries for most of his time with the Orange. Collings could also see time in the midfield depending on the lineup. Five newcomers will battle for playing time led by junior Ezra Prendergast. Prendergast, a transfer from Globe Institute of Technology in New York City, was an NSCAA first-team All -American and an NJCAA second-team All-American in 2003. He played for both the Under-17 and Under-20 Jamaican National Teams prior to coming to the U.S. Freshmen James Goodwin, Alexi Katsetos and Anton Nicholls, along with junior college transfer Jonathan Jones, will also vie for time in the midfield. Goodwin registered 10 goals and five assists in 2003 at Merrimack High School (N.H.) and tallied 30 goals and 24 assists for his career. He earned first-team all-state honors as a senior. Katsetos joined the Orange in the spring of 2004. He played five years at Roy C. Ketchum High School (N.Y.), scoring 14 goals and had 11 assists as a senior in 2002. He notched 30 goals and 23 assists for his career. Nicholls, a native of Bridgetown Barbados and a member of the Barbados Soccer Academy, is currently in the player pool for the Barbados Under-20 National Team. Jones, another Barbados product, comes to Syracuse from Barbados Community College. He has played on the Barbados Under-19 National Team, the Under-20 National Team, and is currently in the pool of players for Barbados’ World Cup Team. Other options in the midfield include sophomore Marcel Laniado, Mafi and Sullivan.
"We have a combination of returning players back in the midfield, and I’m optimistic about the 
possibilities that some of the newcomers present," Foti said. "We would like to generate more goals from the midfield so we can take some of the pressure off the front players."
DEFENDERS
Three key pieces of last year’s back line return for the 2004 campaign. Junior Mike McCallion was one of five players to play in all 16 games last season, splitting time between the midfield and defense. He was part of all five of SU’s shutouts. Also back are junior Alejandro Nuno and sophomore Aaron Bonser. Nuno played in 13 games a year ago, starting 12. He registered one assist and played in three of SU’s five shutouts during his first season of action. Bonser played in 15 games, including all five of the Orange shutouts, and started four times. Asante also is experienced in the back. He played defense in Syracuse’s 2-1 win against 22nd-ranked Connecticut last season, earning BIG EAST Rookie of the Week honors for his efforts. A pair of freshman will also be in the hunt for back-line playing time. Brad Peetoom, a product of Abbotsford, B.C., was a member of the Under-17 Canadian National Team, and is currently in the player pool for the Under-20 National Team. Tyler Stoviak played five seasons at the McDonogh School in Maryland, helping the team to three state titles. He tallied 10 career assists and was part of 34 shutouts in his scholastic career. Junior Pat Gallagher, who scored a goal in 10 games last season, will also vie for playing time. Goodwin, sophomore Edvin Hot, Jones, Prendergast are also viable options in the back.
"I’m very optimistic about the back of the team, where we have tremendous depth and experience," Foti said. "We will have flexibility in terms of personnel options and the formations that we play."
GOALKEEPERS
Three veteran keepers will patrol the net for the Orange in 2004 led by junior Alim Karim. Karim started 15 of SU’s 17 games a year ago, posting a 1.53 goals against average, 65 saves and four shutouts. Karim pulled double duty following the season, playing on both the Canadian Under-20 squad that competed at the FIFA World Youth Championships and the Canadian Under-23 team that attempted to qualify for the 2004 Olympics. After just two seasons, Karim already ranks ninth all-time at SU with 154 saves. Senior David Rabazzi saw action in two games last season, including one start. He made two saves and did not allow a goal in 62 minutes of work. Junior Rich Scheer also played in two games with one appearance in the starting lineup. Scheer went 1-1 with 1.60 goals against average in 113 minutes of work. Scheer and Rabazzi combined on a 4-0 shutout of Cornell last season.
"We have three good options," Foti said. "Alim brings international experince to the table. Rich provides an element of athleticism, and David has a blue-collar work ethic that makes him a solid player. We expect the competition to be intense during preseason."
SCHEDULE
The 2004 slate features a variety of opponents, including the annual 10-game test known as the BIG EAST. The Orange play four of the six conference teams that qualified for the NCAA Tournament last season. SU begins with three straight games against New York Region teams. The Orange host St. Bonaventure on Sept. 1, Adelphi on Sept. 5 and then travel to Cornell on Sept. 8. The conference season opens at home on Sept. 11 versus Boston College. SU will also play non-conference road games at Oneonta, Albany and Colgate. For the remainder of the BIG EAST season, the Orange will travel to Pittsburgh, West Virginia, Notre Dame, Connecticut and Villanova, while hosting Georgetown, Seton Hall, Rutgers and Providence. The BIG EAST Tournament starts Nov. 6 with the quarterfinals to be played on the campus of the top four seeds. The semifinal round is Nov. 12 with the championship game on Nov. 14.
"In order to compete in the BIG EAST, you have to come out and play hard every day," Foti said. "If we can develop a blue-collar mentality, I think we have enough talent to compete at a high level."
