Men's Soccer 2007 Season Preview

Syracuse head coach Dean Foti welcomes back a slew of veteran players for 2007, including eight starters and several others who saw significant playing time in 2006. The amount of experienced players marks a change in that Foti has needed rookies to step in and play major roles for the Orange in the last two years.

SU’s veteran club will be put to the test as Foti has put together a very challenging schedule. In addition to a BIG EAST slate that includes matchups with six 2006 NCAA Tournament teams, it includes road non-conference dates with Big 10 opponents Penn State and Ohio State, as well as a pairing with perennial BIG EAST title contender Seton Hall at the Mayor’s Cup in Oneonta, N.Y.

Foti understands with matches against top-quality competition every week it will be important to take advantage of goal-scoring opportunities.

"We have to be more efficient than we were last year when we get chances to put the ball in the net," Foti said. "Fortunately, we have a contingent of veteran attacking players poised for breakout seasons."

He also believes limiting defensive errors will be key to a successful campaign.

"Defensively, we need to limit mistakes in our half of the field," Foti said. "We need to perform consistently throughout the course of a game and from opponent to opponent throughtout the season. With the level of difficulty in our schedule, if we don’t our mistakes will turn into goals for our opponents."

FORWARDS
The good news is that the Orange returns its top two leading scorers from last year in sophomore Hansen Woodruff and junior Kyle Hall. They are as potent a scoring combination as any in the conference and they will be supported by a host of experienced players up front that includes junior Spencer Schomaker, who is completely healthy after missing the first half of last season with an inury.

The bad news is that junior Pete Rowley, who has eight goals in the past two years, will miss the 2007 season after suffering an injury in spring practice.

Rowley’s loss will hurt, but, overall, this unit has the combination of speed and size, including four active players who are at least 6-1, to produce goals from anywhere in the offensive third of the field.

Justin Arena (Freshman, 5-11, 185)
- Scored 25 goals and had 30 assists in four years at Winston Churchill High School
- All-county selection

Kyle Hall (Junior, 5-8, 155)
- Second-leading scorer in 2006 (14 points)
- Started all 16 games last season
- Two goals, including the game-winner, at Loyola

Eric Kleiman (Junior, 5-10, 170)
- Appeared in eight matches, with four starts, in 2006

Erik Kreider (Sophomore, 6-1, 180)
- Made his collegiate debut in SU’s 2006 win against Binghamton

Tom Perevegyencev (Sophomore, 6-1, 180)
- Didn’t appear in any matches last season

Pete Rowley (Junior, 6-4, 200) - Injured
- Third-leading scorer in 2006 (six points)
- SU’s active leader with 10 goals

Spencer Schomaker (Junior, 6-3, 180)
- Played in nine matches last year after missing the first seven due to injury
- Notched an assist on the game-winning goal at Villanova

Elliott Townsend (Sophomore, 6-4, 180)
- Played in seven games with one start in 2006

Hansen Woodruff (Sophomore, 5-10, 160)
- 2006 team leader in points (16) and goals (7)
- Team Offensive MVP
- Tied for seventh in the BIG EAST in goals
- His 16 points were the most for an SU freshman since 2001

MIDFIELDERS
The Orange’s midfield will be the youngest position group heading into 2007 with the departure of four-year standout Richard Asante and the loss of junior Isaac Collings to a season-ending injury. Replacing Asante’s leadership and Collings’ offensive skills will fall on the shoulders of sophomore Luis Martinez, who started 15 matches last year and made an immediate impact with three assists. Martinez will mentor a group that consists of redshirt freshman Geoff Lytle, true freshman Nick Olivetti and sophomore transfer Kenny Caceros.

Several players, including impact newcomer Brien Chamney, could see significant time in the midfield in a defensive role.

Kenny Caceros (Sophomore, 6-0, 175)
- Played in 16 matches last year at the University of Maine and recorded one assist

Brien Chamney (Sophomore, 6-3, 200)
- 2005 South Region West Rookie of the Year in the Ontario Provincial Soccer League

Isaac Collings (Junior, 5-9, 160) - Injured
- Appeared in four matches in 2006 due to injury
- Career-best three points vs. Niagara (1g, 1a) in the 2006 season-opener

Geoff Lytle (Redshirt Freshman, 5-10, 160)
- Redshirted in 2006

Luis Martinez (Sophomore, 5-3, 145)
- Second on the team with three assists last year
- Started 15 matches

Ryan McCormick (Redshirt Freshman, 6-0, 175)
- Redshirted last season

Nick Olivetti (Freshman, 6-1, 150)
- All-time leading scorer at Lewisburg High School
- Two-time all-league selection

DEFENDERS
SU’s backline is arguably its strongest position group with three seniors anchoring the unit. It’s a fact that isn’t lost on Foti as he prepares for 2007.

"It’s a great to have a group of experienced defenders that have been through the rigors of a BIG EAST season," Foti said.

Three-time Orange Defensive MVP and 2007 captain Brad Peetoom returns to his familiar role of center back. He will be flanked by classmates James Goodwin and Aaron Bonser at outside back. All three players have more than 45 collegiate matches under their belts.

Sophomore Pete Hill joined Peetoom at center back for the last half of 2006 and made his presence felt offensively, as well as defensively, notching a goal and an assist last year.

The SU coaching staff is excited about the potential of newcomer Karol Wasielewski. The Gdynia, Poland native is expected to contribute immediately in the middle of the Orange’s backline, which could mean a shift to the defensive midfield for Hill.

Juniors Tyler Stoviak and Ryan Teager will vie for playing time, and Daniel Sherry and Scott Campbell will also have an opportunity to showcase their skills after redshirting last season.

Aaron Bonser (Senior, 6-0, 160)
- Started 13 matches in 2006
- Has appeared in 47 career games

Scott Campbell (Redshirt Freshman, 5-10, 175)
- Redshirted last season

James Goodwin (Senior, 5-11, 160)
- Has an assist against Seton Hall in 2006
- Team’s active leader in games played (52)

Pete Hill (Sophomore, 6-1, 170)
- Notched a goal and assist last year
- Appeared in all 16 matches in 2006, including starting the last five

Brad Peetoom (Senior, 6-1, 180)
- Three-time SU Defensive MVP
- Started all 49 matches of his career

Daniel Sherry (Redshirt Freshman, 6-0, 165)
- Redshirted last season

Tyler Stoviak (Junior, 5-8, 155)
- Saw playing time in last year’s win vs. Binghamton

Ryan Teager (Junior, 5-11, 167)
- Played the first match of his career in 2006 against Rutgers

Karol Wasielewski (Junior, 6-4, 198)
- Member of the U-16, U-17, and U-18 Polish National Teams

GOALKEEPERS
The Orange has four keepers on its 2007 roster. Junior Robert Cavicchia will enter his third season as the starter. Cavicchia has started all but one match in the last two years and ranks in the top 10 in several of SU’s all-time statistical categories. His experience and poise combined with SU’s veteran defenders gives the Orange one of the stingiest defenses in the BIG EAST.

Cavicchia will be backed up by junior Robert Smith and sophomore Andrew Usyk. Both keepers played a half in 2006, combining for a 1-0 shutout of Binghamton.

Freshman Christian Iordanou will add depth to the group. Iordanou was a two-time team captain at Manhasset High School and has great size (6-3, 215).

Robert Cavicchia (Junior, 6-0, 180)
- Tied for the league lead in saves against BIG EAST opponents last season (60)
- Ranks in the top 10 at SU in career saves, shutouts, wins and goals-against average
- Recorded four shutouts in 2006

Christian Iordanou (Freshman, 6-3, 215)
- 145 saves as a junior

Robert Smith (Junior, 6-2, 183)
- Made two saves in 2006
- Earned his first career win vs. Binghamton

Andrew Usyk (Sophomore, 6-0, 180)
- Made two saves against Binghamton
- Played 30 minutes against the Bearcats and combined with Smith for the shutout

The Orange reports to campus on Tuesday, Aug. 14. Its first fall training session is scheduled for the following day.

Syracuse University Athletics

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