by Warren Kozireski
Men’s Soccer
It was another solid season with the team making the NCAA playoffs for the third consecutive season advancing to the second round and head coach Gary LaPietra surpassing the legendary Huntley Parker Jr. as the winningest coach in program history. And now, the encore.
A key question will be in goal with last year senior Kyle Sauln playing every minute of every game, but the coaching staff is high on Ben Wilt from Pittsburgh, who sat out his freshman year with an injury, and Daemen transfer Max Drexler.
First Team All-SUNYAC selection Bobby Ross and Second Team pick Paul Altobelli return for their junior and sophomore season respectively with Kevin Dorn and Chris O’Gorman as the team returns four of their top five scorers from a year ago.
Other newcomers include Mohawk Valley CC transfer defender Matt Struckle, All-Greater Rochester defender Collin Guettel via two-time champion Spencerport and Nick Tata from Aquinas.
The team begins the season at the Doug May Tournament at RIT with Nazareth. A September 28 home date with Oneonta, who beat the Golden Eagles in last season’s SUNYAC championship game, is marked on the calendar as well.
“We are receiving votes in the National Poll (just outside the top 25), which is a nice position to be in at this time of the season,” said head coach LaPietra.
Women’s Soccer
“We believe we could have a very good season if some things fall into place,” said head coach Joan Schockow.
With four of the top six point-getters from a year ago back in Gina Laing, Kaila Maguire, Sarah Lawson and Katie Goldemeyer and rock-solid Katie Dykes on the backline, the Golden Eagles are well-balanced so teams can’t focus on shutting down just one or two players.
MCC transfers Brittney Lee and Vanessa Gillette will likely step into the starting lineup and freshmen Katie Frieh and Amy Dotterweich also will fight for minutes right away.
A stretch of six of seven conference games on the road starting the last weekend of September in Oneonta and New Paltz could be the dictator of the team’s season.
The squad has been active fundraising for the past several years and is planning a team training trip to Costa Rica in March of 2013.
Field Hockey
The green and gold won 10 games last season marking just the third time in the last 17 seasons they have won 10 or more in a season. Combine that with losing just one senior and gaining back a player who missed all of last season and the ingredients are present for a solid campaign.
Second Team All-SUNYAC goalie Kasey Schriener returns for her senior season after leading the conference in save percentage, finishing second in goals against and tied for the top spot with four shutouts.
The rest of the key players; Gina Stephan, leading assist player Jessica Blind, Asley Elmes, Taryn Rossi, second leading scorer Madison Buckley, Abby Eschen, Alyssa Mills, and Liz Bradshaw all are back along with Jackie Massoni from injury after sitting out last season. She scored 12 points in 15 games played – but just eight starts – two seasons ago.
“I am looking forward to a good recruiting class with seven new kids coming in; two of whom are goalies,” said 13-year head coach Andrea Zurlo, who is 14 victories away from 100 at Brockport. “One of the goalies is a transfer from Keystone College in Pennsylvania.
“I expect all newcomers to fight for playing time. With losing only one player and gaining back a previous contributor, I look forward to seeing the competition level rise in all players. I am looking forward to starting the season and have high expectations. I hope we can finish in the top 4 this season.”
Women’s Volleyball
With the former head coach leaving mid-summer, former Golden Eagle standout Bethany Schlegel moves in as interim head coach after two years as an assistant for a team hoping to rebound from a 12-25 season. Schlegel stands second in school history in career digs and still holds the single season mark with 681 set in 2007.
“Throughout the season, the coaching staff and I will be emphasizing the importance of hard work and applying the knowledge that we gain over the course of the season,” said Schlegel. “A number of players are expected to be key contributors. The coaching staff will work to maximize our opportunities to be successful and utilize the personnel that we have. The expectation is for us to compete at a high level and to grow and develop.
SUNYAC West Rookie of the Year Jamie Snyder returns and moves to outside hitter with seniors Sara Zelko and Nicole Jones at setter and middle blocker and offensive contributors with sophomore Chelsea Ross at libero/defensive specialist.
Incoming freshman Liz Dates will also be expected to help defensively with fellow newcomers Hannah Sawicki, a right side hitter, and Hannalee Fordyce, a junior transfer from Nassau Community College, to play either outside or middle and be an offensive option.
Hilbert, Potsdam and Alfred come to Brockport September 28-29 for the Brockport Invitational and the Golden Eagles will host the SUNYAC Tournament the first weekend in November.
Cross Country
With a new interim head coach in Brockport alum Pete Manktelow, the Golden Eagles seek to improve on last year’s sixth and seventh place finishes in SUNYAC for the women and men respectively and 17th place finishes for both at the Atlantic Regionals.
The men return most of their top seven runners from last year including seniors Josh Coon (Brockport), Chris Wilbur (Brockport) and Casey Ross. They are joined by juniors Andrew Baker, Brian Vogan and Nate Matthews.
Geneseo High School graduate Devon Rodriguez is the standout men’s recruit who should make an immediate impact to the team.
The women are led by sophomore Rachel Malone, who is the school record holder in the Outdoor 10,000m and the 2012 ECAC Champion in the 10,000m. “One year older and more experienced, Rachel should be one of the best runners in our conference,” said Manktelow.
Senior Chrissy Wolniewicz and junior Sarah Ritchie will help lead the large recruiting class of 20 freshmen and transfers.
“Chrissy and Sarah both have a wealth of knowledge and commitment to the sport that will help guide our younger runners. I expect that by the end of the season, three or four of our seven scoring female runners will be freshmen or transfers.”
“With a quality recruiting class and a roster full of veteran returners, I anticipate that both the men and women will be able to recreate some of the team and individual successes that myself and other Brockport alumni have experienced over the storied history of the program.”
Women’s Tennis
Second year head coach Ben Klempka welcomes his first recruiting class and it will prove key to the season as the team returns just three players back from last year’s squad.
Mackenzie Rounds was 4-7 at top singles last season while Katelyn Richenberg and Lauren Bohman were a combined 15-6 at lower singles play with Richenberg 8-2 with various partners in doubles play. They will be counted on to mentor the newcomers and contribute at both singles and doubles positions this year.
“I have many newcomers I am looking to this year,” said Klempka. “Rachel Lamont, a sophomore who did not play last year, should make an impact in singles. Teresa Dinovo, a transfer student, should also do well this year. Four or five freshmen will also compete for a chance at starting for Brockport.
“With so many new players I am looking forward to a strong team in the years to come. Although we have a young team, through hard work and practice we should be able to compete well in the SUNYAC conference.”
Football
The Golden Eagles won three of their final five games last season and are hoping to take that momentum into the start of the 2012 season. They will have many of their offensive weapons back, but much will again depend on how well the defense rebounds from allowing an average of over 30 points per game.
Joe Scabilia returns at quarterback one year after completing 62% of his passes and throwing for 11 touchdowns and running for three more. Running back Tyrone Nichols exploded onto the scene last year with 694 yards rushing and seven touchdowns and caught two more scores. Jake Spalik is the primary receiver with 47 receptions a year ago with four touchdowns.
Free safety Ross Ragonessi and linebacker Derek DeCandia are the primary veterans on what will be a reworked defense. “I’m not sure who, but one or two of our defensive line class will be expected to step up and contribute early,” said head coach Rocco Salomone.
Brockport announced last spring that they would be switching from the New Jersey Athletic Conference to the Empire Eight Conference in 2014, so this is the next-to-last season with heavy travel with games at Rowan, Montclair and Kean – each a seven hour trip minimum.
