ROCHESTER, N.Y. (August 29, 2012) – The Men's Soccer team begin their 2012 season on the road this weekend with two games at the Nyack Invitational. The Redhawks will square off with the hosts, Nyack College, tomorrow at 4pm and Bloomsburg (Pa.) University on Saturday at 1pm.
Last year, the Redhawks capped off a memorable year by winning the American Mideast Conference Tournament en route to earning a berth into the NAIA National Championships for the first time in more than a decade.
This year, however, will be remembered as the year of change as the college transitions from the NAIA to the NCAA Division II. With the current transition (which will be completed for the 2014-2015 academic year), the Redhawks are now members of the East Coast Conference (ECC) which is based in Long Island, N.Y.
SCOUTING ROBERTS WESLEYAN (0-0-0/0-0-0 ECC)
The Redhawks finished 2011 with an 11-10-1 record after advancing to the first round of the NAIA National Championships.
Roberts Wesleyan brings back the core of the team, including forward
Michael Cunningham and midfielder
Johnny Lobene who finished second and third in points last season. Cunningham finished 2011 with 14 points (six goals and two assists) while Lobene had 12 points (four goals and four assists).
Sophomore goalkeeper
Michael Scavone returns this year to improve upon a successful debut season. In 2011, Scavone recorded four shutouts and kept his goals against average to 1.26 goals per game.
SCOUTING NYACK (0-0-0/0-0-0 CCAC)
The Warriors made a deep run in the post season a year ago, advancing to the NCAA East Regional tournament after winning the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference tournament. The tournament title was Nyack's second in the last three years.
Nyack returns a solid core of last year's team, including junior midfielder Felix Horn (Halle, Germany). Last year, Horn was selected to the CACC All-Conference First Team in addition to the NCCAA All-American honors.
In goal, the Warriors lost NCCAA All-American Second Team selection Adrian Narvaez to graduation. Narvaez allowed just 1.02 goals per game while notching nine shut-outs in 2011. This year, the Warriors have three senior goalkeepers looking to the fill Narvaez's shoes.
SCOUTING BLOOMSBURG (0-0-0/0-0-0 PSAC)
The Huskies are looking to build upon a successful 2011 campaign after advancing to the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference tournament championship game. Despite going 7-9-2 last year, Bloomsburg upset the PSAC's top seeded team to advance to the championship.
Returning for the Huskies up front is senior Bryce Schaffer (Gettysburg, Pa.). Schaffer has led the program in goals the last two seasons. In 2011, the senior scored eight goals. Fran Miller, a junior, is looking to build on last year's four goal out-put.
The PSAC preseason poll has the Huskies finishing the season in fifth place in 2012.
UP NEXT
The Redhawks make their home debut next Wednesday when they host former conference foe, Point Park University at 4:30pm. The Pioneers, an NAIA member, begin their first year as members of the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
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