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Men's Soccer
2009 Season Preview
The Spartans have assembled their largest roster ever and this integrated group of experienced and first-year players begins their first season of play as members of the highly competitive Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference. Eight returning starters are joined by fourteen newcomers, and that has created a positive buzz about the upcoming 2009 season.
“We are starting to build a men’s soccer tradition at D'Youville and we are progressing forward, always learning,” says third-year Head coach Matt McCormick. “We have very solid, dedicated group.”
Last season Dan Cornelius (Orangeville, ONT/Orangeville Secondary) was fifth among NCAA Division III goalkeepers in saves per game, averaging 12.06 stops per contest, and was named the top keeper at the 2008 Spartan Cup Invitational. Also expected to see some positive minutes in net this year are freshmen Brendan Frawley (Rochester, NY/Irondequoit) and Jeremy McLoughlin (Wappinger Falls, NY/Beacon).
Co-captain Mark Wallenhorst (Forestville, NY/St. Francis) and sophomore Julian Boaitey (Essex, ENGLAND/Palmer’s College) are back to lead a young defensive corps. Expected to compete for starting positions on the back line will be Mitch Adsit (Cooperstown, NY/Cooperstown), Brandon Kulp (Brockport, NY/Brockport) and Matt Profeta (Youngstown, NY/Lewiston-Porter).
Co-captain Andrew Fogelsonger (Depew, NY/Lancaster) and junior Erik Kastner (North Tonawanda, NY/Niagara Wheatfield) return to the midfield position and are expected to make a major impact. Freshman Neil Janes (Lee Center, NY/Rome Free Academy) has great offensive ability and will be a valuable addition to the midfield.
Last season’s team MVP Ted Maul (Machias, NY/Pioneer) and sophomore Thomas Barlow (Depew, NY/West Seneca Christian) have the versatility to make contributions at a number of positions. Coach McCormick anticipates freshman Jordan Wabick (West Seneca, NY/Orchard Park), Eric Kummer (Wenonah, NJ/Deptford Township), and Josh Pfunter (Wayland, NY/Wayland-Cohocton) to earn solid playing time and give the Spartans depth.
D’Youville was picked to finish tenth in the AMCC pre-season coaches poll but there is no reason to believe the Spartans couldn’t compete for a berth to the AMCC tournament. Last season against AMCC programs, D’Youville defeated Pitt-Greensburg and was on the short end of very competitive two-goal decisions against Pitt-Bradford, Franciscan, and Hilbert.
About their competition in their new conference, McCormick is optimistic.
“We would love to have solid showing our first year in the AMCC. No conference game will be easy and being the new kid on the block we will be the underdog in almost all the games we play. Playoffs would be a nice start, but we will take it one game at a time.”
The 2009 campaign begins September 1st with a non-conference match at Buffalo State followed by home matches in the second annual Spartan Cup Invitational September 5-6 at All-High Stadium (2885 Main St.; Buffalo, NY; behind Bennett High School). Saturday, September 5th D’Youville faces SUNYIT at noon and Morrisville State September 6th at 10:00 a.m.
