2014 Roster
2014 Schedule
2013 Statistics

NEWBURGH, N.Y. – The defending Skyline Conference Champion Mount Saint Mary College men's soccer team heads into 2014 with higher expectations and greater goals after tasting the program's greatest success a year ago. While the team looks stronger on paper than it did during its championship run last year, head coach Kevin Longacre understands that another championship does not come so easily.
 
"We understand that winning it is easier than winning it again," said Longacre. "This year, everyone's big game in our conference is going to be us because we won it, and that certainly makes it more difficult."
 
The team won its first Skyline Title in 2013 after a spectacular run through the conference tournament. After blowing out St. Joseph's College (L.I.) in the quarterfinal round, 7-1, the Knights advanced over No. 2 seed Purchase College after coming out on top in a penalty-kick tiebreaker. The Knights were neck-and-neck with Farmingdale State College in the title game before Michael Ennis (Carmel, N.Y.) netted the game-winner in the 90th minute to clinch the Knights' first championship.
 
The Knights earned an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament with the championship victory, and they drew nationally-ranked No. 7 York College (Pa.) in the opening round. Coming in as heavy underdogs, the Knights played a heck of a game, taking York to a scoreless overtime before a header off a corner kick squeaked into the net to end the Knights' run. The late-season experiences give Longacre and the returning Knights something to build off of for the new campaign.
 
"Losing in the NCAA Tournament, and the way we did also, gave the guys instant motivation for this year," said Longacre. "Not just wanting to get back there, but recognizing how close they were to winning that first match and knowing they can compete with the big boys."
 
18 student-athletes return for the Knights this season, while eight newcomers enter the fold. Three key players from last year's run have returned to lead the team in its repeat attempt. Senior Matt Garcia (Wappingers Falls, N.Y.) was one of the top scorers in the nation last season, and was honored with All-Skyline First Team, ECAC First-Team All Star and NSCAA/Continental Tire All-East Region Second Team honors last year. Graduate student Sean Lockwood (Manahawkin, N.J.) joined Garcia on the All-Skyline and ECAC All-Star First Teams last year, and was also named Skyline Men's Soccer Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Ennis earned a spot on the All-Skyline Second Team in 2013, and was named the Skyline Conference Championship Most Outstanding Player after his game-winning goal in the conference finals.
 
"We scored a lot of goals last year – I think we were seventh in the country in goals per game – and those three guys were the main component of that," said Longacre of Garcia, Lockwood and Ennis. "But we expect to get goals from other places this year too. And if we're going to be better than we were last year, we need goals from other places."
 
While those three will anchor the Knights' front line, Longacre is hoping the midfield will contribute more in 2014. The Knights have numerous returners who will look to carve out larger roles in the midfield, including Nick Ciani (Vernon, N.J.), Cole Niemec (Rochelle Park, N.Y.) and Chris Marchese (Cold Spring, N.Y.), all of whom played major minutes for the Knights in 2013. Brett Fucheck (Newburgh, N.Y.), Matt Minniter (Mahopac, N.Y.), Adam Palumbo (East Islip, N.Y.) and Mike Zanfardino (Saint James, N.Y.) all made double-digit appearances in 2013. Palumbo contributed three goals, while Fucheck and Minniter tallied one apiece. Conor Cassidy (Patterson, N.Y.) and Fred Stark (Hollis, N.Y.) are a pair of newcomers who have a chance to make an immediate impact in the midfield this season.
 
While Garcia, Lockwood and Ennis will occupy the front three to start each game, Sean Barton is back to play a bigger role than he did a year ago as a forward. In just 331 minutes in 2013, Barton managed to total seven points on three goals and an assist. Joining Barton are rookies Eric Hayes (Westhampton Beach, N.Y.) and Joe Sadofsky (Mamaroneck, N.Y.).
 
Defense can be one of the Knights' strengths this season with the depth they have this year on the back line. Steve Ehresman (Whitestone, N.Y.) was a regular starter for the Knights last year, while Ryan Winski (Goshen, N.Y.), Jarrett Armstrong (West Hempstead, N.Y.) and Mark Maus (Pougkeepsie, N.Y.) earned their fair share of time in the backfield. Elmer Moran (Brentwood, N.Y.) made six appearances for the Knights last year, while Ivan Dorador (Valley Stream, N.Y.) is back after missing the 2013 season. Freshman Jay Marchese (Cold Spring, N.Y.), younger brother of Chris Marchese, joins the Knights after earning All-League, All-Section and Poughkeepsie Journal First-Team honors at Haldane High School. Ciaran Dillon (Cold Spring, N.Y.) was Marchese's high school teammate, and was an All-State and All-League performer at Haldane.
 
The Knights have a strong competition going on between the pipes this season. Sophomore Tyler Biscone (Garden City, N.Y.) served as Matt Darling's backup last year and made his case a year ago to earn the starting role going forward. However, he is facing strong opposition in a pair of junior transfers in Austin Peluso (Farmington, Conn.) and Nick Tolman (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) in the preseason. It would not be unheard of to see all three earn their time in net this season.
 
"Depth is better than it ever has been," said Longacre. "While we lost three [starters], the other eight who were starters are better than they were last year, and we have that other group coming up."
 
The Knights open their season with a road contest at Bard College on Friday, Aug. 29 at 7 p.m. They will then return home to Kaplan Field to host Vassar College on Sunday, Aug. 31 at 3 p.m.
 
Skyline play kicks off for the Knights on Saturday, Sept. 20, when they host Farmingdale State College in a rematch from last year's conference championship game.
 
While the Knights have a target on their back this season, they have a sharp focus on the task at hand and only expect to be the best once again this year.
 
"We want to go further than we did in the NCAA Tournament last year," said Longacre. "Is it going to be easy? No. We understand that. But last year wasn't easy either, and they put the work in and did it."

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