8-21-08

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – The Lycoming College men’s soccer team reported to campus this week to begin preparations for the upcoming season. Head coach Scott Kennell welcomed 36 players, including 15 newcomers, to the program.

The Warriors have been training hard with three practice sessions a day in order to be prepared to open the season at home on Aug. 30.

“Camp is going well,” said a Kennell, the 2007 Commonwealth Coach of the Year. “We have a solid foundation of returning players and a lot of the incoming guys have shown promise during camp.”

Kennell named four team captains to lead the squad this season. Seniors Joe Pusateri (Rockville, Md.) and Tom McVey (Jamison, Pa.) will be joined by juniors Zach Frederick (West Chester, Pa.) and David Bald (Edgewater, Md.) as the team leaders.

The Warriors will open the season with hopes of improving on a second-place finish in the Commonwealth Conference last year, a trip to the conference semi-finals and a 13-5-1 overall record.

The team returns all three All-Conference players from last season, with senior Matt Frey (Greensboro, Md.) and junior Chris Lorenzet (Forest Hill, Md.) both earning first team plaudits and Pusateri picking up second team honors.

Lorenzet will lead the offensive attack from his forward position this season and will be joined by newcomers Chris Burgess (Bel Air, Md.) and Randon Wilston (Mainesburg, Pa.) competing for time up front.

Frey will anchor the midfield and will be joined by returners McVey, Frederick and junior Dan Marcin (Wilmington, Del.). Also competing for time in the midfield will be junior Mike Coates (Washington, N.J.), who returns this season after sitting out with an injury in 2007, and freshman Jake Manich (Park Hall, Md.)

Pusateri will lead the defense from his center-back position. A host of returning players and newcomers will compete for time at the other defensive positions as the Warriors lost three players to graduation. Junior Kyle Welsh (North Wales, Pa.) will likely secure one of the starting positions after having experience as a two-year starter. Junior Chris Andrychuk (Baltimore, Md.) and sophomores Scott Hordis (Ivyland, Pa.) and Joe Karslo (Washington, N.J.) will be joined by freshmen Matt Mangold (North Wildwood, N.J.) and Danny Christner (Middletown, Pa.) in competition for time.

Bald will keep his starting job as goalkeeper but will be pushed by junior Matt Klipp (Collegeville, Pa.) and senior Brian Marshall (Sayre, Pa.), who returns this season after having his ACL repaired last year.

The Warriors placed second in the conference to Messiah during the regular season and dropped a tough semi-final match in the conference tournament to Elizabethtown, after defeating the Blue Jays during the regular season.

Lycoming will host Penn College in a scrimmage on Wednesday, Aug. 27 at 5 p.m. before opening the season at home with the Lycoming Kickoff Classic on Aug. 30 and 31.