STANDISH, ME – The Saint Joseph's College men's soccer program figures to be in the hunt for a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) title yet again this fall.
The Monks have enjoyed considerable success under the guidance of Head Coach Steve Babineau, who has posted a 44-32-5 (.579) record – including a 23-11-2 (.677) mark in GNAC play – while leading the Royal Blue to a pair of conference crowns and two NCAA Tournament appearances over his four years at the helm. This year figures to be no different, as Saint Joseph's seems to be primed for another deep run in the GNAC tourney.
With a roster that showcases 18 returners – including eight starters, the Monks will have no shortage of experience or leadership on the pitch. Seniors Zach Johnson (Westbrook, Maine), Joe Murphy (Poland, Maine) and Dan McIntyre (Sparta, N.J.) will serve as captains and certainly will be remembered as key players if the side is to achieve its lofty goals this fall. A team stocked with leaders, the 2013 side features 13 juniors and seniors overall – a group that has borne witness to the peaks and valleys of collegiate soccer – and is hungry to leave its stamp on the Saint Joseph's College men's soccer program.
Johnson figures to headline the Monks' offensive efforts yet again and, with the help of an improved supporting cast, could be in line for a career year. A two-time All-Conference player, Johnson led the team in goals (6) and points (13) last fall en route to claiming Second Team All-GNAC accolades as a junior.
Other returners up top include senior Calvin Servaes (Hull, Mass.) and Paulo Lopes (Gloucester, Mass.) while first-years Victor Santos (Framingham, Mass.), Yanni Rakis (Belfast, Maine), and Tom Masters (Round Pond, Maine) will also be asked to contribute in a variety of roles this season.
The midfield should prove to be a major strength for the 2013 side. Starters Jason Wade (South Hampton, N.H.) and Garrett Darnell (Gray, Maine) both return, as do Ralph Houanche (Portland, Maine), Evan Wright (New Preston, Conn.), Fabrice Iraduha (Portland, Maine), Jeff DeGrenier (Jaffrey, N.H.), Peter Hughes (Waterville, Vt.) and John Strandburg (Waterboro, Maine). Look for transfer Kyle Shangraw (Westbrook, Maine), a former NCAA DI player, to immediately provide some punch in the heart of the field while freshmen Nicholas Borowski (Webster, Mass.), Jack Murray (Hingham, Mass.), Brandon Ward (Houlton, Maine) and Sean Baker (Medfield, Mass.) add depth and flexibility to the midfield configuration.
McIntyre and Murphy have both been selected as All-Conference defenders during their careers and will again form one of the strongest and most athletic back-line duos in the GNAC this fall. Fans should also look for sophomore Nate Fox (South Portland, Maine) and newcomer Peter Dore (Westbrook, Maine) to bring speed and ball skills to the SJC defensive efforts in 2013. With this core group in place, Saint Joseph's could very well have one of the top back lines in the conference.
Others looking to play a role on the defensive end include Ryan Gallagher (Casper, Wyo.), Jarrick Russo (Westbrook, Maine), Brett O'Kelly (Portland, Maine) and Cole Milazzo (Richmond, Vt.). Rookie backs Daniel Malone (Laconia, N.H.) and Daniel Purinton (Topsham, Maine) also figure into the mix on the back line.
Of course the defense is only as good as the side's keeper, and St. Joe's brings back a good one in sophomore Scott Benner (Post Falls, Idaho). Benner enjoyed a solid freshman season, posting an 8-4-2 record with a 1.20 GAA and a .800 save percentage with three shutouts last fall. With a year of NCAA soccer and a summer of competitive club play under his belt, he looks to be even better this season as he continues his growth as one of the team's natural leaders in goal. Junior Robert Petrosillo (Methuen, Mass.) returns to the program after a one-year hiatus and is a very capable backup.
If the Monks are to contend this season they will do so without the services of departed seniors Teddy Palmer and Alex Day. Palmer, a two-time All-Conference midfielder, was a major contributor during his three seasons at Saint Joseph's. Day proved to be a valuable player coming off the bench and scored some important markers for the Monks while starting down the stretch last fall.
The 2013 campaign begins this weekend when St. Joe's plays a pair of matches in the Roger Williams/TURFER Classic. The Monks play the host-Hawks on Saturday at 11:00 AM and face off against Salve Regina University at 11:00 AM on Sunday. The 2013 home-opener takes place on Wednesday, September 4th when Saint Joseph's plays host to Thomas College in a 4:00 PM kick-off.
Saint Joseph's College is Maine's only Catholic liberal arts college, providing a supportive, personalized and career-focused education for more than 100 years. From its 350-acre campus on the shores of Sebago Lake, the College offers more than 40 undergraduate programs to a population of approximately 1,000 students. Saint Joseph's College Online provides certificates, undergraduate and advanced degrees for working adults through an online learning program. For more, visit www.sjcme.edu.
