Last fall, the SJC men's soccer side registered one of the best turnaround seasons in program history. After posting a 5-15-0 overall record in 2014, the 2015 club went 11-7-1 (6-3-0 GNAC) en route to securing the #3 seed in the conference tournament and hosted sixth-seeded Albertus Magnus College in a GNAC quarterfinal on November 1st.
The 2015 team set new program single-season records for goals (48), assists (35), and points (131) and suffered just two shutouts all season, the fewest goose-egg efforts against in program history.
Saint Joseph's has advanced to the GNAC Tournament in every season since the Monks joined the conference in 2007 (including two GNAC Championships), but has not won a postseason contest since the Royal Blue defeated Norwich University in the 2011 title game. This group of 11 newcomers will be asked to help the men's soccer program return to upper echelon status in the conference as well as the New England region.
"This recruiting class is very talented and will help create an even more competitive atmosphere within our training sessions," adds Coach Dubois. "With a group of young players, we showed great improvement last fall. With the continued development of the returners and infusion of talent from this year's class, many of our goals are within reach."
"The 2020 class is special because – with so many players returning - our staff focused on bringing in difference-makers, guys who can contribute immediately," Dubois continues. "This class will help our program build a foundation for continued success within the conference and the New England Region."
|
Ryan K. Buonaiuto Major: Exercise Science Position: Outside Back/Mid-Field HT: 5-9 WT: 160 Scituate, R.I./Scituate High School/NEFC U17 Elite Club Team Four-year varsity starter for Head Coach Tim Brown of the Scituate High School…helped lead his team to four consecutive playoff appearances and two appearances in the semi-final post-season match…selected as a team captain his senior year…collected Second Team All-State junior and senior years; First Team All-Division junior and senior years, and Second Team All-Division sophomore year…tallied 31 goals and 12 assists during senior and junior years combined…received varsity letter and team MVP award…played on the NEFC U17 Elite Team under Coach Scott Cannon and have been with the team for six years…Honor Roll student throughout four years of high school. Personal: Son of Ken and Tracy Buonaiuto; brother of Katelyn Buonaiuto, who is entering her senior year at the University of Rhode Island. |
|
Mitchell Duncan Major: Biology Position: Midfield/Defender Height: 5-6 WT: 135 Sanford, Maine/Sanford High School/Seacoast United Maine Four-year starting midfielder for head coaches Tim Fecteau and Brian Desrochers at Sanford High School…made playoffs his senior year…elected captain junior and senior year…earned Second Team All-Conference honors as a midfielder his senior year and named All-Conference Honorable Mention his junior year…collected All-Academic Team accolades both freshman and sophomore year…also received two varsity letters for tennis…Played eight years of soccer for Seacoast United Maine. Personal: Son of Derek and Joanna Duncan has a sister, Marissa. |
|
Cody Elliott Major: Biology Position: Midfielder/forward HT: 5-6 WT: 150 Gorham, Maine/Gorham High School/Seacoast United Four-year starting midfielder/forward for Head Coach Tim King at Gorham High School…helped lead his team to four postseason appearances…collected First Team All-Conference honors and All-State honors both his junior and senior year…also received varsity letters for basketball and baseball…played soccer for Seacoast United for four years including the club's NPSL team for two years. Personal: Son of Jeff and Lynda Elliott…has a sister, Brooke, and brother, Chris. |
|
Brennan Goodrich Major: Exercise Science Position: Midfield/Defense HT: 5-9 WT: 147 Essex Junction, Vt./Essex High School/Blackwatch Burlington Two-year varsity defender/midfielder for Head Coach Jake Orr at Essex High School…helped lead his team to two postseason appearances, including the finals for 2014 Vermont State Championship …received the Jeff Reed Memorial Award for ability to be coached, leadership, maturity, and teamwork…named All-Metro honorable mention…also received three varsity letters for alpine ski racing…Most Valuable Ski Racer 2015/2016 season…2015 Vermont TOP Soccer Buddy of the Year…member of Essex High School Athletic Leadership Council….member of Spanish Honor Society…also played soccer for Blackwatch Burlington for three years. Personal: Son of Mike and Lisa Goodrich…has a brother, Connor…and a Siberian Husky, Radar. |
|
Taylor Jackson Major: Medical Biology Defense/Midfield HT: 5-9 WT: 150 Gorham, Maine/Gorham High School/Seacoast United Three-year varsity player for Gorham High School under Head Coach Tim King…two-year starting defender…named First Team SMAA All-Conference as a senior...captained the soccer team his senior year…played five years at Seacoast United under Peter Mills and Gil Aguirre…volunteered for Maine Special Olympics…also played baseball. Personal: Son of Jeffery and Barbie Taylor, sisters Meghan and Jessica. |
|
Quaadir Palmer Major: Sports Management Position: Center-Mid HT: 5'11 WT: 180 Lawrenceville, N.J./Notre Dame High School /Parkwood Elite Two-year starting center-attacking midfielder for the Irish…led Notre Dame to a County title as well as a State Championship…selected as the captain for both school and club teams...serves the community as a member of Operation Smile and African American club. Personal: Son of Donald and Barbra Palmer and the brother of Khameelah and Jahmela Palmer. |
|
Andrew Porusta Major: Business & Sports Management Position: Forward HT: 6-0 WT: 165 Moultonborough, N.H./Moultonborough Academy/Lakes Region United Four-year starting forward at Moultonborough Academy…made three Final Four appearances and one State Championship appearance…scored 114 career goals with 65 career assists…ranked 4th in goals and 3rd in assists for New Hampshire Boys Soccer…two-time First Team All-State recipient and two-time Division IV Player of the Year…Class Vice President for four years, National Honor Society member, and New Hampshire Scholar Athlete. Personal: Son of Eric and Kerri Porusta…has two brothers Connor and Gavin. |
|
Noah Robinson Major: Criminal Justice Position: Outside Back HT: 5-11 WT: 165 Wappingers Falls, N.Y./Roy C. Ketcham/Soccer Plus Academy Three-year starting defender for Coach Scott Grimes at Roy C. Ketcham…team captain...helped lead his team to three sectional appearances...received All-League and All-Section awards...also played for Soccer Plus Academy for five years under Coach Kevin Longacre…2013 Disney Showcase Champion…2014 trip to London to train with West Ham United...2015 NY State Cup Finalist...helped lead team to NPL League Championship and Indiana NPL National Finalist in 2015. Personal: Son of Nathan and Grace Robinson...also a brother, Jonathan. |
|
|
|
|
Matt Silverman Major: Mathematics Position: Back/Mid HT: 5-10 WT: 150 Lee, N.H./Oyster River High School/Seacoast United Soccer Club Starting center back at Oyster River High School as a senior…played every position other than outside back and goalkeeper…helped lead his team to consecutive finals appearances during his junior and senior seasons with a Division II State Championship during senior season…captained and played soccer for Seacoast United for four years. Personal: Son of Mike and Kim Silverman…has three sisters, Kristen, Nicole, and Allie. |
|
Joseph Strobino Major: Sports Management Position: Center-Mid HT: 5-6 WT: 155 Clifton, N.J./Paramus Catholic HS/World Class Four-year varsity starter for Paramus Catholic High School…helped lead his team to State Semifinals two out of four years…also received a varsity letter for wrestling…played academy level at Players Development Academy…helped lead that team to national final…selected to the Big North Conference All- Division Team. |
|
|
|
|
Keenan Welzel Major: Sports Management Position: Mid/Fwd HT: 5-7 WT: 145 Brunswick, Maine/Brunswick High School/Seacoast United Mariners Three-year starter for Brunswick High School…earned KVAC All-Conference First Team honors in 2014 and 2015 as well as All-State accolades in 2015…was captain and leading goal scorer his junior and senior seasons…also ran for both outdoor and indoor track teams and won the 800m at the 2016 Indoor State Championship…part of the Educational Leadership mentoring program that volunteers at Coffin Elementary School, helping first graders with mathematics. Played for Seacoast United Maine since the age of six…member of the Seacoast United NH Developmental Academy his freshman year. Personal: Son of Jennifer and Eric Welzel and has young brother Lukas and older sisters Farren and Kayla.
|
#GOMONKS
Follow Saint Joseph's Athletics on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram!
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 474-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.
