2016 Liberty League Men's Soccer Preview

August 30, 2016

St. Lawrence University claimed its third straight Liberty League men’s soccer title and advanced to its third consecutive NCAA tournament last season. The Saints reached the NCAA Sweet 16 before falling to Haverford and finished 2015 with an overall record of 16-4-2 (6-2 Liberty League).
 
St. Lawrence will open 2016 ranked 11^th according to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) preseason rankings as the Saints return to the field with only three starters from a year ago. There will be some holes to fill with the graduation of 2015 Liberty League Player of the Year defender Harry Copeland and Liberty League Co-Defensive Player of the Year goalkeeper Ryan Roethel.
 
Despite those losses, the offense should stay on pace from a year ago, where the Saints were second in the league, averaging 2.35 goals per game. Three of St. Lawrence’s top-five scorers are back, including 2015 Liberty League Rookie of the Year Jethro Dede (4 G, 1 A). He will be joined by Tapshak Augustine (7 G, 2 A) and Noah Bunton (3 G, 2 A). Dede and Augustine combined for five game-winning goals last season. Rob Brandell also returns after missing all of last season due to a preseason injury after leading the team in scoring in 2014 with eight goals and four assists for 20 points.
 
Hobart wrapped up the 2015 campaign with an overall record of 13-3-2 and a 5-1-2 league record. The Statesmen advanced to the Liberty League tournament for the second year in a row before falling in the semifinals. Midfielder Derrick Acheampong (17 points), forward JP White (10 points) and midfielder Zach Poretz (10 points) headline the returners for Hobart as the trio led the team in scoring in 2015. Acheampong also led the team and league in game-winning goals (4). Hobart also had some key defensive losses with the graduation of All-Liberty League first-team selection defender Kyle Herod and goalkeeper Tyler Serafine. Joe Buscuttil will anchor this year’s defensive unit and it will be a battle in goal with four players competing for the top spot. Of the four, Morgan Sawyer is the only one who saw playing time last season, making two appearances.
 
Skidmore (11-6-1, 5-3 Liberty League) had a successful season in 2015 as the Thoroughbreds reached the Liberty League championship game for the second time in three years. They will open 2016 with a seasoned stable of veterans with six starters from last season. Skidmore returns with its top-six scorers from a year ago. Forward Augustine Okoye highlights the offensive returnees after leading the team with six goals and four assists (16 points). Okoye also led the league in shots (73) and shots per game (4.06). He will also be joined by midfielder Kevin Santos (6 G), who was second on the team in scoring. The Thoroughbreds will miss 2015 Liberty League Co-Defensive Player of the Year Eli Kisselbach, however, Ben Caples and Abedare Oyeniyi are back to lead the defensive corps after allowing opponents only 13 goals in 18 games last season. They will also chip in offensively as the two posted a combined three goals and nine assists last season.
 
Union recently returned from a preseason trip to Costa Rica, where the Dutchmen not only practiced but they also visited the rain forest and played a match against a Costa Rican youth team. Last season, they posted an overall record of 10-4-4 (3-2-3 Liberty League) and earned a spot in the Liberty tournament for the first time since 2012. The Dutchmen reached the semifinals before falling to St. Lawrence and they return with the bulk of their lineup from a year ago with nine returning starters. John Weitzman (0.82 GAA, .838 SP) is back in net for Union after making 14 starts and posting a record of 7-4-4. Two of Union’s top offensive weapons from a year ago also return—Ethan Strauss (6 G, 1 A) and Andrew Fontaine (2 G, 8 A). Fontaine dished out a team-best eight assists on the year and he led the league in assists per game (.471). 

With eight returning starters from last season, RIT will look to improve upon a 7-10 overall record and a 4-4 mark in league play. The Tigers just missed qualifying for a Liberty League playoff spot in 2015 after finishing in a three-way tie for fourth. A year of experience should translate well for RIT as last season the Tigers had 15 incoming freshman. Defenders Scott Fishel and Michael Reverdatto headline the defensive returnees as does goalkeeper Peter Cinibulk who went 6-6 with a 1.01 goals against average last season. Forward Gene Sicoli (9 G, 4 A) returns for his sophomore campaign after making a major impact in his first season as a Tiger. He played and started all 17 games for RIT and recorded a team-best 22 points. Sicoli was ranked among league leaders in points, goals and assists and he also posted a league-best four game-winning goals. Akram Meza and Fishel will also make key offensive contributions, after combining for four goals and an assist last season.
 
Vassar finished 2015 with an overall record of 8-6-2 and the Brewers just missed the Liberty League playoffs in a three-way tie for fourth with Union and RIT. Vassar will open 2016 with five returning starters and the Brewers should have a strong presence defensively with the return of All-Liberty League honorable mention selections Tyler Gilmore and Hayden Van Brewer. The Brewers did lose a lot of firepower with the graduation of Tom Wiechert (9 G, 3 A), Jordan Palmer (4 G, 3 A) and Cosmo Veneziale (4 G, 1 A), however, the return of Gilmore (4 G) and Alex Gonzales (2 G, 3 A) will bolster the offense as both were among the team’s top scorers last season with a combined 17 points.
 
RPI posted an overall record of 12-5-3 last season and missed the league tournament for the first time in three years with a league record of 3-3-2.The Engineers were able to snag an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament, thanks in part to an 8-1-1 non-conference record. RPI advanced to the second round of the tournament before falling in double overtime to Brandeis. Six starters return to the 2016 lineup, including goalkeeper Ryan Nealon. The junior made all 20 starts for the Engineers, playing nearly 2000 minutes while posting a .802 goals against average and a .798 save percentage. Defender Andrew Gondek will join him in the backfield and he also will help the team out offensive as he netted two goals and handed out two assists last season. Forward Devon Baughen will lead the offensive attack after leading the team with 23 points on nine goals and five assists. Midfielders Steven Collins and Dylan Weitz will also help the offense.
 
Clarkson (5-10-2) only lost four seniors following the 2015 season and return to the field with a fully loaded team, which includes eight returning starters and 10 newcomers. Four of the team’s top-five scorers return and the Golden Knights are led by forward Tucker Wilcox. Wilcox recorded 16 points on seven goals and two assists. Max Leetz and Kevin Calnan will also be a boost to the offense as the duo combined for six goals and six assists. Defenders Zach Golden and James Homan will mind the backend along with the goalkeeping tandem of Riley McDonald (9 starts) and Michael King (8 starts).
 
Bard continues to improve as the Raptors posted an overall record of 7-9-1, increasing their win total by two in 2015. They also improved offensively, after posting only 14 goals in 2014, Bard nearly tripled that total with 40 goals in 2015 while leading the league with 2.35 goals per game. The Raptors return with the majority of their 2015 roster intact with nine returning starters. Forward Nick Shenberger and midfielder Austin Higgins headline the offense as both were team leaders in scoring last season. Shenberger had a team-best 15 goals and seven assists for 37 points while Higgins chipped in two goals and two assists. Tamaki Chiba also returns and will be charged in anchoring the defense.
 
2015 Liberty League Men’s Soccer Standings
 
Team (Liberty League Record, Overall Record)
St. Lawrence (6-2, 16-4-2)
Hobart (5-1-2, 13-3-2)
Skidmore (5-3, 11-6-1)
Union (3-2-3, 10-4-4)
RIT (4-4, 7-10)
Vassar (4-4, 8-6-2)
RPI (3-3-2, 12-5-3)
Clarkson (1-6-1, 5-10-2)
Bard (1-7, 7-9-1)
 
* please note team previews are listed in order of the 2015 standings