2006 PITT MEN’S SOCCER TABLE OF CONTENTS MEDIA INFORMATION QUICK FACTS Media Information ............................................ 1 CONTACT GENERAL INFORMATION 2006 Quick Facts ............................................ 1 Handling the Athletic Media Relations duties School: University of Pittsburgh 2006 Season Outlook.................................. 2-3 for the Pittsburgh men’s soccer team is Jacque Location: Pittsburgh, PA 15213 Head Coach Joe Luxbacher ...................... 4-5 Skowvron. Founded: 1787 Coaching/Support Staff ............................... 6-7 Enrollment: 33,393 2006 Roster ..................................................... 8 PRESS SERVICES Nickname: Panthers 2006 Player Profiles .................................. 9-18 Members of the media are supplied with weekly Colors: Blue and Gold 2006 Opponents ............................................ 19 updates containing statistics, game summaries Home Field: Founders Field 2005 Final Statistics ...................................... 20 and information regarding upcoming events. On (Indianola, Pa.) 2005 Results .................................................. 21 game day, the media relations staff will distribute Affiliation: NCAA Division I Scoring Records ........................................... 22 game programs, team and individual statistics Conference: BIG EAST Goalkeeping Records ................................... 23 and all postgame information. Chancellor: Mark A. Nordenberg Team Records ............................................... 24 Alma Mater: Thiel College '70 Miscellaneous Records ................................ 25 MEDIA RELATIONS DEPARTMENT Athletic Director: Jeff Long Annual Team Leaders ................................... 26 Located on the Petersen Events Center’s Alma Mater: Ohio Wesleyan ‘82 Big East Honors and Awards ................. 27-28 Event Level: Athletic Phone: (412) 648-7488 All-Time Coaching Records .......................... 29 Men’s Soccer SID: Jacque Skowvron Soccer History ............................................... 30 Office Number: (412) 648-8240 MEN’S SOCCER HISTORY Panthers in the Pros ...................................... 31 Cell Number: (724) 312-2188 First Year of Soccer: 1954 Pitt’s All-America Selections ......................... 32 Fax Number: (412) 648-8248 All-Time Record: 350-334-71 Pitt’s Most Valuable Players ......................... 33 Mailing Address: Last postseason opponent: Seton Hall All-Time Lettermen .................................. 34-35 P.O. Box 7436, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 (11/5/00) Year-by-Year Results ............................. 36-39 Overnight Address: Result: L, 2-1 (Big East Quarterfinals) Results vs. 2006 Opponents ........................ 40 Petersen Events Center, 3719 Terrace Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261 COACHING STAFF Web Address: www.pittsburghpanthers.com Head Coach: Joe Luxbacher MEDIA OUTLETS Alma Mater: Pittsburgh ‘74 INTERVIEW POLICY Record at School (Yrs.): 178-162- Associated Press If a media member wishes to interview or 43 (22) 6 Gateway Center, Suite 222, Pittsburgh, PA photograph a Pittsburgh men’s soccer player or Overall Record (Yrs.): 202-174-47 15222. (412) 281-3747. Fax: (412) 281-1869. coach, please contact the Media Relations De- (25) Assistant Coaches: (Alan Robinson, sports editor). partment in advance. Every attempt will be made Brian Retzloff to fulfill the request as efficiently and as quickly (Washington & Jefferson, ‘95), Dave Beaver County Times as possible. Morris (Tennessee, ‘96) Volunteer Assistant: Mike Bacasa 400 Fair Avenue, Beaver, PA 15009. (724) 775- Interviews with student-athletes will be set up (Pittsburgh, ‘93) 3200. Fax: (724) 728-0190. (Ed Rose, sports only by the Media Relations Office. Please allow Soccer Phone: (412) 648-8217 editor). at least one day's notice or more. Student- Athletes' telephone numbers will not be released 2005 REVIEW Pitt TV (University of Pittsburgh Campus to the media. Interviews with any of the coaches Overall Record: 3-12-1 Sports Station) can be arranged by contacting them directly. Big East Record (Finish): 2-9-0/7th 502 William Pitt Union, 3959 Fifth Ave., Pitts- Coaches' office numbers are listed in the athlet- Blue Division burgh, PA 15213. (412) 401-5994. ics department directory in the back portion of this guide. The Pitt News 2006 TEAM INFORMATION 434 William Pitt Union, Pittsburgh, PA 15260. (412) Letterwinners Ret./Lost: 21/4 648-7980. Fax: (412) 648-8491. (Geoff Dutele, CREDITS Starters Returning/Lost: 8/3 sports editor). Editor: Emily Lach Top Offensive Returnees: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Contributing Editors: Greg Hotchkiss, Brad GP S G A Pt. GW 34 Boulevard of the Allies, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. Cuprik, E.J. Borghetti, Nicole Amato, Sophia K. Young 3 8 3 1 7 1 (412) 263-1621. Fax: (412) 263-1926. (Jerry Duck T. Bastianelli 16 17 2 0 4 0 C. Bastidas 15 15 0 2 2 0 Micco, asst. managing editor sports, Paul Zeise Computer Page Design: Emily Lach, Greg S. Cavalier 16 13 0 4 4 0 and Ray Fittipaldo, beat writers). Hotchkiss, Brad Cuprik,Nicole Amato, Sophia Duck Top Returning Goalkeepers: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Photography: Jason Blair, Mike Drazdzinski, GP S GA Avg. ShO D.L. Clark Building, 503 Martindale Street, Third Michelle Ray, Patricia Nagle, C.W. Pack, J. Marks 7 40 13 2.00 1 Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15212. (412) 321-6460. Fax: JUST SPORTS, Eric Whiteman, Joe A. Jorgensen 3 20 10 3.83 0 (412) 320-7964. (Kevin Smith, sports editor, Kapelewski, Sean Brady. Kevin Gorman and Dave Mackall, beat writ- Printing: Hermann Printing ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS ers). Cover Design: Hermann Printing Soccer Contact: Jacque Skowvron Cell Phone: (724) 312-2188 Office Phone: (412) 648-8240 E-mail: [email protected] Fax: (412) 648-8248 2006 Pitt Men’s Soccer 1 12553UnvrstyMScrTxt.pmd 1 9/8/2006, 12:46 PM 2006 SEASON OUTLOOK Eight seniors will lead way as Pitt enters 2006 season Despite Pitt’s disappointing 2005 season, Head Coach Joe Luxbacher believes that his solid core of eight returning seniors will lead the way. Numerous changes have been made over the 2005 season and Luxbacher has high expectations for the 2006 season. In order to have a successful season, Luxbacher expects and demands commitment and contribution from all 25 players. “We require high standards of our student-athletes in all aspects of our program—the classroom, training and preparation for upcoming opponents and in our commitment to put the best possible team on the field for each match,” Luxbacher said. Leading the way will be eight seniors including Keeyan Young, Tyler Bastianelli, Shawn Wildman, Mike Cunha, Tom Three-year starter senior Tyler Bastianelli, Keeyan Young enters his final season ranked DeCato, Brendon Smith, Andy Jorgenson who has started 43 of 49 games played, among Pitt’s all-time leaders in goals scored and Adam Walkowiak. returns to the Panthers for his final season. (21), assists (11) and points (53). Pitt also welcomes five newcomers to the 2006 squad. The recruiting class As always, one of Pitt’s main goals is to Bastianelli has seen action in 49 career includes two international players in Juha earn a Big East Tournament berth, which games at Pitt and has scored five goals Samuli Ahola (Mikeli, Finland) and Orane is always a difficult challenge in itself. and registered three assists. He is a three- Gordon (Kingston, Jamaica). Luxbacher “The Big East is one of the nation’s best year starter who will be counted upon for also considers newcomers Mike McDade soccer conferences,” Luxbacher said. “Last leadership and solid play. (Plum, Pa.) and Chris Wilcox (Peters year, we had as many as six teams ranked Another key returnee for the Panthers Township, Pa.) as two of the area’s players among the nation’s top-20, seven of which is sophomore forward E.J. McCormick. from the WPIAL. Also joining the Panthers earned NCAA bids. It will be difficult to make McCormick, who played in all 16 games as is Matthew Baker from Bethlehem, Pa. and the tournament out of our division, but that’s a freshman last year, is a former high school former Pitt player Matt Detzel. what we expect to do. That’s our goal.” All-American selection. “I like the makeup of our team,” “E.J. has the potential to be a very good Luxbacher said. “We have a good group FORWARDS player,” Luxbacher said. “The Big East is of seniors and returnees and some Returning to anchor Pitt’s offensive just a different level and E.J. struggled last promising newcomers. We have a solid attack in 2006 are seniors Keeyan Young year, but I’ve seen him in training, and I core of players who are coachable and and Tyler Bastianelli. think he will definitely push for time upfront committed; I am looking forward to the Young, who returns after missing the this fall.” upcoming season.” majority of the 2005 season with an injury, Young, Bastianelli and McCormick will Last season, Pitt struggled on the will compete in his final season of eligibility. be joined upfront by newcomer Chris defensive end, yielding a program-high 39 Young led the Panthers in scoring in two of Wilcox. goals against. Pitt’s number one priority in his first three seasons and ranks among “It’s going to be extremely competitive the upcoming season is to improve the all-time school leaders in career scoring for playing time,” Luxbacher said. defensively, starting in goal and on the field. (21 goals, tied for 8th place), career assists “Whoever is sharp and playing well, will be “Our primary focus as a team will be to (11, tied for 10th place) and career points in the game. All of four these guys have the collectively