2014 Men's Soccer
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SAINT JOSEPH’S HAWKS 2014 MEN’S SOCCER 2014 Season Outlook. 2-3 QUICK FACTS Head Coach Don D’Ambra . 4-5 Assistant Coaches and Staff . 6-8 The University The Hawk . 8 Location . Philadelphia, Pa. (19131) Sweeney Field . 9 Founded. 1851 2014 Roster . 10 Enrollment . 4,670 2014 Photo Roster . 11 Hawk Profiles . 12-29 Denomination . Roman Catholic (Jesuit) Seniors . 12-16 Nickname . Hawks Juniors. 17-18 Colors. Crimson and Gray Sophomores . 19-27 Athletic Affiliation . NCAA Division I Newcomers . 28-29 2013 Year In Review . 30 Conference . Atlantic 10 2013 Statistics . 31 Home Field (Capacity) . Sweeney Field (3,000) Atlantic 10 Conference . 32 Surface . TigerTurf 2013 Atlantic 10 Recap. 33 Honor and Awards . 34 Hawks In The Pros. 35 The Team Yearly Records . 36 Head Coach . Don D’Ambra (Saint Joseph’s ‘94) - 5th Year Single Season Records . 37 Assistant Coach . Pat Morris (Philadelphia ‘98) - 5th Year Career Records . 38 Assistant Coach. Steve Wacker (Temple ‘05) - 3rd Year All-Time Roster. 39-41 All-Time Results . 42-49 Director of Soccer Operations. Rob Brown (Strayer ‘09) - 4th Year All-Time Series Results . 49 Men’s Soccer Office . 610-660-1764 Administration. 50 Captains . Tommy Brooks, Mike Glazer, Jake Nelson The University . 51 Letterwinners Returning/Lost . 16/15 Starters Returning/Lost . 5/6 WWWW..SJJUHAWWKKS.COM Newcomers . 11 2013 Overall Record. 5-8-6 CREDITS 2013 Atlantic 10 Record . 3-5-0 The 2014 Saint Joseph's University men’s soccer media guide was written, edited, and designed by Nikki Philpot. Editorial assistance provided by Marie 2013 Atlantic 10 Finish . T-7th Wozniak, Jack Jumper, and Joe Greenwich. Photography by Greg Carroccio and Ryan Sansom of Sideline Photos. Photos on page 30 by Erik Schelkun. Photo on page 32 courtesy of VCU Athletics. Photo on page 38 by ON THE COVER International Sports Images. Outside covers designed by Nikki Philpot. (L-R): Senior captains Jake Nelson, Tommy Brooks, and Mike Glazer 2014 SAINT JOSEPH’S MEN’S SOCCER MEDIA GUIDE 1 2014 SEASON OUTLOOK The Saint Joseph’s men’s soccer team returns 16 letterwinners, including five starters and six offensive players that combined for 68 percent of last season’s scoring, in 2014. Despite the loss of six starters from the 2013 squad, the Hawks will look to continue on last season’s momentum of making the Atlantic 10 Championship post- season for the first time since 1994 and for just the third time in pro- gram history. Under the direction of fifth-year head coach Don D’Ambra, the Hawks return seven upperclassmen and a core group of sophomores and add 11 newcomers this fall. Senior tri-captains Tommy Brooks, Mike Glazer, and Jake Nelson will lead the Hawks into the 2014 campaign. "Our staff is excited about the upcoming season,” said D’Ambra. “We have a great mix of older and younger players who have the potential to have great seasons. The team has worked extremely hard this preseason and I hope their hard work pays off during the season." OFFENSE A two-time Philadelphia Soccer Six All-Star selection, junior Tim Lazorko returns for his third season of patrolling SJU’s midfield in 2014. Lazorko owns 27 career points on nine goals and nine assists and is SJU’s returning leader in both categories, tallying four goals and four assists in 2013. "Timmy is one of our most talented players, and he has an extremely high Soccer IQ on the field,” said D’Ambra. “There are areas Bliss Harris of his game that still need improvement, and he has the potential to become a top player in the Atlantic 10 Conference.” A pair of seniors in senior tri-captain forward Mike Glazer and redshirt senior midfielder Jake Mulinge will also be expected to bol- ster the Hawks’ offensive attack this season. Glazer tallied one goal and one assist in 16 starts last season and has proven that he can cre- ate his own offensive opportunities; the senior boasts 79 career shots and posted a .444 SOG percentage last season. Mulinge adds a phe- nomenal speed element on the wing and was a catalyst in five starts and 13 appearances off the bench last season. "Mike and Jake our two of the team’s hardest workers,” said D’Ambra. “They lead by example and set the standards high. They both have the potential to make impact plays on the field, and I hope their hard works pays off." Saint Joseph’s will look to mesh this veteran experience with a trio of sophomore midfielders that boasted phenomenal rookie cam- paigns last season in Bliss Harris, Sam Irvin, and Eric Jordan. Harris, a Philadelphia Soccer Six All-Rookie selection proved to be a versatile force in his freshman season; after opening his collegiate career by earning a spot as a starting defender, Harris then went on to take on the role of an attacking midfielder against George Mason at the Atlantic 10 Championships. Harris played the full 110 minutes of the match and took a team-best two shots in the contest. A fellow Philadelphia Soccer Six All-Rookie selection, Irvin was extremely consistent as a defensive midfielder in 13 appearances with seven starts and could also be utilized as a scoring threat this season. Jordan provided SJU’s spark of energy off the bench as he appeared in all 19 games, averaging 44 minutes per match, and returns as SJU’s third-leading returning scorer from last year’s squad. "Bliss, Sam and Eric are young but have the skill set to make dif- ference-making plays,” said D’Ambra. “All three players have made tremendous strides in their development and have high ability, and I Tim Lazorko expect great things from them.” 2014 SAINT JOSEPH’S MEN’S SOCCER MEDIA GUIDE 2 2014 SEASON OUTLOOK Junior forward Emmanuel Temeh and sophomore forward Mori Diane also delivered notable speed and fervor off the bench for the Hawks last season and will join sophomore midfielder Mike Stuski in adding to Saint Joseph’s depth on the attack this fall. Two of the biggest impact incomers to the offensive end of the field will be Mark Colville, a junior transfer out of Manor College, and freshman Mike Akinkoye. “Mark will be a big scoring threat in the attacking third,” said D’Ambra. “He is able to score a lot of goals and we will be able to uti- lize him as an attacking midfielder. Mike has a lot of potential and is very athletic.” Saint Joseph’s additional newcomers, including sophomore Max Pozzessere and freshmen Matt Crawford, Liam Stenson, and Ben Zambetti, will round out the Hawks’ offense in 2014. DEFENSE Senior tri-captain Tommy Brooks will anchor Saint Joseph’s defensive unit this season. Brooks has started all 52 games of his career, and after making the change from a defensive midfielder to a sole defensive player for the 2012 season, he has led SJU’s back line. "Tommy is a natural leader, hard worker, and strong defender and will battle with the top players in the country,” said D’Ambra. “He has a heart of a lion and will be the on-field team leader as a senior this year.” Tommy Brooks Fellow senior tri-captain Jake Nelson and classmate Brandon Stevis will also lock down the veteran defensive unit. Nelson made Stevis adds additional veteran experience and understanding on the switch from an offensive-minded midfielder to a defender for A- the defensive end of the field and made 10 starts in 13 appearances 10 action last season and played full matches in the A-10 in 2013. Quarterfinals in addition to wins over nationally ranked VCU, The graduation of Brendan Reilly vacates the center back posi- Fordham, and George Washington. tion, and sophomore Coupar Lipp has been playing extremely well "Jake is very talented and smart on the field,” said D’Ambra. “He during preseason and is the front runner to win the starting central is extremely calm under pressure and has very good field vision and defender spot. Lipp made eight appearances on the back line last sea- passing ability. He will be a major attacking threat out of the back this son and could break through to a starting position alongside the sen- year, and I am excited to see him play this year." ior veterans. Sophomore Ted Foley impressed in the spring exhibition season while classmate Chris McCrea and freshmen Chris DiSabatino and Tom Santilli will compete for minutes of SJU’s back line in 2014. “Chris has the fight like Tommy Brooks,” said D’Ambra of the rookie DiSabatino. “He is a versatile and aggressive player.” GOALKEEPERS The graduation of three senior netminders, including starter Andrew D’Ottavi, from last year’s squad opens the goalkeeper posi- tion for the 2014 Hawks. Throughout preseason camp, sophomore Jay Higbee and freshman Bobby Edwards have been competing for the starting spot between the pipes. Higbee saw 45 minutes of action last season in the second half at Siena, where the then-rookie allowed just one goal and made three saves in his first collegiate appearance. “Jay is a great athlete, solid shot stopper and makes good deci- sions when to come out for balls,” said D’Ambra. “He had a strong spring season and looks good in camp." Edwards led St. Benedict’s Prep (N.J.) to a pair of National Championships between 2011-12. “Bobby has great size and good communication skills with a lot of potential,” said D’Ambra. Fellow freshmen Trevor Nicol and Gregory O’Connell will also vie Jake Nelson for minutes between the pipes for the Crimson and Gray.