2005 Stony Brook Men’s Soccer Table of Contents Quick Facts...... 1 Stony Brook Quick Facts This is Stony Brook University ...... 2-3 This is Long Island ...... 4-5 University Information Head Coach Cesar Markovic ...... 6-7 Location ...... Stony Brook, N.Y. Assistant Coach Jack Stefanowski ...... 8 Founded ...... 1957 Assistant Coach Dariel Collazo ...... 8 Enrollment ...... 21,685 2005 Roster ...... 9 Affi liation ...... NCAA Division I Season Preview ...... 10-11 Conference ...... America East Meet the Seawolves/Newcomers ...... 12-22 Home Field/Capacity ...... LaValle Stadium/8,136 2005 Opponent Information ...... 23-24 2004 Season Review ...... 25 President ...... Dr. Shirley Strum Kenny 2004 Results/Statistics ...... 26 Director of Athletics ...... Jim Fiore 2004 America East Review ...... 27 Nickname ...... Seawolves 2004 Game Recaps ...... 28-29 Colors ...... Red, Blue and Grey Individual/Team Records ...... 30 Athletic Dept. Phone ...... 631-632-7205 All-Time Results ...... 31 Athletic Dept. Fax ...... 631-632-7122 All-Time Records vs. Opponents ...... 31 Stony Brook Coaching History ...... 31 Coaching Staff Information Year-by-Year Results ...... 32-33 All-Time Letterwinners ...... 34-35 Head Coach ...... Cesar Markovic Honors and Awards ...... 36 Alma Mater ...... Hunter College ʻ92 America East Conference ...... 37 Collegiate Record/Years ...... 104-72-15 (.584) Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium ...... 38-39 SBU Record/Years ...... 11-6-3/1 University President Shirley Strum Kenny ...... 40 Menʼs Soccer Offi ce Phone ...... 631-632-7203 Faculty Athletics Rep. Dr. Randall Susman ...... 40 Assistant Coach ...... Jack Stefanowski Director of Athletics Jim Fiore ...... 41 Assistant Coach ...... Dariel Collazo Student-Athlete Support Services ...... 42 Athletic Trainer ...... Lisa Cantara Speed, Strength & Conditioning ...... 42 Sports Medicine ...... 43 Coaching Staff Directory ...... 44 2005 Menʼs Soccer Information Head Coaches ...... 44 2004 Overall Record ...... 11-6-3 Support Staff ...... 45 2004 Conference Record/Finish ...... 4-3-2/t4th Athletic Communications Information ...... 46 Postseason ...... America East Semifi nals Miscellaneous Information ...... 47 Starters Returning/Lost ...... 7/4 2005 Stony Brook Menʼs Soccer ...... 48 Lettermen Returning/Lost ...... 16/8 Newcomers ...... 6 2005 Schedule September Menʼs Soccer History 1 HOFSTRA 7:00 PM Collegiate Seasons ...... 41 6 at New Jersey Tech 6:30 PM All-time Record ...... 265-311-65 (.464) 9 vs. La Salle# 5:00 PM Postseason Appearances ...... 6 11 vs. Philadelphia# 12:00 PM 14 at Howard 2:00 PM 16 LAFAYETTE^ 8:00 PM Athletic Communications 18 COLUMBIA^ 6:30 PM Asst. Dir./Menʼs Soccer Contact ...... Christine Graziano 20 at Adelphi 4:00 PM Offi ce Phone ...... 631-632-7125 23 at Central Connecticut State 4:00 PM E-mail ...... [email protected] 30 HARTFORD* 7:00 PM SID Fax ...... 631-632-8841 Seawolves Hotline ...... 631-632-WOLF October Seawolves Website ...... www.goseawolves.org 5 at Boston University* 7:00 PM 8 at New Hampshire* 1:00 PM Credits: The 2005 Stony Brook menʼs soccer media guide was written, 15 ALBANY* 7:00 PM edited and designed by Christine Graziano, Assistant Director of Athletic 19 BINGHAMTON* 7:00 PM Communications. Cover designed by John Schaffhauser of Schaffhauser 22 VERMONT* 7:00 PM Design in Canton, Miss. Printing by Multi-AD, Peoria, Ill. Editorial assistance 28 at Duke 7:00 PM 30 at Maine* 1:00 PM provided by Rob Emmerich, Jr., Assistant AD for Marketing and Commu- nications, Mike Newhouse, Assistant Director, and Brian Magoffi n, Intern. November Photos by Bob OʼRourk. Special thanks to the menʼs soccer staff and the 2 at UMBC* 2:30 PM Athletic Communications Offi ce. Additional copies of this media guide can be purchased for $5 plus shipping and handling by writing the Athletic Media Home games in BOLD CAPS * America East Conference match Relations Offi ce, Stony Brook University, Sports Complex, Stony Brook, N.Y., # Lafayette Puma Soccer Classic ^ Seawolves Fall Classic 11794-3500, or by calling 631-632-6312. Head Coach Cesar Markovic

Cesar Markovic will begin his second season as head menʼs soccer York Metro Chapter of Collegiate Soccer Offi cials. coach at Stony Brook in the fall of 2005. In just one season at the helm Markovic guided junior Chris Megaloudis to fi rst team All-Northeast Re- of the Seawolves, Markovic has gion and America East all-confer- turned a struggling program into ence accolades, while Dan Cukar one of the most improved teams in and Yahaya Musa were named the nation, once again establishing to the all-rookie team. Senior himself as one of the top young Anthony Barberio and junior Mark coaches in the country. Zajkowski both earned America Markovicʼs Seawolves fi nished East all-tournament honors. In the as one of the most improved teams spring of 2005, three graduating in the nation in 2004 after more seniors–Josh Allen, Jose Sura than doubling their win total from and Barberio–inked professional the previous year, tying them for contracts to play for the Long Is- the fourth-best improvement in land Rough Riders in the United NCAA Division I menʼs soccer. Soccer League Second Division. After fi nishing 4-13-1 prior to his A season full of programs fi rsts arrival, Stony Brook posted an also included a milestone for 11-6-3 overall mark and a 4-3-2 Markovic, as he collected his record in league play to fi nish tied 100th career coaching victory on for fourth in America East, while October 3, 2004 with a 3-0 win clinching the programʼs fi rst berth over UMBC. in the conference tournament in Named the eighth head coach in The Seawolves celebrate Cesar Markovic’s 100th career his fi rst campaign. The fi fth-seed- Stony Brook history in January of ed Seawolves advanced to the coaching victory after defeating UMBC on October 3, 2004 2004, Markovic was the architect second round of the tournament of winning programs at Saint after topping fourth-seeded Vermont in penalty kicks, but fell to eventual Peterʼs College and Hunter College and is known as one of the premier champion and No. 1 seed Boston University. recruiters of student-athletes from State. The team, which ranked as high as fourth in the New York region during Prior to his arrival at Stony Brook, Markovic spent the previous four sea- the season, also was honored for outstanding sportsmanship by the New sons at Saint Peterʼs College where he was named the 2003 Metro Atlantic

Cesar Markovic - All-Time Coaching Record

Year School Record Notes 2004 Stony Brook 11-6-3 America East Semifi nals 2003 Saint Peterʼs College 18-5-2 MAAC Coach of the Year, MAAC Tournament Champions, NCAA Tournament Second Round 2002 Saint Peterʼs College 10-6-3 2001 Saint Peterʼs College 5-13-1 2000 Saint Peterʼs College 2-16-0 1999 Hunter College 10-10-0 NCAA Division III Tournament Regional Semifi nals, CUNY Coach of the Year, CUNY Tournament and Regular Season Champions 1998 Hunter College 13-6-0 CUNY Regular Season Champions 1997 Hunter College 13-4-0 CUNY Tournament and Regular Season Champions 1996 Hunter College 10-4-2 CUNY Regular Season Champions 1995 Hunter College 12-2-4 CUNY Tournament and Regular Season Champions, CUNY Coach of the Year, Skyline Conference Coach of the Year Totals 10 Seasons 104-72-15 6 • 2005 Stony Brook Men’s Soccer Head Coach Cesar Markovic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Coach of the Year after leading his team to a MAAC tournament title and to the second round of the NCAA Tourna- What they are saying about Cesar Markovic... ment. After arriving at Saint PeterʼsPeterʼs in 2000, Markovic turned a prograprogramm “This is a home run for Stony Brook. Cesar is one of the best that had struggled at the bottom of Division I for the past twotwo ddecadesecades intointo thethe winningestwinningest teamteam inin schoolschool history,history, young coaches in America and in college soccer. He is energetic, posting a school-record 18 wins in 2003, including a 2-0 professional and competitive. He is everything that Stony Brook victory over 11th-ranked11th-ranked Brown in thethe fi rrstst roundround ofof thethe could want.” NCAA MenʼMenʼss College Cup. InIn hishis ffirstirst ttwowo seasonsseasons atat S Saintaint P Petereter ʼ ʼs,s, - Ray Reid, Head Men’s Soccer Coach, Univ. of Connecticut MarkovicʼsMarkovicʼs teamsteams fi nishednished a combinedcombined 7 7-29-1-29-1 (.203),(.203), butbut overover thethe nextnext twotwo years,years, thethe Pea-Pea- “Congratulations to Stony Brook. It has not only hired a fantastic cockscocks wwentent 228-11-58-11-5 ((.705),.705), withwith 1818 winswins inin 20032003 andand 1010 inin 2002.2002. OverOver thosethose twotwo sea-sea- coach but a wonderful man. Cesar is someone who will match sons,sons, MarkovicMarkovic coachedcoached four NSCAA the values of the institution, and will be active in his community All-Mid-AtlanticAll-Mid-Atlantic RRegionegion picks and 10 and within the school. As a coach, he is a bright, innovative play- All-MAAC selections. ers coach. As a man, he is a terrifi c role model that is warm and Before his time at Saint P e t e r ʼ s , decent. He has the ability to maximize his playersʼ potential. He MarkovicMarkovic waswas thethe headhead menʼsmenʼs s socceroccer is a great motivator who isnʼt afraid to try new things but, in doing coach at Hunter College, hishis almaalma mater,mater, so, holds to his principles of hard work, honesty and respect. That wherewhere hehe ledled hishis teamteam toto fi vvee c consecutiveonsecutive conference titles in each ofof h hisis fi vvee s seasonseasons combination makes him formidable and his teams formidable.” fromfrom 1995-2000.1995-2000. InIn 1999,1999, MarkovicMarkovic l leded t thehe squadsquad toto thethe schoolʼsschoolʼs fi rstrst everever a appearanceppearance i inn - Nelson Rodriguez, Vice President of Administration and the regional semifi nals of the NCAA Division III Operations, Tournament.Tournament. AAnn O Octoberctober of 2002 inductee into thethe HunterHunter CollegeCollege HallHall ofof FFame,ame, MMarkovicarkovic iiss “Cesar is one of the few young coaches who have come up from a two-timetwo-time CUNYCUNY AthleticAthletic ConferenceConference C Coachoach o off the ranks. He is a true student of the game and an exceptionally the YearYear (1995, 1999), while earning Skyline Coach hard worker. He knows the surrounding area of soccer, and is one ofof thethe YearYear accoladesaccolades inin 1995.1995. HHee cconcludedoncluded hhisis coaching career at Hunter withwith a ..678678 ((58-26-58-26- of the few people with a real grasp of the game.” 6)6) winningwinning ppercentage,ercentage, thethe highesthighest inin schoolschool history,history, wwhilehile bbringingringing home fi ve CUNY regu- - Ben Boehm, Youth Coordinator, B.W. Gottschee larlar sseasoneason aandnd threethree tournament titles. MarkovicMarkovic s spentpent oneone seasonseason aass tthehe hheadead “Clearly the hiring of Cesar Markovic sends a very strong signal coachcoach a andnd a adjunctdjunct professorprofessor inin thethe physicalphysical that Stony Brook has quickly become a player to be reckoned with educationeducation ddepart-epart- mentment aatt QQueensboroughueensborough on the national scene. Cesar is a proven winner every step of the C o m m u n i t y CollegeCollege andand threethree yearsyears asas t thehe h headead coachcoach aatt SSt.t. JJohnʼsohnʼs PPreprep way, and thatʼs before one even begins to analyze his coaching HighHigh School,School, where he led his team successes over the past decade. He is clearly the right man to to CHSSA CityCity andand S Sectionalectional lead the Seawolves to the top.” t i t l e s i n 1993. O t h e r coachingcoaching eex-x- - Zak Ivkovic, Commissioner of the CUNY Athletic Conference perienceperience in-in- cludescludes s stintstints and former teammate at Hunter College as an assistant coach of the of the USL A-A- League in 1997 and 1998 and as an apprentice/assistant for the Sao “Cesar is one of the fi nest coaches I have had the privilege to work Paolo FC in Brazil in 1996. In addition to his coaching experience, Markovic was named the director with. He is a winner in the truest sense of the word, both on and of coaching for the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association in June of off the fi eld. His ability to attract and develop top talent, coupled 2005. Markovic has also been extremely involved in youth soccer in the with the mutual respect that is readily apparent between Cesar area, serving as the director of coaches for the Downtown and his players, has given him a well deserved reputation as one United Soccer Club, an organization with over 1,000 members. Markovic of the top young coaches in the game today.” has also served as a coach for the B.W. Gottschee Soccer Club. For the past 11 years, he has managed the Markovic Academy of Soccer, which - Ron Ratner, Associate Commissioner, runs youth soccer camps in New York and New Jersey. Northeast Conference Markovic holds a USSF A-License, which is the highest level license granted by U.S. Soccer, an NSCAA National Diploma and was among the fi rst American coaches to receive a Brazilian Professional Coaching “Cesar is the best coach I have ever worked with. No matter how License. good of a player you are, he will fi nd a way to push you and make A native of Queens, N.Y., Markovic graduated from Hunter College you that much better. He taught me everything I know and so much with a Bachelor of Arts in political science in 1992 and went on to earn his of what I have accomplished in my career is because of him.” Masterʼs in physical education from Hofstra University in 1997. While at Hunter, Markovic was a two-time all-conference selection and the teamʼs - Rinaldo Chambers, 2003 All-Mid-Atlantic First Team leading scorer as a defender in his senior campaign. selection, Saint Peter’s College

2005 Stony Brook Men’s Soccer • 7 Assistant Coaches

Jack Stefanowski will begin his second season as an assistant menʼsmenʼs soccer coach at Stony Brook in the fall of 2005. Prior to his arrival at Stony Brook, Stefanowski served as an assistant under head coach Cesar Markovic at Saint PeterʼsPeterʼs College for four seasons, including with the 2003 squad that advanced to the second round of the NCAA MenʼsMenʼs College Cup. Before his arrival at Stony Brook, Stefanowski spent four seasons as an assistant coach at Saint Peterʼs,Peterʼs, concentrating on goaltending while also having additional duties with training, fund raising and academics. Prior to his time at Saint Peterʼs,Peterʼs, Stefanowski was an assistant and goalkeeper coach of the Knights, a professional development league team, from 2001-02 and an assistant coach at New York University, his alma mater, during the 1999-00 academic year. Stefanowski currently serves as the director of goalkeeping and a head coach for the Downtown United Soccer Club. A 1998 graduate of NYU with a B.S. in physical therapy, Stefanowski holds an NSCAA Goalkeeper Level 3 Diploma, an NSCAA National Diploma and an IBF Brazilian B License. After graduation, he played with the Weston Wolfpacks, the and the New Jersey Stallions.

Dariel Collazo begins his fi rst season as assistant menʼs soccer coach at Stony Brook in 2005. A former member of the Puerto Rican national team, Collazo arrives at Stony Brook after spending the last ten years involved in soccer in several capacities in Puerto Rico. Collazo is currently the president and director of the Sports & Athlete Development Institute, Inc., (SPADI) in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where he is re- sponsible for the development of sports projects and management consulting and was the creator of the SPADI Soccer Academy, which runs a recognized soccer summer camp in Italy. For the past year, Collazo has served as the fi rst vice president of the Federacion Puertorriquena de Futbol, the Puerto Rican National Association. In this role, he is part of the team assigned to organize and restructure the development of soccer in Puerto Rico while serving as the chairman of the Futsal Commission. On the coaching end, Collazo has served as a head coach of both soccer and futsal at his alma mater, Colegio San Ignacio de Loyola, since 1998, guid- ing his teams to three Puerto Rico High School Athletic Alliance titles, including in each of the past two years, and three Futsal League championships while qualifying for the XVII School Football Tournament of International School Sport Federation held in Italy in 2001. He also spent two years as a coordinator and coach for the Department of Recreation and Sports for the city of San Juan, overseeing the cityʼs soccer development program while supervising coaches. Collazo has also served as the general director and head coach of Athleticos de Rio Piedras F.C. in San Juan where he has coached youth and adult teams, concentrating on the womenʼs program for the past several years. In August he led his U17 girls team to the Liga Superior Fememina de Futbol de Puerto Rico title for the second straight season while leading his adult womenʼs squad to a third place fi nish. Collazo, who was a member of the Puerto Rico Soccer National Team from 1991-2001, was named the Player of the Year by the Federacion Puertor- riquena de Futbol in 1997. A 1998 graduate of the University of Puerto Rico with a degree in business administration, Collazo went on to earn his international masters in manage- ment, law and humanitites of sport from the Centre International Dʼetudes du Sport, a FIFA master program held in three European Universities located in England, Italy and Switzerland. 8 • 2005 Stony Brook Men’s Soccer 2005 Numerical/Alphabetical Rosters

Numerical Roster No. Name Cl. Pos. Ht./Wt. Major Hometown/Previous School 1 John Moschella Sr. GK 5-9/150 Health Sciences Staten Island, N.Y./St. Peterʼs College 2 Rob Fucci Sr. D 6-0/170 Sociology Staten Island, N.Y./St. Peterʼs College 3 Chris Scarpati Sr. M/D 6-1/165 Business Dix Hills, N.Y./Half Hollow Hills East HS 4 Mark Zajkowski Sr. D 6-3/190 Sociology Wantagh, N.Y./St. Peterʼs College 5 Zach Norwood Sr. M/D 5-9/150 Physics Federal Way, Wash./Decatur HS 6 Dorin Djura R-Sr. D 6-1/180 Sociology Queens, N.Y./St. Peterʼs College 7 Tamer Mohamed R-So. M 6-1/165 Health Sciences Queens Village, N.Y./Rutgers University 8 Matt Avellino So. M/F 5-7/145 Sociology Merrick, N.Y./St. Johnʼs University 9 Chris Megaloudis Sr. F 6-0/180 Sociology Queens, N.Y./St. Peterʼs College 10 Michael Palacio So. M 6-1/170 Arts and Sciences Long Beach, N.Y./Long Beach HS 11 Gadiel Figueroa Jr. M 5-9/165 Sociology Caguas, Puerto Rico/University of Puerto Rico 12 Erion Qoku R-Fr. M/F 5-9/160 Arts and Sciences Brooklyn, N.Y./New Utrecht HS 13 Adam Ciklic Jr. M 6-2/180 Arts and Sciences Boonton, N.J./St. Peterʼs College 14 Noah Liiv Jr. D/M 5-8/155 Business New York, N.Y./NYC Lab School 15 Yahaya Musa So. M/D 5-9/165 Arts and Sciences Elmont, N.Y./Elmont Memorial HS 16 Pete Halkidis So. M 6-1/170 Arts and Sciences Astoria, N.Y./Stuyvesant HS 18 Douglas Narvaez Sr. M 5-7/140 School of Professional Development Ecuador/St. Peterʼs College 19 Martin Lynch Fr. D 6-0/170 Arts and Sciences Oceanside, N.Y./Oceanside HS 20 Rosario Mannino R-Fr. D/M 5-9/145 Arts and Sciences Ridgewood, N.Y./Grover Cleveland HS 21 David Weisberger R-So. D/M 6-3/160 Philosophy Bronx, N.Y./St. Peterʼs College 22 EJ Xikis R-So. GK 5-10/170 Sociology Wantagh, N.Y./Oneonta State College 25 Predrag Marinkovic Jr. F 6-0/185 Arts and Sciences Belgrade, Serbia & Montenegro/Belgrade School of Business 26 Dan Zori R-Fr. GK 5-11/185 Arts and Sciences Levittown, N.Y./Kellenberg Memorial HS 27 Josh Breitmaier Fr. M 5-8/140 Pre-Med Highland, N.Y./Highland HS 28 Dan Salazar So. D 5-10/165 Arts and Sciences Brentwood, N.Y./Brentwood HS 29 Steve Goltsman So. F 5-6/170 Business Brooklyn, N.Y./Midwood HS 31 Brian Tepfer R-Fr. GK 6-0/175 Mechanical Engineering Staten Island, N.Y./Staten Island Technical HS

Alphabetical Roster No. Name Cl. Pos. Ht./Wt. Major Hometown/Previous School 8 Matt Avellino So. M/F 5-7/145 Sociology Merrick, N.Y./St. Johnʼs University 27 Josh Breitmaier Fr. M 5-8/140 Pre-Med Highland, N.Y./Highland HS 13 Adam Ciklic Jr. M 6-2/180 Arts and Sciences Boonton, N.J./St. Peterʼs College 6 Dorin Djura R-Sr. D 6-1/180 Sociology Queens, N.Y./St. Peterʼs College 11 Gadiel Figueroa Jr. M 5-9/165 Sociology Caguas, Puerto Rico/University of Puerto Rico 2 Rob Fucci Sr. D 6-0/170 Sociology Staten Island, N.Y./St. Peterʼs College 29 Steve Goltsman So. F 5-6/170 Business Brooklyn, N.Y./Midwood HS 16 Pete Halkidis So. M 6-1/170 Arts and Sciences Astoria, N.Y./Stuyvesant HS 14 Noah Liiv Jr. D/M 5-8/155 Business New York, N.Y./NYC Lab School 19 Martin Lynch Fr. D 6-0/170 Arts and Sciences Oceanside, N.Y./Oceanside HS 20 Rosario Mannino R-Fr. D/M 5-9/145 Arts and Sciences Ridgewood, N.Y./Grover Cleveland HS 25 Predrag Marinkovic Jr. F 6-0/185 Arts and Sciences Belgrade, Serbia & Montenegro/Belgrade School of Business 9 Chris Megaloudis Sr. F 6-0/180 Sociology Queens, N.Y./St. Peterʼs College 7 Tamer Mohamed R-So. M 6-1/165 Health Sciences Queens Village, N.Y./Rutgers University 1 John Moschella Sr. GK 5-9/150 Health Sciences Staten Island, N.Y./St. Peterʼs College 15 Yahaya Musa So. M/D 5-9/165 Arts and Sciences Elmont, N.Y./Elmont Memorial HS 18 Douglas Narvaez Sr. M 5-7/140 School of Professional Development Ecuador/St. Peterʼs College 5 Zach Norwood Sr. M/D 5-9/150 Physics Federal Way, Wash./Decatur HS 10 Michael Palacio So. M 6-1/170 Arts and Sciences Long Beach, N.Y./Long Beach HS 12 Erion Qoku R-Fr. M/F 5-9/160 Arts and Sciences Brooklyn, N.Y./New Utrecht HS 28 Dan Salazar So. D 5-10/165 Arts and Sciences Brentwood, N.Y./Brentwood HS 3 Chris Scarpati Sr. M/D 6-1/165 Business Dix Hills, N.Y./Half Hollow Hills East HS 31 Brian Tepfer R-Fr. GK 6-0/175 Mechanical Engineering Staten Island, N.Y./Staten Island Technical HS 21 David Weisberger R-So. D/M 6-3/160 Philosophy Bronx, N.Y./St. Peterʼs College 22 EJ Xikis R-So. GK 5-10/170 Sociology Wantagh, N.Y./Oneonta State College 4 Mark Zajkowski Sr. D 6-3/190 Sociology Wantagh, N.Y./St. Peterʼs College 26 Dan Zori R-Fr. GK 5-11/185 Arts and Sciences Levittown, N.Y./Kellenberg Memorial HS

Pronunciation Guide Matt Avellino ...... AVE -uh-lean-oh Chris Megaloudis ...... mega-lew-dis Adam Ciklic ...... sick-lick Tamer Mohamed ...... tam-ER Dorin Djura ...... door-IN jure-aah Yahaya Musa ...... YA-ha-YA moose-ah Gadiel Figueroa ...... da-RE-elle fee-gay-row-ah Douglas Narvaez ...... Rob Fucci ...... foo-chee Michael Palacio ...... pa-LA-SEE-oh Pete Halkidis ...... hal-KEE-dees Erion Qoku ...... air-EE-on quo-KOO Noah Liiv ...... leave EJ Xikis ...... ZICK-iss Predrag Marinkovic ...... paid-dja mar-in-ka-vitch Mark Zajkowski ...... zaj-cow-skee Cesar Markovic ...... mark-AH-vitch

2005 Stony Brook Men’s Soccer • 9 2005 Season Preview Expectations are running high for the 2005 season with the team in edition of Stony Brook menʼs soccer. 2005. “With only a few The Seawolves look to continue their new players, we donʼt climb to the top of America East in 2005 af- have to worry as much ter fi nishing in a program-best tie for fourth about bringing the team place while qualifying for the teamʼs fi rst together, so we can appearance in the AE Tournament a year concentrate on achiev- ago. The Seawolves return seven starters ing bigger things. This and 16 letterwinners from a year ago when year itʼs more about us they fi nished as one of the most improved preparing than getting teams in the nation, turning a 4-13-1 sea- to know each other.” son in 2003 to an 11-6-3 record in 2004, ty- The team features ing them for the fourth-best improvement in eight seniors and eight NCAA Division I menʼs soccer. players with champion- Senior goalkeeper John Moschella Individually, Chris Megaloudis earned ship experience from fi rst team America East all-conference and their days at St. Peterʼs accomplishments alone, but Markovic and All-New York Region honors, both program College with Markovic. his team wonʼt stop there. fi rsts. Yahaya Musa and Dan Cukar were “We have several seniors who want noth- “We donʼt want to just make the tourna- named to the America East All-Rookie ing more than to leave Stony Brook with a ment,” said Markovic. “We want to stay for team, marking the fi rst time two members championship,” said Markovic. “We have a a while and make a statement, and in doing of the team earned the honor in the same great group of guys that have been with me so, put Stony Brook Soccer on the map na- season. for a while. We are very close and Iʼd like tionally.” nothing better than for them to experience winning another championship, except this In Goal time here at Stony Brook. All of the play- The Seawolves will once again have two ers are hungry, and they hold themselves to goalkeepers vying for the starting role in very high standards.” senior John Moschella and redshirt sopho- Leading the returning players is an out- more EJ Xikis. Last season, the two split standing crop of seniors, including Rob starting duties for the majority of the season Fucci and Mark Zajkowski on defense, before Moschella took over during the play- John Moschella in goal and fi rst team All- offs. New York Region and America East All- “We have two top goalkeepers that will Conference selection Chris Megaloudis at battle for playing time in John and EJ,” said forward. Markovic. “Either way we will be covered in The Seawolves will also welcome sev- net.” eral newcomers to the mix, including former Moschella led the league with 5.75 saves MAAC Offensive Player of the Year Douglas per game and ranked second with a 0.95 Narvaez, who transferred from St. Peterʼs goals against average in his fi rst season in College for his fi nal season of play. America East a year ago. With depth at each position, Stony Brook “John enters his senior year with three is focused on capturing the schoolʼs fi rst years of experience in a starting role,” said regular season conference title, a goal that Markovic. “He has played in all of the big is attainable only if it can continue its strong games. He is a leader who has high expec- play at home and improve on the road. Last tations for himself.” season, SB posted an outstanding 6-0-1 Xikis posted a pair of shutouts and com- mark in the friendly confi nes of Kenneth P. bined with Moschella for another in six ap- LaValle Stadium, while fi nishing just 4-6-2 Senior defender Rob Fucci pearances last season, including a huge on the road, a record Markovic knows must 2-0 blanking of NCAA participant Hofstra on After a season full of program bests in improve. the road. 2004, the Seawolves are once again pre- “We want to perform within the league “EJ is super talented in net and quick on pared to rewrite their history. with a high level of consistency,” said Mar- his feet,” said Markovic. “He showed fl ash- With just seven newcomers as opposed kovic. “We are looking to continue domi- es of brilliance last year.” to 18 a year ago, the team will be able to nance at home and become a very good focus on their dreams of bringing a cham- team on the road. That formula will get us In the Back pionship to Stony Brook instead of worrying where we want to go.” Defenders Rob Fucci and Mark Zajkows- about how the team will come together. The Seawolves also have their sights set ki return to lead the Seawolves in the back “We know we are an extremely differ- on winning an America East Championship after solid junior campaigns. ent team than last year,” said head coach and clinching a berth in the NCAA Menʼs “Fucci and Mark are gamers,” said Mar- Cesar Markovic, who begins his second College Cup. Those feats would be huge 10 • 2005 Stony Brook Men’s Soccer 2005 Season Preview kovic. “They play big in big games and we lacio, who proved to be one of the most dan- expect them to do that once again this year. gerous midfi elders in the league last year Expect them to be even tougher than they after racking up 11 points on three goals were last year.” and fi ve assists in 15 games, along with Also in the back is senior Dorin Djura, a Adam Ciklic, an extremely talented player 6-1, 180 pound defender who redshirted his the Seawolves are expecting a lot out of in fi rst season at Stony Brook a year ago. his junior campaign. “Dorin brings some muscle into our de- America East All-Rookie pick Yahaya fense,” said Markovic. “Heʼs good in the air Musa will also see plenty of action, as Mar- and strong on attack.” kovic expects him to emerge as one of the Also seeing plenty of action will be junior best young players on the team and have a Noah Liiv, an athletic, quick defender, as great sophomore year. well as utility players Dan Salazar and Da- vid Weisberger. Up Front The Seawolves feature a combination of In the Middle experienced veterans along with talented The Seawolves have tremendous tal- young players at the forward position led Senior defender Mark Zajkowski ent in the midfi eld, most notably in transfer by senior Chris Megaloudis. Megaloudis Douglas Narvaez, who will round out his led the team with 20 points on a team-best The Schedule career at Stony Brook after playing for three eight goals to go with four assists, while With several tough nonconference games earning all-conference and all-region hon- and the usual strength of America East ors. Markovic expects even more out of him Conference, the Seawolves face a tough in his fi nal season. road en route to a return to the playoffs and “We expect this to be Megaʼs breakout their goal of an America East title. year,” said Markovic. “He has all the tools to The Seawolves kick off their season when play at the next level. We are looking for a they host Long Island rival Hofstra before lot of goals to come from his feet.” hitting the road for games at the New Jer- Also returning is senior Chris Scarpati, sey Institute of Technology and Howard and who is looking to cap off his career with an- matchups with La Salle and Philadelphia other solid season. in the Lafayette Puma Soccer Classic. SB “Scarpati is a good technical player and then returns home to host the Seawolves he meshes well with Megaloudis,” said Mar- Fall Classic where they will take on Lafay- kovic. “We are defi nitely expecting him to ette and Columbia. make an impact on this yearʼs team.” A pair of road games at Adelphi and Cen- Other players in the mix include redshirt tral Connecticut State lead into the opening freshman Erion Qoku, freshman Predrag of America East action, with the Seawolves Marinkovic and sophomores Steve Golts- playing host to Hartford before battling de- man and Tamer Mohamed, a player Mar- fending champion Boston University and kovic is looking to step up his game this New Hampshire on the road. SB closes year. out its home sleight with games vs. Albany, “We expect much more from Tamer in his Binghamton and Vermont, ending the sea- second season,” said Markovic. “He has son with a nonconference match at Duke, the ability to be a key player for us.” a 2004 Final Four team, and AE games at Senior forward Chris Megaloudis Maine and UMBC. seasons, two under Markovic, at St. Peterʼs Newcomers “The highlight of the regular season will College. Markovic will look for Narvaez, the In addition to Narvaez and Avellino, the be playing at Duke,” said Markovic. “They 2004 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Of- Stony Brook roster features several talent- are a team that is certain to be in the top 10 fensive Player of the Year, to be a major ed newcomers who are sure to make their nationally and returns all of its starters from catalyst in the midfi eld for the Seawolves. mark and vie for playing time. last yearʼs Final Four team.” “Douglas Narvaez is a huge addition to Included in that group is Marinkovic, a ju- Overall Stony Brook will face a tough our team,” said Markovic. “I think he is the nior out of Belgrade, Serbia & Montenegro, road on its way to a championship, but the most talented midfi elder in the country. To who is a pure goal scorer and skilled player team is defi nitely up for the challenge. watch him on a daily basis is to enjoy soc- with plenty of experience. “Our nonconference games are tough,” cer at its best.” Other newcomers are junior transfer Ga- said Markovic. “We will play some very Another new addition to the middle is diel Figuora, a strong, athletic player who good teams. As for conference play, the Matt Avellino, a transfer from St. Johnʼs can play all over the fi eld, freshman mid- league is very even and each of the teams who Markovic said is “a very determined fi elder Josh Breitmaier and classmate Mar- are capable of winning the championship. and courageous player in the midfi eld.” tin Lynch, a solid defender who is very good Every game is a war. The only guarantee is Also returning is sophomore Michael Pa- in the air. that there will be no easy wins.” 2005 Stony Brook Men’s Soccer • 11