SAINT JOSEPH’S HAWKS 2015 MEN’S SOCCER 2015 Season Outlook. 2-5 QUICK FACTS Head Coach Don D’Ambra . 6-7 Assistant Coaches and Staff . 8-11 The University The Hawk . 11 Location . Philadelphia, Pa. (19131) Sweeney Field . 12 Founded. 1851 2015 Roster . 13 Enrollment . 4,560 Hawk Profiles . 14-37 Denomination . Roman Catholic (Jesuit) Seniors . 14-15 Juniors. 16-24 Nickname . Hawks Redshirt Sophomore . 25 Colors. Crimson and Gray Sophomores . 26-32 Athletic Affiliation . NCAA Division I Newcomers . 33-37 Conference . Atlantic 10 2014 Year In Review . 38 Home Field (Capacity) . Sweeney Field (3,000) 2014 Statistics . 39 Atlantic 10 Conference . 40 Surface . FieldTurf 2014 Atlantic 10 Recap. 41 Honor and Awards . 42 The Team Hawks In The Pros. 43 Head Coach . Don D’Ambra (Saint Joseph’s ‘94) - 6th Year Single Season Records . 44 Assistant Coach . Pat Morris (Philadelphia ‘98) - 6th Year Career Records . 45 Yearly Records . 46 Assistant Coach. Steve Wacker (Temple ‘05) - 4th Year All-Time Roster. 47-49 Volunteer Assistant Coach . Scott Krotee (Gardner-Webb ‘12) - 2nd Year All-Time Results . 50-57 Director of Soccer Operations. Rob Brown (Strayer ‘09) - 5th Year All-Time Series Results . 57 Men’s Soccer Office . 610-660-1764 Administration. 58 Captains . Bliss Harris, Tim Lazorko The University . 59 Letterwinners Returning/Lost . 19/8 Starters Returning/Lost . 7/4 WWWW..SJJUHAWWKKS.COM Newcomers . 10 2014 Overall Record. 7-7-4 CREDITS 2014 Atlantic 10 Record . 2-5-1 The 2015 Saint Joseph's University men’s soccer media guide was written, edited, and designed by Nikki Philpot. Editorial assistance provided by Marie 2014 Atlantic 10 Finish . 11th Wozniak, Jack Jumper, and Joe Greenwich. Photography by Greg Carroccio and Ryan Sansom of Sideline Photos. Photo on page 40 courtesy of George ON THE COVER Mason Athletics. Photo on page 45 by International Sports Images. Outside (L-R): Senior Emmanuel Temeh, senior captain Tim Lazorko, and junior cap- covers designed by Nikki Philpot. tain Bliss Harris 2015 SAINT JOSEPH’S MEN’S SOCCER MEDIA GUIDE 1 2015 SEASON OUTLOOK The Saint Joseph's men's soccer squad will open the 2015 season at home this Friday, August 28 against Marist at 5:00 p.m., the first of eight home matches to be played on Sweeney Field this fall. SJU will open Atlantic 10 Conference action at home against Massachusetts on October 3 and will see an even four-home, four-road match schedule for league play. The Hawks were voted 11th in the A-10 preseason poll. Saint Joseph’s returns 19 Hawks, including seven starters and four players that combined for 39 percent of last season’s scoring, to the field this fall. Despite the loss of four starters from the 2014 squad, SJU will look to continue on the momen- tum of last year’s seven-win season, the program’s highest sin- gle-season win total since 2003. Under the direction of sixth- year head coach Don D’Ambra, the Hawks return two seniors, nine juniors, and eight sophomores and add 10 newcomers this fall. SJU’s only two returnees to have started all 18 matches last season, midfield co-captains Tim Lazorko and Bliss Harris will lead the Hawks into the 2015 season. “Timmy is an on-the-field general,” said D’Ambra of his sen- ior captain. “He’s always talking, communicating, and organiz- ing other guys. What makes him a great player is his soccer IQ. He’s very intelligent and sees things before they’re going to happen. He’s a good player and a good leader, and he can make big plays for us. Junior midfield co-captain Bliss Harris “Bliss has just kept getting better each year. He’s an engine in the middle and a physical presence. Athletically, he’s one of our top athletes on the team. He trains hard everyday, and he’s a guy that day-in and day-out is consistently getting it done on and off the field.” OFFENSE The vacancy of Mike Glazer, Jake Nelson, and Mark Colville – a trio that combined for 61 percent of SJU’s goals in 2015 – will need to be filled in 2015. SJU’s next two leading scorers from last season also happen to be the Hawks’ two seniors this year – Lazorko (2G, 3A) and forward Emmanuel Temeh (3G, 2A). With three seasons apiece under their belts, the senior duo will look to lead the Hawks on the offensive end of the field. A two-time Philadelphia Soccer Six All-Star selection who was listed as one of the top 50 prospects in the Premier Development League this summer, Lazorko returns for his fourth season of patrolling the midfield in 2015. With 54 career starts, Lazorko is the most experienced returnee on the team and owns 34 career points on 11 goals and 12 assists. The ver- satile Lazorko made the transition from attacking midfielder to defender last season yet still ranked in the squad’s top five in Senior midfield co-captain Tim Lazorko goals, assists, and points. 2015 SAINT JOSEPH’S MEN’S SOCCER MEDIA GUIDE 2 2015 SEASON OUTLOOK Temeh broke into a starting spot at forward last season, making 12 starts in 17 appearances, and tied for second on the squad in goals (3), assists (2), and points (8). Temeh was the dif- ference maker at LIU Brooklyn, where he tallied the 90th- minute equalizer and overtime match-winner. Additional forwards up front with Temeh will be junior Mori Diane and freshmen Derek MacKinnon and Heriberto Sevilla. Diane earned nine starts and 16 total appearances up front last season, and his speed and determination on the pitch will help the Hawks again in 2015. “He’s a guy that makes things happen because he’s running people over and winning the ball,” said D’Ambra of his junior forward. “He wants to go forward. He’s a guy that can change the pace of the game and create some energy. “They’re all going to compete well,” added D’Ambra of his group of forwards. “Whoever is doing the best will play. They’re going to be competing, and they know it. They’re all trying to learn and get better. Each of them have different looks and styles of their play, and they have different strengths to their game that might be another forwards’ weakness.” Junior midfielder Sam Irvin The returning trio of last season’s starters in junior mid- fielders Harris, Sam Irvin, and Eric Jordan will also be expected to bolster the Hawks’ offensive attack this season. Harris made all 18 starts as a defensive midfielder in 2014, ranking second on the squad in minutes played (1,687) and playing every minute of Atlantic 10 action. Harris tallied assists at Penn and George Washington and played 13 full matches, including five of SJU's six total shutouts against St. Francis (N.Y.), Howard, Drexel, Siena, and UMass. Irvin made 17 starts in the midfield last season and tallied a goal and assist in SJU’s win over LIU Brooklyn. He played nine full matches, including shutouts against Howard, Drexel, Siena, UMass. Jordan made eight starts before suffering a season- ending injury last year and brings an aggressive spark to the pitch. “Sam looks really good this year,” said D’Ambra. “In pre- season against UMBC and Penn State, he was our best play- maker. Eric is versatile, so he can be someone we throw up top. Senior forward Emmanuel Temeh He creates through his energy and his ability to win the ball.” 2015 SAINT JOSEPH’S MEN’S SOCCER MEDIA GUIDE 3 2015 SEASON OUTLOOK Sophomores Matt Crawford and Mike Akinkoye are SJU’s only two offensive players to have earned starts in their rookie seasons. Crawford led SJU’s freshmen in all offensive categories and was SJU’s only freshman to score a goal while Akinkoye, a 2014 Philadelphia Soccer Six All-Rookie Team selection, made 15 appearances with three starts on the attack last season. “Matt will see minutes, and Mike looks very good,” said D’Ambra. “Mike is one of the most improved returning guys. He’s playing faster and more aggressively. He learned a lot from being on the bench, and he’ll get time this year.” Freshman midfielder Lou Vilotti, a 2014 NSCAA All- American and 2013 Regional All-American, could also expect to see playing time right away. “Lou looks very good,” said D’Ambra. “He keeps getting better. He’s a guy that can challenge to either start or be the first guy off the bench. He’s been looking good.” Junior midfielder Max Pozzessere and newcomers Nick Hartwell, Kyle Lochbihler, Robel Negatu, and Trent Taylor will round out the offensive unit for the Crimson and Gray. “A lot of what we’ve been working on is just attacking,” said D’Ambra. “We were a very good defensive team in the pre- season, but we lacked creativity in attacking. Hopefully we can get the right mix and get everybody on the same page. We have a lot of options, and creating chemistry is going to be the key.” Junior defender Mike Stuski DEFENSE The vacancy due to the graduation of last season’s starting trio of veterans Nelson, Tommy Brooks, and Brandon Stevis opens three spots on the Hawks’ backline in 2015, and filling that hole has been a priority this preseason. Junior Coupar Lipp, redshirt sophomore Ted Foley, and sophomore transfer Kevin Lockhart lead a group of five Hawks that could challenge for starting positions on opening day. With 16 career matches played over his first two seasons, Lipp brings the most experience to the defensive unit.