Twelve Trinity Men's Soccer Seniors Eager To Begin Final Seasons At Home Saturday
Hartford, Conn. – The Trinity College men's soccer team, under the direction of two-time New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Coach of the Year Mike Pilger (10th Season), fields a deep and experienced team with 13 seniors that looks to qualify for a third consecutive post-season. Senior co-captain backs Shaun McGann (West Hartford, Conn.) and Zachary Packer (North Attleboro, Mass.) anchor a stalwart defense, while a myriad of talented offensive players are poised to increase the Bantam scoring totals from a year ago. Trinity opens the 2013 campaign at home on Saturday, September 7 at noon against NESCAC rival Hamilton.
"I feel great about where we are," says Pilger. "With so many returners, and especially so many seniors, our experience and our depth will be a strength. If we can stay healthy and our very talented crop of freshmen prospects contribues as I think they can, then we can be a good team."
Packer and McGann will return to their respective center back and right back positions that the pair have occupied more most of their careers. The Trinity defense, which yielded just four goals in the first nine games in 2012 before injuries contributed to a late slide, also welcomes back junior Kyle Johnston (Sagamore Beach, Mass.) and sophomore Jack Vogel (Northborough, Mass.) to its starting lineup. Johnston emerged last year as a steady defender at center back, and Vogel was the team's rookie of the year. Senior Tucker Callanan (New Harbor, Maine) and sophomore Mark Perreault (Southborough, Mass.) are also capable returning backs, while senior Andrew McNair (Westport, Conn.) and sophomore Malcolm Joseph (Sudbury, Mass.) are solid contributors at multiple position including defense. The Bantams have the luxury of three quality goalkeepers in the fold, as senior James Ciano (Syosset, N.Y.), junior Jason Katz (Middleton, Mass.), and first-year Domenic Quade (Norwood, Mass.) should continue to push each other well past pre-season practices. Katz had 43 saves with a 1.35 GAA and five shutouts as the primary starter in 2012, while Ciano added 22 saves, a 1.77 GAA and one shutout. All three will see playing time this fall.
Senior forward Christian Carrasquillo (Manchester, Conn.) enjoyed a fine 2012 campaign with four goals, two game-winners, and two assists, and should be a primary focus of the opposing defenses in his final autumn. Senior Julian Gocksch (Centerport, N.Y.) and junior Tim Shea (Somerset, Mass.) are both also legitimate scoring threats up front. Gocksch has six goals and two assists in three seasons, and Shea tallied twice last fall and netted four of Trinity's nine markers in the final six games of his rookie year including both of the Bantam goals in the 2011 NCAA Tournament. Seniors Will Stankiewicz (Townsend, Mass.), who also scored a pair of goals in 2012, and speedy Travis Merrill and junior Max Oppenheimer (Plymouth, Minn.) are also part of a deep group of Trinity forwards. First-year striker Cody Savonen (Orleans, Mass.) will have an immediate impact on the Trinity offense.
In the midfield, no less than five seniors with extensive game experience. Trevor Doolittle (Milford, Conn.), John El-Hachem (Vernon, Conn.), Alex Harvey (Lakeville, Conn.), Wesley Simon (New Hope, Pa.) and McNair round out a senior fivesome that should make the position a strong one for the Bantams this fall. All five are quite capable at several positions. Joseph and fellow sophomore Josh Leblanc (Manchester, Mass.) also return with midfield experience, and Joseph saw time at forward as well a year ago. Rookies Tobias Gimond (Fairfield, Conn.) and Oliver Murphy (Upper Montclair, N.J.) are exciting all-around midfielders who will both challenge for playing time from the season's opening game.
