Soccer Game Central
HAMILTON, N.Y. (8/31/10) – The Colgate men’s soccer team will open its 2010 season on the road this weekend when it faces Temple on Friday, Sept. 3 at 2.30 p.m. and then Stony Brook on Sunday, Sept. 5 at 12.00 p.m. at the Lafayette Classic in Easton, Pa.
The Raiders finished the 2009 season narrowly missing out on a return trip to the Patriot League Tournament as the two-time defending champions. This season however, the team is looking to turn things around.
"We have had a very productive preseason,” stated head coach
Erik Ronning. “The team has come together in many ways over the course of the past two weeks, but we still have a long way to go."
Going into their first two games, the coaches and players are looking forward to putting themselves to the test and seeing what they can do.
"This weekend will be very competitive and challenging because Temple and Stony Brook are both very strong teams, so we will need to be at our best,” Ronning said. “What is important is that as a team, we focus on ourselves, play hard for each other and concentrate on one game at a time."
SCOUTING THE RAIDERS
The Raiders finished the 2009 season with an overall record of 8-8-1 and were 4-3 in conference play. This season Colgate was picked to finish fourth in the Patriot League with 63 points, which has them tied with American. Both teams were voted behind Lafayette (65 pts), Lehigh (68 pts) and defending champions, Bucknell (98 pts).
Senior defender
Jeff Leach (New Canaan, Conn.) was named the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year by the Patriot League. He is one of eight returning starters for Colgate.
SCOUTING TEMPLE
The Owls ended their season 9-7-2 overall and with a 4-4-1 conference mark. Picked to finish seventh in the Atlantic 10 conference, Temple is looking to start its 2010 season with a win. Like the Raiders, this will be the opening game of its season.
The Owls return seven starters including leading goal scorer Tyler Witmer and Philadelphia Soccer Six All-Star goalkeeper senior Bret Mollon.
SCOUTING STONY BROOK
The Seawolves were picked to finish second in the America East Conference. Despite completing the 2009 season with an overall record of 6-10-4, the team went 5-0-2 in conference play and captured its second America East title.
Sophomore midfielder Leonardo Fernandes, the 2009 America East Rookie of the Year, is among eight returning starters for Stony Brook.