Capital Athletic Conference Men’s Soccer Preview 2015

CONFERENCE OVERVIEW

The Capital Athletic Conference had a stellar 2014. Salisbury won the regular season championship, but were upended by Christopher Newport in the CAC Tournament. The Captains eventually advanced into the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division III Tournament. Salisbury received an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament, where they lost in the first round.

Christopher Newport enters the season as the favorite to win the CAC, but should be tested by Salisbury, York, Mary Washington and Frostburg State.

PRESEASON CONFERENCE RANKINGS

View Complete D3 Men’s Soccer Rankings by BennettRank
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Salisbury Sea Gulls

LOCATION: Salisbury, Md.
COACH: Gerry DeBartolo
2014 RECORD: 14-6-1 overall
2014 CONF. RECORD: 6-1-2 (1st in CAC)
2014 POSTSEASON: Lost to Rochester, 4-0, in the first-round of the NCAA Division III Tournament.
THE SUPPORTING CAST: Sr/GK Drew Staedell (20 starts, 0.64 goals against); Sr/M Dennis Runikera (3 goals, 2 assists); Sr/M Chris Kittelberger (2 goals); Sr/D Taylor Groginski (1 assist); Jr/D Brad Martinelli (1 goal); Soph/F Brooks Zentgraf (4 goals, 1 assist); Sr/D Cy McNeill (1 goal).
OUTLOOK:  The Sea Gulls won the regular season title in the Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) with a 6-1-2 record. Salisbury was led by the play of goalkeeper Drew Staedell, who started 20 matches and allowed only 0.64 goals a game. Sophomore Brooks Zentgraf is the leading returning scorer with four goals. Senior Dennis Runikera is also back after scoring three goals and two assists.
MATCH OF THE YEAR: Oct. 21 @ Christopher Newport —Should be a battle between the two best teams in the league.

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Marymount Saints

LOCATION: Arlington, Va.
COACH: Keith Moser
2014 RECORD: 3-15-0 overall
2014 CONF. RECORD: 1-8-0 (10th in CAC)
THE SUPPORTING CAST: Sr./GK Logan Cropper (17 starts); Jr./D Kurt Michaels (12 starts); Soph./M Tristan Munoz (2 goals, 7 assists); Soph./M Jose Birriel (2 goals); Soph./F Aly Sheta (2 goals); Sr./M Carlos Sanchez (1 goal); Fr./D Shawn Morrow (2 goals, 3 assists); Jr./D Chris Lionette (15 starts); Jr./D Frank Cadie (12 starts); Jr./F Ahmed Elmanialawy (8 goals); Sr./M Carlos Salas (15 starts).

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Southern Virginia Knights

LOCATION: Buena Vista, Va.
COACH: Matt Grawrock
2014 RECORD: 6-14-0 overall
2014 CONF. RECORD: 2-7-0 (9th in CAC)
THE SUPPORTING CAST: Sr./GK Efren Gutierrez (16 starts); Soph/M Jared Attridge (2 goals, 2 assists); Soph/M Colby Briggs (5 goals); Jr/M Carlos Munoz (5 goals, 2 assists); Sr/F Erik Gutierrez (6 goals, 2 assists); Jr/F Josh Smith (4 goals, 3 assists); Soph/F Carter Woods (4 goals); Soph/M Brahema Molubah (1 assist); Soph/F Colin Flynn (17 starts); Jr/D Cort Cox (18 starts); Jr/M Jose Rivas-Cruz (1 assist); Soph/D Anthony Skeeters (1 goal); Soph/D Cabot Arne (1 assist).

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Wesley Wolverines

LOCATION: Dover, Del.
COACH: Steve Clark
2014 RECORD: 8-8-1 overall
2014 CONF. RECORD: 3-6-0 (eighth in CAC)
THE SUPPORTING CAST: Sr/D Sheldon Blue (1 goal, 1 assist); Sr/D Robert Dina (13 starts); Jr/F Eman Amao (7 goals, 4 assists); Jr/D Kyle Jackson (11 starts); Sr/M Chris Harvell (2 goals, 1 assist); Sr/M Oluwatobi Sowande (1 assist, 16 starts); Jr/M Thomas Franz (3 goals, 1 assist); Jr/F Will Mileski (4 goals, 10 assists); Sr/GK Ryan Sanders (11 starts).

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York Spartans

LOCATION: York, Penn.
COACH: Mark Ludwig
2014 RECORD: 7-6-5 overall
2014 CONF. RECORD: 4-3-2 (seventh in CAC)
THE SUPPORTING CAST: Sr/D Christopher Seberton (2 goals, 2 assists); Sr/F Greg Bechard (4 goals, 3 assists); Jr/F Matt Freibaum (2 goals, 2 assists); Sr/D Ryan Donahue (3 assists); Jr/D Charlie Versen (12 starts); Sr/F Peter Lundgaard (6 goals, 1 assist); Soph/F Joel Teston (3 goals, 1 assist); Sr/D Scott Ashbridge (8 starts); Soph/D Ryan Ockford (3 goals, 1 assist); Sr/D Patrick Ward (2 assists); Sr/F Brendan Saberton (3 goals, 3 assists); Jr/ GK Charlie Johnson (13 starts).

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St. Mary’s Seahawks

LOCATION: St. Mary’s City, Mary.
COACH: Alun Oliver
2014 RECORD: 10-10-0 overall
2014 CONF. RECORD: 5-4-0 (sixth in CAC)
THE SUPPORTING CAST: Soph/GK Zack Haussler (16 starts); Jr/F Zach Fontenot (5 goals); Sr/D Chris Harwick (5 starts); Soph/F Emmanuel Kanneh (2 goals, 1 assist); Sr/M Jackson Ranheim (1 goal); Sr/F Davis Holland (1 goal); Jr/ M Yonah Zeithz (1 goal, 5 assists); Jr/M Nick Tait (6 goals, 5 assists); Soph/D Andrew Battin (1 assist); Sr/D James Pollock (1 assist); Soph/F Alessandro Burlew (6 goals, 2 assists); Soph/M Sunny Chhatani (1 assist); Jr/M Kyle Reichard (2 goals, 4 assists); Soph/D Arik Moe (18 starts).

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Christopher Newport Captains

LOCATION: Newport News, Va.
COACH: Steve Shaw
2014 RECORD: 19-3-5 overall
2014 CONF. RECORD: 4-2-3 (fifth in CAC)
THE SUPPORTING CAST: Patrick Burns (12 goals, 12 assists); Ryan Balfour (7 goals, 5 assists); Jimmy Grace (4 goals, 5 assists); Harry Nodwell (5 goals, 2 assists); Henry Gotay (4 goals, 4 assists); Sean Christein (3 goals, 2 assists); Garrett Van Nutt (2 goals, 3 assists); Andrew Gogolin (2 goals, 2 goals); Preston Key (2 goals, 2 assists); Mark Brewington (2 goals, 1 assist); Sebastian Abrigo (4 assists); Zach Douglass (1 goal, 1 assist).
OUTLOOK:  The Captains wrapped up the 2014 ranked seventh in the nation after a run into the NCAA Division III Tournament and bring back a big portion of that team this fall. It was the fourth time the program has advanced into the Elite Eight. CNU fell in a penalty-kick shootout to Ohio Wesleyan after winning the CAC postseason tournament. But the Captains will be without three-time conference Player of the Year Jalon Brown, who had 20 goals last season.
As a team, Christopher Newport eclipsed 200 points for the first time in program history. They were ranked third nationally in total points with 205.

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Mary Washington Eagles

LOCATION: Fredericksburg, Va.
COACH: Jason Kilby
2014 RECORD: 8-8-3 overall
2014 CONF. RECORD: 5-3-1 (fourth in CAC)
THE SUPPORTING CAST: Jr/F Riley Fisher (8 goals, 1 assist); Jr/M Lino Gallo (1 assist); Sr/M Rory Grambo (10 starts); Soph/F Conor Nogueira (2 goals, 6 assists); Sr/M Mike Bennett (1 goal, 1 assist); Jr/M Carlos Mendoza (6 goals, 3 assists); Soph/D Charlie Montano (14 starts); Sr/M Jacob Keller (1 goal); Jr/D Elvin Arbaiza (12 starts); Jr/F Jacob Burke (6 goals, 1 assist); Soph/F Ben Cisse (4 goals, 2 assists); Soph/D Colin Travis (16 starts).

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Frostburg State Bobcats

LOCATION: Frostburg, Md.
COACH: Keith Byrnes
2014 RECORD: 10-6-3 overall
2014 CONF. RECORD: 5-3-1 (third in CAC)
THE SUPPORTING CAST: Patrick Burns (12 goals, 12 assists); Ryan Balfour (7 goals, 5 assists); Jimmy Grace (4 goals, 5 assists); Harry Nodwell (5 goals, 2 assists); Henry Gotay (4 goals, 4 assists); Sean Christein (3 goals, 2 assists); Garrett Van Nutt (2 goals, 3 assists); Andrew Gogolin (2 goals, 2 goals); Preston Key (2 goals, 2 assists); Mark Brewington (2 goals, 1 assist); Sebastian Abrigo (4 assists); Zach Douglass (1 goal, 1 assist).

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Penn State-Harrisburg

LOCATION: Middletown, Penn.
COACH: Seamus Donnelly
2014 RECORD: 14-6-1 overall
2014 CONF. RECORD: 5-3-1 (second in CAC)
THE SUPPORTING CAST: Jr/GK Brandon Hoover (19 starts); Jr/F Alex Panucclo (6 goals, 2 assists); Soph/F Victor Weaver (3 assists); Jr/M Malik Cameron (2 goals, 1 assist); Sr/F Aaron Kline (8 goals, 2 assists); Soph/M Matthew Vaz (1 goal, 1 assist); Jr/D Colby Brown (12 starts); Soph/D Ashton Weaver (1 goal); Jr/D Christian Schomoyer (18 starts); Jr/D Jonathan Vanaskie (1 goal).
OUTLOOK:  The Lions were picked to finish last in the CAC preseason poll and used that momentum to finish in second place and advance into the postseason. Penn State-Harrisburg lost in the CAC Tournament final.
The Lions bring back senior forward Aaron Kline, who finished 2014 with eight goals. Also back is junior goalkeeper Brandon Hoover, who started 19 games and allowed less than a goal a game.