2012 Men's Soccer Preview
Second year head coach Dominic Oliveri (Geneseo '01) posted a 9-7-3 record and a trip to the SUNYAC semifinals in 2011, where the Blue Knights fell to Brockport. Oliveri's challenge for 2012 is to replace 12 graduates, including leading scorer and second team All-SUNYAC pick Ian Mort, and junior foreign exchange student Jop Smit, who claimed third team All-SUNYAC.
Despite the loss of Mort, Oliveri returns a pair of potent scorers to the squad in sophomore Neil Allen (Pittsford/Sutherland), who scored five goals and one assist on the way to third team All-SUNYAC, and junior Ryan Yurchak (Clifton Park/Shenendehowa), who netted four goals and three helpers in 2011.
First years Jesse Levy (Brewster/North Salem) and Jesse Clark (Syosset) will spell the starters, while first year Stanley Egbuchulam (Valley Stream/South) provides forward depth.
In the midfield, junior Craig Schackner (Dix Hills/Half Hollow Hills West) returns to the starting lineup and top substitute from 2011, senior Alex Stephan (Clarence), joins sophomore newcomers Jason Iannone (Remsenburg/Westhampton Beach) and Jason Falk (Clarence Center/Clarence) in the starting four.
Oliveri expects senior Sam Lentine (Penfield), sophomores Richard Bellusci (Lynbrook), Alex Palermo (Rochester/Greece Athena) and Pat Gunty (Delmar/Bethlehem) and first year Jaisen Clark (Vestal) to receive significant playing time in the midfield.
Sophomores Connor Beisner (West Islip) and Stefan Merchant (Baldwinsville/C.W. Baker) and first year Ian Ksanznak (Delmar/Bethlehem) round out the midfield roster.
Senior Rob Loccisano (Hauppauge), a four-year starter, and junior Pat Lynch (Canandaigua), a three-year member of the first team, return to lead the defense for Geneseo. First years Terence McGovern (Merrick/Chaminade), Andrew Stein (Webster/Schroeder) and Chris Kanaval (West Hempstead/Chaminade) compete for the remaining two starting spots.
Junior Mat Rough (Warwick/Warwick Valley) and sophomore Tyler Chauncey (Rochester/Greece Athena) will receive playing time, while sophomore Jason Harris (East Amherst/Williamsville North) and first year Kevin Maddock (Delmar/Bethlehem) provide additional depth.
Senior Nick Voggel (Tully) begins the season as the top goalkeeper for the Blue Knights after posting a 1.32 goals against in playing just 136 minutes last year. Junior Dan Maddock (Delmar/Bethlehem) provides backup to Voggel in nets.
The Knights open their season by travelling to the Penn State Behrend tournament on Saturday, September 1, with the home opener coming on Friday, September 7 versus Clarkson at 4 p.m.