Men's Soccer

August 23, 2007

WATERBURY, Conn.-The Post University men's soccer team will have an tricky task ahead of them this weekend, as it opens the season facing a pair of the top-10 teams in NCAA Division II, at the Southern Connecticut State University Tournament. The Eagles open up against the host Owls, who are ranked sixth in Division II, according to the National Soccer Coaches of America (NSCAA) Preseason Poll.

Post will square off with SCSU on Friday evening with kickoff slated for 7 p.m. at Jess Dow field, on the SCSU campus. Things do not get any easier in the second round on Sunday, as the Eagles will tangle with Franklin Pierce University, who is ranked number-nine in the NSCAA Preseason Poll. Kickoff for that match is slated for 11 a.m. at Dow Field.

Third-year Head Coach Ted Haley welcomes 16 returning letter winners from the 2006 squad, and two of the top three scorers from a year ago to the pitch on Friday. The Eagles finished 10^th in the NSCAA New England Region last season, were picked to finish fourth in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Preseason Coaches Poll.

The defense will anchor the Eagles once again this season, after finishing third in the conference with a 1.10 goal allowed average. Post goalkeepers finished third in the conference with a 1.03 goals against average.

Junior goalkeeper Dan Nadel finished third in the CACC in goals against average with a 1.09 rating. He also finished second with a .822 save percentage, stopping 83 opposition shots.

The Eagles will also have the services of junior keeper Mike Aeschliman who guided the Eagles to the CACC Championship game, giving up two goals in three CACC Championship games. He made four saves in a 2-1 overtime win against Felician in the quarterfinals, and picked up a 1-0 win in the semifinals against Wilmington. In the championship match against Dominican the Torrington, Conn. native stopped four shots to earn a spot on the All-Tournament team.

In addition, senior Marco Gaspar will look to earn some playing time, as he recorded a 0.95 goals against average in five games for the Eagles last season. Haley likes the fact that each of his three goalkeepers on the roster will be able to step up and handle the load. The starting defensive group also returns intact for Haley, and will look to step right in and pick up, after registering five clean sheets last season.

On the offensive end of the field, senior Alex Brito is the leading returning goal scorer from last season with three tallies. He also had an assist to finish the season with seven points.

Sophomore Johan Pineda is the second leading returnee with five points last season. He had a goal and three assists.

The Eagles will also look to newcomer Frantzy Noze to carry some of the scoring load, as he comes to Post after a stellar high school career at Norwich Free Academy. Noze tallied 60 goals and dished out 30 assists in high school, and was named All-ECC on two occasions. In 2006, he was named Offensive Player of the Year by the Norwich Bulletin and the New London Day.

As a team, the Eagles recorded 27 goals last season, while 12 came against conference opponents. Post was unbeaten in 12 of their last 18 matches to finish the regular season. At one point were unbeaten in 11 of 13 matches. The Eagles also won nine of their 11 matches at LaMoy Field, and reached the CACC Championships for the second time in as many years.

SCSU also opens the season on Friday, after being picked to finish second in the Northeast-10 Conference, behind Franklin Pierce. The Owls finished last season with a 17-3-3 overall record and a 10-2-1 mark in conference play, while reaching the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II Championships.

Franklin Pierce finished last season with a 17-2-3 overall record and was the coach's choice to win the NE-10 receiving 10 first-place votes and 191 points. The Ravens are the defending NE-10 Champions, and have won the last two regular season crowns.

Post opens the home portion of its schedule on Saturday, Sept. 1 with a non-conference match against Molloy College. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. at LaMoy Field.