7/14/12

NJ MEN'S SOCCER HAS EYES SET ON NORTH CAROLINA

The Berkeley College New Jersey men's soccer team enters the 2012 season with aspirations of competing for a playoff spot at the United States Collegiate Athletic Association National Tournament in North Carolina. A learning curve in 2011 with ten starting freshmen that managed to still secure six wins should help this young, talented group reach its goals in 2012.

"We developed a solid foundation last year," said fourth-year coach Bruno Ferreira, "and we've added some important pieces to the roster this year. By all indications, we should be prepared to have a successful season."

If they are to do so, they will have to overcome a very strong schedule. This season alone the Knights will square off against fourteen NCAA Division III programs including Drew University, Medgar Evers College, The College of New Jersey, and Albright College to name a few.

"We like the tough schedule," says Ferreira. "You have to earn your wins here at Berkeley. We want to play the best."

The team will also host home games for the first time in their brief history, with five matches being played at the New Jersey Institute of Technology.

"The home games are important and a natural evolution of our athletic programs," said Athletic Director Brian Maher. "We are looking forward to seeing our students, friends, and families come out and support the team this season."

The team will be led by returning sophomore goal keeper and team captain Thomas Frangieh (Newton/Newton, NJ) who was off to a stellar rookie season before a leg injury sidelined him for the second half. Leading the defense are sophomore co-captain Raymond Scalfani (Parsippany/Lake Hiawatha, NJ) and fellow sophomores Veton Tela (Eastside/Paterson, NJ) and Dan Freitas (Kearny/Kearny, NJ).
In the midfield there is a deep core of talent. Tactic-savy sophomore Nuno Santos (Kearny/Kearny, NJ) is a bruising center defensive mid alongside two explosive playmakers in Eurcario Solano (Absegami/Galloway, NJ) and Ramon Arce (Bernards/Bernardsville, NJ).

The team also returns Academic All-American junior defender Paul Logan (Kearny/Kearny, NJ), junior midfielder Jason Rodrigues (Kearny/Kearny, NJ), junior forward Johnny Campos (Kearny/Kearny, NJ) and sophomore forward Daniel Vieceli (Kearny/Kearny, NJ).

"We are deep and talented at every position," says coach Ferreira. "The season's success could possibly come down to one goal so we must be at the top of our game every night."

The Knights open the season at Utica College on August 31 at 7 P.M.