2012 Men's Soccer Season Preview

AURORA, N.Y. – The Wells College men's soccer team opens their home schedule this Wednesday, Sept. 5 against the Hawks of Hilbert College in a 5:00 p.m. tilt at the South Athletic Field. Fourth year Head Coach Dan Kane enters this season with a 24-man roster mostly comprised with underclassmen as the Express look to build upon last year's 7-10 overall record.

In 2011, the Express were 5-5 on the road but only put together a 2-5 record at home, their first losing season at home dating back to the 2008 season. Despite their troubles on the Wells College athletic fields, the Express return lots of experience both on defense and between the pipes. Kane has selected senior Luke Miller (New Hartford, N.Y.) and junior Pat O'Callaghan (Selden, N.Y.) as captains and both provide leadership, on the back end and up the middle, respectively.

FORWARDS / MIDFIELDERS

Out of the 33 goals scored by the Express last season, only four players return for the 2011-12 season, accounting for only seven goals out of the total. With seven seniors graduating this past spring along with their top four goal scorers, the team's freshmen forwards are poised to make a big impact.

Forward Max Cherry (Ridgewood, N.J.) played soccer for the Bengals of Barnstable Academy, serving as team captain for the final three years of his high school career. Additionally, Cherry was a perfect 16-for-16 on penalty kick opportunities spanning his four-year varsity career. Ian Miller (Auburn, N.Y.) joins Cherry up front, having played two sports for the Maroons of Auburn High School. During his senior season, Miller was selected as the Auburn Varsity Soccer Most Valuable Offensive Player while also earning CYNCL Second Team All-League recognition.

Fellow freshmen Jonathan De La Cruz (Woodbridge, Va.), Alex van Hoekelen (Drums, Pa.), Alejandro Vargas (Woodbridge, Va.) and Kristopher Alestalo (Jamesville, N.Y.) round out the forwards on the roster.

MIDFIELDERS

With 11 midfielders on the roster, there is plenty of depth up the middle for the Express. Junior Adam Sullivan (Ithaca, N.Y.) already has two goals on the season, scoring both against non-conference opponent D'Youville College on Friday. Last season, Sullivan accounted for two goals on the year, including the game-winning goal against Hilbert on Sept. 7. He has two career game-winning goals to his credit.

Joining captain O'Callaghan in the midfield are also sophomores Trevor Fahey (West Deptford, N.J.), Levi Christman (Sharon Springs, N.Y.) and Charles Naula (Wappinger Falls, N.Y.). Last season, Fahey saw action in all 17 games for the Express, collecting his first collegiate point against Gallaudet on Sept. 25. Making seven appearances as a freshman, Christman recorded his first collegiate assist against SUNY Cobleskill on Oct. 29. Naula, a 2011 graduate of Roy C. Ketcham High School, made 17 appearances as a freshman for the Express.

Freshman Wyatt Buerkle (Cincinnatus, N.Y.), a 2012 graduate of McGraw High School, played soccer for the Eagles under Head Coach Cory Smith while serving as a team captain. Ryan Mitzel (Voorhees, N.J.) was a three-year varsity letterman in high school while classmate Tyler Morris (Maryland, N.Y) played four sports at Andrew S. Draper High School while captaining the baseball, basketball and soccer teams.

Daniel Stewart (Trumansburg, N.Y.) played soccer, basketball and ran track and field for the Raiders of Trumansburg High School. Listed as a midfielder, Stewart was a member of the 2010 Section 4 boys soccer championship team. Justin Zywot (Niskayuna, N.Y.) was a Section 2 All-Star and collected Defensive Player of the Year honors while playing for the Warriors of Niskayuna High School. Daighn Dunn (White Plains, N.Y.), a 2011 graduate of the Browning School, rounds out the midfielders for Wells College.

DEFENSE

With Luke Miller in the fold as a captain, the returning defenders on the roster boast a combined 102 games of experience to draw from entering the season. Junior Forrest Lambert (Aurora, Colo.) has seen action in 25 games for the Express entering the 2012 season, scoring his first collegiate goal last season against Gallaudet on Sept. 25. Sophomore Cody Primmer (Oneonta, N.Y.) saw action in all 17 games last year for Wells, appearing in his first collegiate contest against Hobart on Sept. 1.

Freshmen Alex Torea (Aurora, N.Y.) and Matthew Terpack (Horseheads, N.Y.) round out the roster for the Express. Torea, a member of the swim team, also ran track while playing soccer and tennis for the Chiefs of Southern Cayuga High School.

GOALTENDING

Goaltender C.J. Bayly (Waymart, Pa.) returns to the squad for his junior season one year removed after placing fourth in the conference with a .788 save percentage and fifth overall with a 1.31 goals-against average. Last season, Bayly rattled off five-straight victories from Sept. 4 to Sept. 13, allowing only one goal during that time frame. He will be joined between the pipes by freshman Dominic Finch (Orlando, Fla.), a 2012 graduate of University High School who served as the starting goaltender for the Cougars during his junior and senior seasons.

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