Adelphi seeks third straight title

Reaching double digits in wins is always a goal for Adelphi’s men’s soccer program, coach Carlo Acquista said, and the Panthers enter 2011 looking to do so for a fourth consecutive season.

The two-time defending Atlantic Conference champions come off an exciting 11-6-2 campaign that featured seven overtime games. Adelphi allowed just 14 goals a year ago, ranking in the top three in Division I, after giving up only 17 in 2009.

“We always spend the first week of practice stressing defense,” Acquista said. “Giving up bad goals is nothing we’re known for and we want to keep it that way.”

Leading the effort in the back is senior captain Mauricio Mora, who last season earned First Team All-Conference and Most Valuable Defender honors. “He’s a tremendous leader and defensive anchor,” Acquista said. Senior Dan Larenius, another First Team All-Conference player, returns to the starting lineup along with junior Adam Weinzimer. Junior Travis Tennie is another experienced defender.

In goal, the Panthers lost Thorne Holder to graduation but senior Kyle Blackmer appears poised to take the job and run with it. Blackmer didn’t let up a goal in more than 155 minutes of backup duty in 2010. Newcomers Chris Herrera and Ahmad Salamah provide depth at the position.

Offensively, First Team All-Conference junior forward Issa Tall is dangerous with and without the ball. He’ll be the main focus of the attack after netting 21 goals in his first two seasons. “Issa attracted a lot more attention last year and he’ll be surrounded with some balance in the attack,” Acquista said. Junior Brandon Stoneham found the net a few times a year ago, while junior James Diana “is coming along,” Acquista said. Freshmen Adrian Sundquist and Andres Torres are also in the mix. 

The midfield is quick and athletic, led by juniors Greg Mallia and Domenico Parrelli and sophomore Nicholas Costa. 

  “If all the pieces come together, we can be dangerous,” Acquista said.

New coach for Lady Panthers
Adelphi graduate and former Major League Soccer player Chris Armas replaces longtime women’s coach Rich Ilsley, who retired after leading the Lady Panthers to 275 victories over 21 years.

Armas, who served as an assistant under Ilsley, has a firm grasp of the roster and plans to rotate a lot of bodies in all parts of the field. “We lost some good players, return some good players and brought in good players,” said Armas, a 1994 Adelphi grad who earned All-Amercan honors. “It’s going to take a little time for everything to jell, but the team is in a good place.”

The Lady Panthers, 8-8-1 last year, were ranked sixth in the Northeast-10 Conference preseason poll. They’re led by senior defender Lauren Lucas, senior forward Kim Volinski and senior midfielder Alicia Gibbons.

“The ladies want to do something special,” Armas said. “We’ve set a goal to reach the conference final.” 

Lucas, fellow senior Danielle Bottaro and junior Chali Beard all started 17 games last season and keys to a unit that limited opponents to 21 goals. Others expected to contribute in the back are juniors Cathleen Reardon and Sally Leahy, and sophomore Sarah Cote.

Senior goalkeeper Dorothy Connelly brings experience to the table and tops a depth chart that includes freshmen Kimberly Velazquez and Sam Whitney. Connelly made 106 saves and notched three shutouts in 2010.

Up front, Armas is excited to have Volinski (eight goals, five assists) back to lead the attack. “She’s fast and can score as well as create scoring chances for others,” he said. Juniors Kaitlin Monteith (two goals, three assists) and Emily Masiello are back after starting all but one game between them, while junior Alison Groenthal also returns after netting three goals.

Gibbons anchors a midfield that includes junior Meghan Carey and sophomore Aimee Goldstein.

“The preseason moves quick,” Armas said. “We’ll continue to get fitter and sharper and see how far we can go.”