Bryant University Bulldogs Men's Soccer Opens Season Friday and Saturday in Hawaii

August 22, 2007

Men's Soccer Kicks Off Season in Hawaii Friday and Saturday

HONOLULU, HI - Led by captains Mike Gargiulo and Kyle Tierney, the 2007 Bryant Men's Soccer team opens its season Friday at Hawaii Pacific in a non-conference game. The team will return to the field the next day, takign on Chaminade University Saturday. Both matches start at 4 p.m. in Hawaii (10 p.m. Eastern time). The Bulldogs, who were picked to finish eighth in the Northeast-10 Conference preseason poll, are scheduled to take on Southern N.H. in their home opener Saturday September 8th at 11 a.m.

2007 NE-10 Preseason Poll
1. Franklin Pierce (10), 191
2. So. Connecticut (4), 186
3. Southern N.H., 158
4. UMass Lowell, 144
5. Merrimack, 137
6. Le Moyne, 122
7. Saint Michael's, 117
8. BRYANT, 93
9. AIC, 88
10. St. Anselm, 79
11. Bentley, 79
12. Stonehill, 33
13. Assumption 28
14. Saint Rose, 28

Looking to rebound from a 2006 season in which they failed to qualify for the Northeast-10 Conference Tournament, the Bryant University men’s soccer team will sport a vastly different roster from last season’s 8-5-3 squad. The Bulldogs matched their win total from the 2005 team that reached the conference semifinals, but a more competitive conference saw Bryant slip to ninth overall, despite a 5-5-3 conference record. The Bulldogs started the season strongly, losing just once in the first seven games, but they followed the strong start with a 1-4-1 showing that cost them a playoff spot.

Under the direction of head coach Seamus Purcell, the Bulldogs have posted winning conference seasons in six of the last seven seasons and have amassed 31 wins in the last four campaigns.

Here’s a breakdown of how Bryant stacks up entering 2007:

FORWARD
The Bulldog offense runs through senior co-captain Mike Gargiulo. The second-leading scorer on the team the last two seasons and top returning scorer with five goals and two assists, Gargiulo’s quick-strike ability is crucial to the team’s success. Junior Manny Rodriguez tied for the team lead in goals in 2006 with six, while posting a team-high three game-winners. Rodriguez will be counted on for even more scoring this season. Joining Gargiulo and Rodriguez up front are sophomores Ryan Aspinall and Matthew Brown. Both came into their own late last season and will give Gargiulo and Rodriguez plenty of help up front. Aspinall had one goal and two assists last season, while Brown added four goals and two assists. Freshmen Sean Kaukas and Norbert Guery join an experienced group and will look to contribute immediately offensively.

MIDFIELD
Replacing departed seniors Bryan Gravel and Jason Alvarez in the midfield will be a challenge for the Bulldogs. Junior Kyle Bruton brings plenty of game experience and will be a regular on the field this season. Sophomore Tyler Sabo chipped in a goal and added an assist in his freshman campaign and will look to be more of a factor in his second season with the Bulldogs.
After not playing in 2006, Stephen Marcus returns to the Bulldog midfield. Marcus has played in 17 career games with Bryant. Freshman Erik Lekstrom will have the opportunity to play right away.

DEFENSE
Coach Purcell has the luxury of two seniors roaming the backline as co-captain Kyle Tierney and Nick Ballistierri lead a deep defensive group. Tierney, the veteran of 44 career collegiate games, added a goal last season and will replace last year’s defensive anchor and captain Pat Doherty. Ballistierri, known for his long throw-ins, posted four helpers in 16 games, with the majority of those coming off his talented throw-ins. A veteran of 43 career games, Ballistierri, at six-feet, two-inches, will be a force in the defensive box. Joining those two seniors are sophomores John Soborski and Patrick Bedard. Soborski appeared in six games as a freshman, while Bedard played in ten. Both will have the chance for increased playing time in their sophomore campaign. After not playing in 2006, senior Connor Bryant returns to the Bulldog defense and will look to improve off his sophomore season in which he started in 10 of the 17 games he appeared in. Newcomers Jordan Martin, Dan Loreaux, Tom Pagliarini, and six-foot, five-inch Tom Nelan all come to Bryant with outstanding credentials and give the defensive unit solid depth.

GOALKEEPER
Arguably the most important position on the field will be manned by senior Thomas Madden. Madden, who started the first nine games in each of the last two seasons before giving way to Alex Bissias, posted a 5-2-2 record in 2006, with four shutouts and a 1.21 goals-against-average. But with Bissias having graduated, the job is Madden’s, at least at the onset of the season. Also competing for playing time in net are sophomores Nick Nybo and Neil Black. Nybo appeared in two games last season, making one save, while Black did not play. Both were highly regarded when arriving at Bryant and should see time this season. Talented newcomer Victor Tutino joins a quartet of netminders.