PHILADELPHIA - The Saint Joseph's men's soccer team (0-0-1) will travel to Lawrenceville, N.J. this eveing to take on Rider (1-0-0) in its first away match of the season. Game time is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at Ben Cohen Field.
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All-Time Series: 20-11-5
SJU Streak: +2
First Meeting: 10/26/63, Loyola 1-0
Last Meeting: 9/15/12, Saint Joseph's 3-0
Last SJU Win: 9/15/12, 3-0
Last Rider Win: 9/15/07, 2-0
Coach D'Ambra vs. Rider: 1-0
Saint Joseph's will look for its 21st all-time win against Rider as the Hawks stand 20-11-5 against the Broncs. Last time out, on September 15 of last season, the Crimson and Gray defeated Rider, 3-0, on Finnesey Field. Sophomore Alex Critzos (2G), senior Tim Brennan (1G), junior Jake Nelson (1A) and freshman Tim Lazorko (1A) led the way on the offensive attack while redshirt junior goalkeeper Andrew D'Ottavi was flawless in the net, making four saves and not allowing a single goal.
The Broncs are 1-0 after a 2-1 victory over Robert Morris on Sunday, September 1. In that game, four freshmen played key roles. Freshmen Adrien Huss and Christian Flath scored goals while freshman Zach Bond had an assist and freshman James Quilter made 11 saves. The Broncs played with nine newcomers in the line-up, including seven starters.
LAST TIME OUT: The Hawks tied with the Greyhounds of Loyola (Md.), 1-1, in double-overtime on Sweeney Field. Junior forward Alex Critzos scored the Hawks' only goal of the game and 10th of his career just 2:31 into regulation while redshirt senior goalkeeper Andrew D'Ottavi made four saves with three coming in the second overtime.
STARTING IT UP: 10 of 11 starters from 2012 return this season in forwards Alex Critzos and Mike Glazer, midfielders Tim Lazorko, Pat McGlynn, and Jake Nelson, defenders Tommy Brooks, Jake Mulinge, Brendan Reilly, and Brandon Stevis, and goalkeeper Andrew D'Ottavi. In addition midfielder Jimmy Reilly and forward Emmanuel Temeh, the Hawks return a total of seven players who combined for 95 percent of last season's goals. SJU's only loss comes with the graduation of Tim Brennan ('13), last season's MVP.
CAPTAINS OF THE SHIP: This season's trio of captains exemplifies the definitions of both commitment and consistency. Redshirt senior goalkeeper Andrew D'Ottavi and senior midfielder Pat McGlynn enter their second years as captains of the squad. Joining them in 2013 is senior defender Brendan Reilly.
FROM FINNESEY TO SWEENEY: Longtime Saint Joseph's landmark Finnesey Field will be renamed Sweeney Field this fall upon completion of an extensive expansion project. The venue, which has served as the home of Hawk Athletic teams for more than 80 years, will significantly increase the seating capacity for SJU's varsity lacrosse and soccer programs. The new name recognizes the contributions of Sean S. Sweeney '94 (MBA), a member of the University's Board of Trustees and the lead benefactor to the renovation project. The current expansion includes the addition of 1,200 permanent seats to the hillside nearest to the University's iconic Barbelin Hall as well as the addition of 1,100 portable seats on the opposite side of the field, increasing total seating capacity to 3,000. In addition, the facility will include a new state of the art press box and enhanced sound system.
CALLING ALL HAWKS: 31 Hawks from eight different states comprise the 2013 roster. The breakdown is as follows: Pennsylvania (12), New Jersey (12), Maryland (3), Alabama (1), Louisiana (1), Massachusetts (1), and Virginia (1).
