PHILADELPHIA – The Saint Joseph's men's soccer team returns home this weekend to host Hofstra this Friday (Sept. 6) and Wofford this Sunday (Sept. 8) in the Saint Joseph's/Temple tournament. Temple hosts Wofford this Friday at 4:00 p.m. and Hofstra this Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at the Ambler Sports Complex.
Coming off of a 3-1 loss at Rider on Tuesday, the Hawks enter this Friday's match looking for their first win of the season. Junior forward Alex Critzos and sophomore midfielder Tim Lazorko lead the Hawks in scoring with one goal apiece while senior midfielder Jimmy Reilly has one assist to his name. Redshirt senior goalkeeper Andrew D'Ottavi (0-1-1) has made eight saves and allowed four goals in the full 200:00 so far this season en route to a 1.80 goals-against average and .667 saves percentage.
SAINT JOSEPH'S (0-1-1) vs. HOFSTRA (1-0-0)
Friday, Sept. 6 • Sweeney Field • 7:30 p.m.
Live Stats | Live Video | Live Audio
All-Time Series: Saint Joseph's leads 10-3-2
SJU Streak: +2
First Meeting: 10/19/68, Tie (1-1)
Last Meeting: 10/16/82, Saint Joseph's 3-0
Last SJU Win: 10/16/82, 3-0
Last Hofstra Win: 10/18/80, 3-2
Coach D'Ambra vs. Hofstra: First Match
It has been just over three decades since Saint Joseph's and Hofstra competed on the pitch last, dating back to October 16, 1982. In that game, the Hawks defeated the Pride, 3-2, at Hofstra under the direction of then-head coach Jack Ruggero.
Hofstra enters this Friday's game coming off of a 2-1 double-overtime win over Colgate on Sunday, Sept. 1. Lerthon Theuma scored with one second left for his first collegiate goal while Chris Griebsch added a goal and assist for the Pride. Goalkeeper Roberto Pellegrini made three saves in the win.
SAINT JOSEPH'S vs. WOFFORD
Sunday, Sept. 8 • Sweeney Field • Noon
Live Stats | Live Video
All-Time Series: Saint Joseph's leads 1-0
SJU Streak: +1
First Meeting: 9/8/02, Saint Joseph's 1-0
Last Meeting: 9/8/02, Saint Joseph's 1-0
Last SJU Win: 9/8/02, Saint Joseph's 1-0
Last Wofford Win: N/A
Coach D'Ambra vs. Wofford: First Match
The Hawks will look for their second all-time win against the Terriers this Sunday and their first on Sweeney Field. SJU defeated Wofford 1-0 at Philadelphia University back on September 8, 2002 under the direction of then-head coach Tom Turner.
Wofford is 0-2 heading into this Friday's match at Temple after falling to Gardner-Webb (5-4 OT) and Winthrop (2-1) this past weekend. Connor Davis and Carlos Dominguez Gonzalez lead the Terriers with two goals apiece while Billy Padua has two assists. Goalkeeper Garrett Closs (0-2-0) sports a 3.47 goals-against average and .500 saves percentage in 181:41.
GAME NOTES
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE: Saint Joseph's and Temple welcome Hofstra and Wofford to the City of Brotherly Love this weekend for the Saint Joseph's/Temple tournament. Temple will host Wofford this Friday, Sept. 6, at 4:00 p.m. and Hofstra this Sunday, Sept. 8, at 2:30 p.m. at the Ambler Sports Complex. The Hawks will host Hofstra this Friday and Wofford at noon on Sunday at Sweeney Field.
PICKING UP WHERE THEY LEFT OFF: Junior Alex Critzos and sophomore Tim Lazorko ended the 2012 season with five goals apiece to lead the team in the category. Now two games into this year, each have a goal to their name and again lead the team in scoring thus far.
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).
WELCOME TO HAWK HILL: Saint Joseph's welcomes the addition of 11 freshmen to this season's squad in forwards Mori Diane, Bliss Harris, and Cameron Kadkhodai, midfielders Sam Irvin, Eric Jordan, and Mike Stuski, defenders Edward Foley, Coupar Lipp, Zach Lyons, and Chris McCrea, and goalkeeper Jay Higbee.
