PHILADELPHIA – Under the direction of seventh-year head coach Don D'Ambra, the Saint Joseph's men's soccer squad will open the 2016 season at Temple this Sunday, August 28 at 2:00 p.m. The match will be played at the newly-built Temple Sports Complex. Saint Joseph's returns 19 Hawks, including nine starters and its entire defensive core, and will sport a roster of seven seniors, eight juniors, four sophomores, and eight newcomers this fall.
Fans can view Sunday's match free of charge at OwlSports.com; live stats will also be available. The Hawks are 14-37-7 all-time against Temple and are 2-3-1 in season-opening matches under D'Ambra's direction.
Saint Joseph's eight home matches, along with selected conference road games, can be viewed via a subscription to the Atlantic 10 Network. To register, please click here. The Hawks' home opener is set for next Friday, September 2 against Northeastern, the first of eight home matches to be played on Sweeney Field.
"Our program has a new sense of energy and excitement for this upcoming season,” said D'Ambra. “The team has worked very hard this past spring season and many of the returning players are looking forward to making an impact on the team. We have some incoming freshman and transfers coming in that have a lot of potential and that I expect to help contribute this upcoming season."
OFFENSE
Senior central midfielder and defender Bliss Harris will be called upon to bolster the Hawks on all ends of the field this season. Harris, who was tabbed SJU's Most Valuable Player and Defensive Player of the Year last fall, led the squad in minutes played (1687) and was one of two Hawks to make all 18 starts. The defensive anchor also made plays on the offensive end, as Harris tied for the team lead in assists (3).
“Bliss is an exceptional athlete and one of our most impactful players on both sides of the field, both offensively and defensively,” said D'Ambra. “He is a complete two-way player.”
Senior midfielders Sam Irvin and Eric Jordan will patrol the midfield for the Crimson and Gray. Irvin, who made 17 starts and ranked fourth in minutes played (1446) last season, was selected SJU's Most Outstanding Performer while Jordan, SJU's other Hawk to make all 18 starts, ranked second in the squad in minutes played (1541) en route to earning SJU's Jack Dunn Award for Leadership. Both midfielders contributed one goal and one assist apiece.
The vacancy of recent graduates Emmanuel Temeh (5g, 2a) and Tim Lazorko (4g, 3a) – a duo that combined for 47 percent of SJU's goals in 2015 – will need to be filled this season. SJU's top three returning goal scorers from last season in junior midfielder Matt Crawford, senior forward Mori Diane, and sophomore forward Derek MacKinnon will be expected to spark SJU's offensive unit this fall.
Crawford leads all returners in goals (3), points (6), shots (27), and shots on goal (8) and made quite a jump to become an everyday starter for the Crimson and Gray last fall.
“We need Matty to be assertive in the attack,” said D'Ambra. “He is one of our most improved players, and he has developed into a team leader.”
Diane and MacKinnon will be called upon to create opportunities in the offensive third. Diane appeared in all 18 matches and netted goals against Dayton and St. Bonaventure last season while MacKinnon tallied a goal and two assists en route to being named to both the Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team and Philadelphia Soccer Six All-Rookie Team.
“Mori and Derek are our more attacking players, and hopefully they can become more impactful and produce more offense,” said D'Ambra.
Another returner of note will be sophomore midfielder Lou Vilotti, who made 14 appearances, 12 as a spark off the bench, last fall and brings an unparalleled energy to the pitch.
A duo of freshman newcomers in midfielder Ramzi Saim and forward Daryus Lake have a chance to break through and make significant offensive contributions for the Hawks.
“Ramzi has the best chance to come in and earn significant playing time in the center midfield,” said D'Ambra. “He is very strong and smart and has both good skill and a good soccer IQ. Daryus is athletic and fast and may come in off the bench to create a spark.”
Junior midfielder Nick Hartwell, junior transfer forward out of NJIT Jack Lee, sophomore midfielder Kyle Lochbihler, freshman midfielder Matt Mullock, and freshman forward Jarod Ramses will add depth to SJU's offensive unit.
DEFENSE
Saint Joseph's has a mix of six defenders that saw action in at least half of SJU's total matches last season, led by the veteran trio of senior Mike Stuski and juniors Kevin Lockhart and Ben Zambetti and including senior Ted Foley, junior Tom Santilli, and sophomore Eddie McCusker.
Zambetti (606 minutes) broke through to make six early-season starts last fall, while Stuski (1024 minutes) made the final 12 starts on the back line and Lockhart (698 minutes) earned the starting nod in 10 matches.
“Defensively, we need them to be very steady and consistent on the back line,” said D'Ambra. “These guys are experienced players for us.”
Foley (686 minutes), Santilli (241 minutes), and SJU's Rookie of the Year McCusker (1518) all earned starts last season and will add to SJU's defense this fall.
Newcomers in sophomores Ryan Beebe and Kyle Millar and freshman Ben Cochran will round out SJU's defensive group.
GOALKEEPERS
Bobby Edwards returns for his junior season between the pipes this fall. Edwards made 28 starts in 30 total appearances in his first two seasons and owns a career 1.38 goals against average and .735 save percentage entering his third season on Hawk Hill. Edwards spent the summer playing in the Premier Development League for the New York Red Bulls U-23 squad.
Senior Jay Higbee and junior Greg O'Connell could also challenge for playing time. Higbee made three starts in six appearances last season while O'Connell made his collegiate debut in SJU's season finale against St. Bonaventure.
Junior Trevor Nicol will round out SJU's veteran goalkeeper group.
2016 Atlantic 10 Conference Men's Soccer Preseason Poll
Team – Total Points (First-Place Votes)
1. Saint Louis - 153 (5)
2. Dayton – 150 (5)
3. VCU – 147 (2)
4. Rhode Island – 126 (1)
5. Fordham (110)
5. George Washington (110)
7. George Mason (101)
8. Duquesne (76)
9. Davidson (71)
10. Massachusetts (45)
11. Saint Joseph's (40)
12. La Salle (37)
13. St. Bonaventure (17)
