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2010 Men’s Soccer Season Preview
August 26, 2010
Sophomore Reis Cunningham will help keep opponents offenses at bay.
One thing the Keuka College men’s soccer team won’t be lacking in 2010 is experience.
Coach Matt Tantalo will have the services of 15 returning players as the Storm look to improve on last season’s 8-7-1 record and return to a position of prominence in the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC).
Prior to last season, Keuka had gone 41-11-2 against conference opponents with two championships and two second place finishes in the previous five years.
Leading the way for the Storm will be senior forward Jack Reece (Rochester, N.Y./Churchville-Chili), who led the team in scoring last year with five goals and three assists (13 points) while being selected to the All-NEAC second team. Reece is a three-time all-conference selection and has already placed his name all over the Keuka record books. He is currently ninth all-time in goals (22), sixth all-time in assists (16), and eighth all-time in points (60).
The Storm’s second leading scorer from last season is also back in senior forward Carl Learned (Elmira, N.Y./Elmira Free Academy). Learned finished with 10 points on four goals and two assists. Sophomores John Mastrella (Rochester, N.Y./Greece Athena) and Christian Sterner (Castorland, N.Y./Lowville) are also back at the forward position. Mastrella netted one goal while Sterner had two to go with an assist.
The return of two key players that missed most of last season to injury, senior defender Brian Cunliffe (Rochester, N.Y./Gates Chili), a 2008 All-NEAC first team selection, and junior midfielder Connor Thomas (Jasper, N.Y./Jasper-Troupsburg), will have a huge impact on the team.
Also returning to a backfield that allowed just 14 goals in 16 games will be sophomore Reis Cunningham (Red Creek, N.Y./Red Creek) who was a third team All-NEAC selection in his rookie campaign. Seniors Shane Reynolds (Glens Falls, N.Y./Glens Falls) and Ryan Bordinger (Elmira, N.Y./Elmira Free Academy), and sophomore Bobby Patti (Ramsey, NJ/Ramsey) will vie for playing time.
Sophomore Nate Smith (Hilton, N.Y./Hilton), a third team All-NEAC pick a season ago, will join Thomas in the midfield. Smith was third on the team in scoring with seven points (three goals and an assist). Sophomores Kyle Rivera (Corning, N.Y./Horseheads) and Mark Taylor (Allegany, N.Y./Allegany Limestone) also return.
The Storm will have to replace four-year starter Mike Meskill in goal but have two quality returners in senior Kyle Salo (Red Creek, N.Y./Red Creek) and sophomore Derek Condon (Webster, N.Y./Webster Thomas). Salo collected a shutout in his lone start while stopping all eight shots he saw on the season.
New to the team will be goalie Nick Smith (Arkport, N.Y./Arkport), defenders Franklin Koehler (Bath, N.Y./Haverling) and Andrew Pirozzi (Center Moriches, N.Y./Center Moriches), midfielders Nick Goward (Brazil) and Nate Schreiber (Rochester, N.Y./Hilton), and forward Mel Rogers (Geneseo, N.Y./Geneseo).
The Storm will begin its season with an away game at Pitt-Bradford Sept. 4 and will open up its home slate against Penn State-Abington Sept. 10. The NEAC Tournament will be played Nov. 6-7.
