A New Look For Men’s Soccer In 2009

A New Look For Men’s Soccer In 2009

CHICOPEE, MA – Team first. Individual acclaim second.

That is the philosophy that has overtaken the men’s soccer team under first-year head coach Chris Streeter.

“This is a process that the guys are starting to buy into,” Coach Streeter stated. “It is something that I believe in and that we are going to work toward every day.”

Eleven players from last year’s squad and five newcomers will take to the field this fall ready to embrace a new brand of soccer with a team-first mentality, and a determination to build upon the positives from past seasons.

“We are going to build on the strengths from the past few years and ideally we’d like to improve upon our record,” Coach Streeter said. “Our goal is to make it to the postseason and beyond and we are working on that one day at a time.”

FORWARDS/MIDFIELDERS

Experience at the forward and midfield positions will help this squad strengthen an offensive attack that scored only 19 goals in 2008.

Junior midfielder Sam Senecal (Chicopee, MA) and junior forward Nick Espinola (Derry, NH) netted two goals apiece last season and will be key components to Coach Streeter’s gameplan in 2009.

“Nick [Espinola] looks great in practice,” Coach Streeter remarked. “He is quick, has good size and is a very good attacking midfielder.”

On the outside, junior forward Josh Chagnon (Loudon, NH), a first-year player, will provide a spark with his tendency to show up in the right place at the right time.

“Josh has great size and has a knack for finding the goal,” Coach Streeter commented. “He likes to create and his offensive play will bring some excitement to this team.”

Junior midfielder Courtney Johnson (Belchertown, MA) earned First Team All-NECC honors, as he registered a goal and three points in five conference games last season. He will join sophomore wingmen Adam Schnopp (Pittsfield, MA) and Tom Ferruolo (Arlington, VT) to highlight a group that returns five players.

Freshman Tavish Leland (Bridgton, ME) will see action as a forward or midfielder, while classmate Tyler Ziemba (Chicopee, MA) will play a role as either a midfielder or defender.

DEFENDERS

A new face will grace the Blazer backfield in 2009 as senior Ben Masse (Chicopee, MA) joins classmate Nick Bamford (Ludlow, MA) and junior Chris Silva (Chicopee, MA) to complete a solid line of defense.

A three-year starter in the midfield, Masse will have to make an adjustment similar to what Silva made a year ago in order to direct Elms College’s stalwart defense.

“I am very impressed with the work ethic of Ben, Chris and Nick,” Coach Streeter explained. “All three are very mature and will anchor what will be a very strong backfield for us. We will look to them to lead this team.”

Senior Jon D’Amours (Chicopee, MA) and junior Justin Pearson (Torrington, CT) will provide a nice complement in the back.

GOALKEEPERS

The Blazers enter the season with a more experienced group of goal tenders, including junior Will Dziura (Chicopee, MA) and sophomore Ryan Sullivan (Agawam, MA).

Sullivan started 15 of 16 games between the pipes in 2008 and stopped 85 shots.

Dziura saw action in three contests as a sophomore but has been a welcomed bright spot in preseason workouts.

“Dziura came into the preseason strong and fit and ready to embrace his role,” Coach Streeter noted. “I am really looking forward to seeing what he can do for us this season.”

Freshman Mike Peloquin (Chicopee, MA) rounds out a stellar group of net-minders that will undoubtedly make a statement moving forward.

SCHEDULE

To say that the Blazers’ schedule poses a challenge would be an understatement. In addition to having a very competitive core of conference opponents, Elms’ non-conference slate is spotted with matches against high quality opponents who enjoy success on a yearly basis.

Three games into the season, the Blazers travel to Springfield College (Sept. 12) who are a perennial top 15 caliber squad in Division III.

Elms also has home contests against Westfield State (Sept. 22) and Amherst (Oct. 13), who earned a spot in the NCAA Division III Final Four in 2008.

Coach Streeter is familiar with the Westfield State men’s soccer program, as he served as an assistant there from 1998-99.

“Westfield State had a great year last year. They are very competitive,” Coach Streeter observed. “There is a lot of history and meaning for me with this game.”

The Blazers will look to improve upon their 1-5 mark in league action from a year ago as they will compete against NECC members Wheelock, Lesley, Daniel Webster, Mitchell, Newbury, Southern Vermont and Becker once.

“It’s very clear we have a lot of work to do,” Coach Streeter explained. “No one is afraid of Elms College and that is something that needs to change.”

WRAP-UP

With eleven returners and a complement of five newcomers in place, a new era of men’s soccer is set to begin at Elms College.

“A team-first philosophy is something I believe very strongly in,” Coach Streeter said. “I also believe that it is something that with hard work, can translate into success very quickly. This is a day-by-day process and right now our focus is just that. Day-by-day.”