2007 MEN'S SOCCER
PRESEASON COACHES' POLL
 


PENN ST. ALTOONA EXPECTED TO
TAKE AMCC MEN'S SOCCER TITLE

 


The coaches of the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference have picked Penn State Altoona as the preseason favorite in men's soccer.  The Lions were the runners-up to the league champion Medaille College in 2006.  The Mavericks came in a close second in the voting, followed by Penn State Behrend.

Preseason Player of the Year honors were awarded to Penn State Altoona senior forward Bryan Pierzga (State College, PA/State College).  A three-time first team all-conference selection, Pierzga was named a first team regional NSCAA All-American and D3Kicks.com third team regional All-American last season.  He was ranked #2 in scoring for the conference in 2006 with 45 points (17 goals, 11 assists).  The Lions'  career points leader, he surpassed 100 points for his career in last year.

The AMCC kicks off conference play on Saturday, September 22.  The conference championship will be Saturday, November 3 at the highest remaining seed.  The winner will receive the AMCC's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
  

AMCC MEN'S SOCCER POLL
2007 Preseason Rankings*

1. Penn State Altoona (2)
2. Medaille (1)
3. Penn State Behrend (4)
4. Lake Erie (3)
5. Frostburg State (6)
6. La Roche (7)
7. Pitt-Bradford (5)
8. Pitt-Greensburg (8)
9. Hilbert (9)
10. Mount Aloysius (10)

* Number in parentheses is order of regular season finish in 2006


Preseason Player of the Year
BRIAN PIERZGA, PENN ST. ALTOONA
 

OTHER PLAYERS TO WATCH...

FROSTBURG STATE UNIVERSITY
Head Coach Keith Byrnes (7th year)
2006:  4-4-1 AMCC, 7-11-1 overall

Junior D/M Adam Gracia (Rockville, MD/Wootton)...Named AMCC second team all-conference past two seasons...team's leading playmaker with 5 assists.

Junior M Gregg Laskow (Plainsboro, NJ/WWP-North)...Bobcats' second leading goal scorer in 2006 with 4 tallies...All-AMCC honorable mention selection in 2005.
 

HILBERT COLLEGE
Head Coach Rick Couell (3rd year)
2006:  1-7-1 AMCC,  4-12-1 overall


Senior D Patrick Kane (West Seneca, NY/West Seneca West)...Started all 16 games for the Hawks last season.

Sophomore F Karl Bokowecki (Lancaster, NY/Lancaster)...As a freshman started 6 of 13 contests.
 

LA ROCHE COLLEGE
Head Coach Weston Hawley (9th year)
2006:  4-5 AMCC, 8-10 overall


Sophomore F Rueben Jolo (Pittsburgh, PA/Baldwin)...Broke the Redhawks' single season scoring record as a freshman with 12 goals, 6 assists and 30 points...a second team all-conference selection in 2006.

Junior D Daubor Bradaric (Pittsburgh, PA/Baldwin)...Led the team in steals last season...named captain as a sophomore.

 

LAKE ERIE COLLEGE
Head Coach Dale Sheptak (5th Year)
2006:   5-3-1 AMCC, 10-8-1 overall


Junior M/F Joe Starvaggi (Lyndhurst, OH/Brush)...Selected to All-AMCC second team last season...also named to the D3Kicks.com Great Lakes All-Region second team...the Storm's leading scorer with 8 goals, 13 assists and 29 points.

Junior M Justin Rraya (Parma, OH/Normandy)...All-conference honorable mention in 2006...scored 4 goals for the Storm.
 

MEDAILLE COLLEGE
Head Coach Dan Krzyzanowicz (6th Year)
2006:  9-0 AMCC,  20-1-1 overall


Sophomore M Gary Boughton (Lancaster, NY/Lancaster)...First team All-AMCC and Newcomer of the Year in 2006...D3Kicks.com First Team All-Region and NSCAA Third Team All-Region...ranked #2 nationally in assists (21) last year.

Senior D Steven DeGroff (Allegany, NY/Allegany-Limestone)...Mavericks' team captain...three year starter...all-conference honorable mention in 2005.
 

MOUNT ALOYSIUS COLLEGE
Head Mike Vladic (1st year)
2006:  0-9 AMCC, 1-15 overall


Senior M Jeremy Herwig (Somerset, PA/Somerset)...Started every game for the Mounties last year...contributed 1 goal and 1 assist.

Junior GK Brady Greisheimer (Johnstown, PA/Johnstown Christian)...Played every game, stopping a school-record 171 shots.
 

PENN STATE ALTOONA
Head Coach John Parente (7th year)
2006:  8-1 AMCC, 14-4-2 overall


Senior F Bryan Pierzga (State College, PA/State College)...Three time first team all-conference selection...named first team regional NSCAA All-American and D3Kicks.com third team regional All-American last season...ranked #2 in scoring for the conference with 45 points (17 goals, 11 assists)...Penn State Altoona's career points leader, surpassing 100 points for his career in 2006.

Senior D/M Dan Saxton (Columbia Crossroads, PA/Troy Area)...First team All-AMCC in 2006...the Lions' fifth leading scorer last season with 4 goals and 4 assists.
 

PENN STATE BEHREND
Head Coach Dan Perritano (15th year)
2006:  5-3-1 AMCC, 8-9-2 overall


Senior GK Matt Zirnsak (Butler, PA/Butler)...Returns after sitting out last season due to injury...two-time all-conference selection.

Senior M Dave Baleno (Pittsburgh, PA/Plum)...First team All-AMCC selection in 2006...contributed 5 goals and 2 assists last season.
 

PITT-BRADFORD
Head Coach Dariusz Panol (1st year)
2006:  4-3-2 AMCC, 7-8-2 overall


Senior D Jordan Ring (East Concord, NY/Griffith Institute)...Started in all 18 games for the Panthers last season.

Sophomore GK Dale Quinlan (Sturgeon, PA/South Fayette)...In four games, recorded one shutout and a 1.50 GAA.

PITT-GREENSBURG
Head Coach Ted Wawrzyniak (9th year)
2006:  2-7 AMCC, 6-11 overall


Senior F Nick Wayno (Johnstown, PA/North Lebanon)...Played in all 17 games for the Bobcats in 2006, scoring 6 goals and 2 assists.

Junior M Matt Sasko (Belle Vernon, PA/Belle Vernon)...Contributed 2 goals and 3 assists in 17 games last season.