SPRINGFIELD, Mass. The American International College men's soccer team looks to earn a second consecutive postseason berth after 2012 saw Fred Balbino's squad reach the playoffs for the first time since 2005.
Coach Balbino returns a young squad, but the experience gained from last year's postseason team and the leadership of captains Jason Ryan (Peabody, Mass.) and Miguel Rodrigues-Lapman (Cheshire, Conn.) will be essential as they look to continue progressing further in the Northeast-10 ranks.
2012 RECAP: The Yellow Jackets finished 5-11-3 with a 5-6-2 conference record that sent them to their first postseason in seven seasons. Senior midfielder Conor Doyle (Douglas, Isle of Man) was named a unanimous First-Team Northeast-10 All-Conference selection, while freshman back Frazier Cronin (Bromley, England) and freshman forward Ed Sharman (Tunbridge Wells, England) were named to the All-Rookie Team.
KEY LOSSES: Doyle led the team with 20 points, including four goals and a school-record 12 assists last season. His selection to first-team all-conference was his third in-a-row after garnering all-rookie honors his freshman year.
FORWARDS: Returning to the pitch for his sophomore season, Sharman looks to add to his impressive rookie campaign that saw him lead the team in scoring with five goals. Senior Ike Ekwueme (Manchester, Conn.) started in 13 of 17 games played last season, netting three goals, and looks to add a veteran presence on the field. Freshman Justin Lewis (Woodbury, Conn.) and Christof Wegiel (Gales Ferry, Conn.), and Trevor Lewicki (Ludlow, Mass.)will look for time to add to the offensive attack.
MIDFIELD: Transfer Tevonne Morris from the University of Cumberland in Tennessee looks to make an immediate impact and become a main scoring threat. Sophomore Allen Mehmedovic (Plainville, Conn.) will use his knowledge and experience gained from last season. Sophomore's Kevin Milla (Lyndhurst, N.J.), Alex Hill (New Hartford, Conn.), and Kyle Kazukynas (Enfield, Conn.) will be in the mix.
DEFENSE: Cronin looks to lead a strong group of defenders. The defenseman tallied three scores last season. Graduate student Alfie Cleave and freshman Lamar Grogan (Toronto, Cannada) look to add to the protection while sophomore Kyle Estell (Nottingham, N.H.) and freshman Kelvin Brito (Ridgefield Park, N.J.) are coming off strong preseason perfomances, eager and ready to contribute.
GOALKEEPER: Ryan returns to the net for his senior season after starting 12 of 13 games in goal last season, posting a record of 5-6-1 with two shutouts, a 1.90 goals against average and a .737 save percentage. Freshmen Dante Riggio (Owing Mills, Md.) and Derek White (Hampden, Mass.) will be available to backup Ryan throughout the season.
KEY DATES: The Yellow Jackets open their season on the road at the Merrimack Classic in North Andover, Mass. with two tough non-conference tilts, first against Bloomfield College on Thursday, September 5, before taking on Dominican on Sunday, September 7. AIC opens at home against non-conference New York Institute of Technology on Friday September 13 at 3 p.m. Their first conference match is on the road at Adelphi on Wednesday, September 18.
