Completed Event: Men's Soccer at Seton Hall on September 19, 2025 , Loss , 0, to, 2
Men's Soccer
at Seton Hall
Final
0
-
2
Providence College Athletics
2001 Men's Soccer Outlook
8/2/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Aug. 2, 2001
Over the last three seasons, the Providence College men's soccer team has shown that it has the ability to compete in the talented BIG EAST conference. In 1998 and 1999, the team posted two consecutive .500 seasons and qualified for the BIG EAST Tournament in 1998.
Last season was tough for the Friars. The team finished ninth in the BIG EAST and failed to make the BIG EAST Tournament. The team is ready to advance to the next level. This season, the Friars will be led by an experienced group of upperclassmen and a talented group of freshmen, as the team expects to improve on last year's record and qualify for the conference championship.
Senior Tom Blesso (Billerica, Mass.) scored many key goals for the black and white last season. Blesso came on strong during his sophomore season and continued to have success in 2000. Blesso led the Friars in goals (six), assists (five), and total points (17) last year. Blesso's knack for scoring will make him an All-BIG EAST candidate. He will be counted on to give the team scoring and experience at the forward position.
Sophomore Todd Stigliano (Newington, Conn.) also gives the Friars added strength at the forward position. As a freshman, Stigliano netted one goal in limited time. However, last season Stigliano came through in the clutch to score timely goals for the Friars, including a game-winner in overtime against West Virginia. Stigliano had four goals, which ranked second on the team.
Three freshmen will look to add scoring punch and play-making to the Friar attack. Jeff Smith (Omaha, Neb.), Sam Krauter (Indianapolis, Ind.) and Neville Thompson (Miami, Fla.) will all see time at both forward and midfield. Smith is a skilled player who will impact the team immediately as a forward and a midfielder.
Providence possesses depth and experience at the midfield position. Graduate student Andrew Bussmann (Guilford, Conn.) returns for his final season with the Friars. Bussmann has been a valuable asset to the Friars with his speed and goal-scoring ability. Bussmann will be counted on to add to the Friar scoring attack. Last season, he registered one goal and one assist. Senior Russell Corner (Abington, Mass.) will be expected to make a significant contribution to the offense. Corner could see time as a midfielder and a forward this season. Corner should help the team with his speed and the ability to score. A surprise walk-on as a sophomore, senior Brett Bache (Cranston, R.I.), will add depth at the right midfield spot or at the back. Juniors Bradford Dunn (Scituate, Mass.) and Tom Moran (W. Springfield, Mass.) will continue to push for playing time at the midfield position. Sophomore Jonathan Rhode (Guilford, Conn.) is a tremendous athlete who made a big impact in his first season of collegiate soccer. Rhode has the speed to get up and down the line as a left midfielder. Last season, Rhode played in every game and should be one of the better midfielders in the league. In his freshman season, Rhode scored two goals and had two assists. Senior Mauricio Solano (Coral Springs, Fla.) is coming off his first season for the Friars. Solano transferred to PC after two years at Nova Southeastern University. He will be a solid contributor at the midfield and forward positions. Freshmen Jonathan Alva-Cavero (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) and Carlos Suero (Plantation, Fla.) will see time at the midfield position as well. Alva-Cavero is one of the Friars' top newcomers. He has the ability to help the team this season as a defender and a midfielder
Providence is fortunate to return an experienced group of defenders. A 1999 Second Team All-BIG EAST selection, Kempes Corbally (Dublin, Ireland) will again lead the Friars on the backline. He is a fierce competitor who knows no limits as he is one of the few defenders in the country who sets the tone for the entire team. He will be counted on to lead the Friars into the playoffs. Corbally is one of the top defenders in the league. He will captain the squad for the second consecutive year. Sophomore Greg Bennett (Dublin, Ireland) was injured in the second game of the 2000 season when he broke his leg. He will be relied upon to help solidify the defense this year. He should make and immediate impact on defense. Freshman Shawn Deehan (Salisbury, Md.) will add depth to PC's defense.
Senior Danny Glynn (Manchester, England) will be the starting goalkeeper for the third straight year. Glynn took over as the starting goalkeeper in 1999 after transferring from Fairfield. In his second season at Providence, Glynn complied a 2.12 goals against average and a .709 save percentage. He has the talent to be an All-BIG EAST performer for the Friars. Junior Michael Greulich and freshman Jeff Newman (Northboro, Mass.) will compete for team's back-up goalkeeper spot. Greulich played in two games last season for the Friars and recorded one win, four saves and a 2.00 goals against average. Newman enters his rookie campaign with the Friars after a successful high school career at Algonquin Regional High School. In 48 games at Algonquin, he registered 25 shutouts and 155 saves.
This season, the Friars will look to improve on last season's record and battle for a playoff birth. In 1998 and 1999, PC showed it was capable of playing .500 soccer. The Friars hope to regain their confidence and take their play to the next level. Providence could be a force in conference play as the team will blend seasoned players with talented newcomers to form the right chemistry.
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