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
2005 Men's Soccer Outlook
7/14/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
July 14, 2005
The Friar men's soccer team has high hopes for the 2005 season. They look to return to the success of the 2003 season when they reached the BIG EAST Semifinals for the second time in team history. The Friars are coached by Chaka Daley who enters his sixth season as head coach. The squad has great potential, as there are 15 returning players and eight newcomers. These 23 players have the potential, leadership and desire to succeed in the 2005 season.
GOALKEEPERS
Coach Daley is excited about having four reliable goalkeepers on the roster. He will be looking for his keepers to step up and fill the shoes of stand out Jeff Newman, who graduated in May.
Two of the four goalkeepers are returning letter winners. Junior Chris Konopka (Toms River, N.J.) played in seven games last season. He posted a 2.50 goals against average and a .717 save percentage last season. It marked the second strong season for Konopka as he played in five games as a freshman and posted an impressive 1.63 goals against average. He played a key role late in the season as he helped the Friars reach the 2003 BIG EAST Tournament and advance to the Semifinals. Konopka has exceptional athletic attributes and will help lead the Friars from the back.
Junior Michael King (Ashland Mass.) did not play in the 2004 season, but has worked on improving his game, and will be battling Konopka for playing time. He had a strong spring season and will compete for the starting goalkeeper position.
Two new freshmen in the goalkeeper position are Brian Lee (Hillsborough, N.J.) and Timothy Murray (Haverhill, Mass.). Both players bring new energy to the squad. They will be immediately vying for playing time in the goalkeeper position. Murray was a three-year varsity soccer player at St. John's Prep where he earned many honors. He served as Team Captain in 2004 and was the Team MVP as well. He was a 2004 Boston Globe All-Scholastic, 2004 Boston Herald All-Scholastic, and a 2004 Eastern Massachusetts All-Star. Lee lettered in soccer for three seasons at Immaculata High School. He served as team captain in his junior and senior seasons. He also played for PDA Cantona and helped lead his team to the New Jersey State Championships from 2003-2005.
DEFENDERS
On defense, the Friars will be led by senior tri-captain Zachary Tobin (North Kingstown R.I.) and junior Scott Hankard (Glastonbury, Conn.). Senior Brian Baker (Annapolis, Md.), and sophomore Matt Otte (East Lymme, Conn.) will be expected to contribute greatly. Tobin has been a key player for the Friars for the past three seasons. He has started 52 games in his career at Providence. His experience and knowledge of the game, as well as his ability to lead by example, will help the Friars be successful this season. One of the top players on the team, he earned All-New England honors after a productive sophomore season. Hankard has gained valuable experience in his first two seasons at Providence. He started 12 of the 15 games he played in 2004. His excellent leadership qualities and aggressive nature will contribute greatly to the Friar defensive shape. Baker will continue to be a consistent contributor and is expected to play a major role in the Friar defense. In 2004, he started five of the 12 games he played. Otte made his mark in his first season at Providence. Despite being a rookie, Otte started 13 of the 15 games he played. His desire, aggression and understanding of the game also will strengthen the Friar defense.
Freshmen Kevin Neumen (Miller Place, N.Y.) and Kyle LeDuc (Topsham, Maine) should play a key part in the Friar defense this season. Neumen was a four-year member of the St. Anthony's high school soccer team. He earned Catholic high school league MVP honors, was a NSCAA All-America candidate and was named to the Newsday All-Long Island Team, and the NCSAA All-New York State Team. LeDuc will add depth and competition to the defense as Coach Daley looks to convert this talented freshman into a defender. In four seasons, he helped Mt. Ararat High post an all-time school best 60-6-6 record. He was a First Team All-State selection in 2003 and 2004. LeDuc was a seven-year player on the Maine Olympic Development Team.
With four veterans and two talented newcomers, and strong competition in the goalkeeper position, the Friar defense should be solid and ready to compete against the country's best in the BIG EAST, as well as the challenge of facing the new teams which are joining the best soccer conference in the nation.
MIDFIELDERS
Coach Daley is looking forward to a solid performance by his midfielders in 2005. They have the essential qualities such as technique, experience, work ethic and goal-scoring ability to lead the way for the Friars.
Senior tri-captain Anthony Petrarca (Johnston, R.I.) will be a key asset to the midfield this season. He has started all 52 games he has played at Providence. Last season, Petrarca registered three assists. He is a consistent leader and performer for the Friars.
Another key midfielder this season will be senior Derek Nobrega (Cumberland, R.I.). In three seasons at Providence, he has registered five goals and one assist. Last season, he started 11 of the 14 games he played. This extremely talented midfielder will impact the team in his senior season.
Junior Joseph Weill, (Merrick, N.Y.), is returning with experience and skill to add depth to the Friar midfield. He has been a consistent player in his two-year career as a Friar. He started in 12 of the 15 games he played last season and started every game as a freshman.
Sophomores Ryan Maduro (Bristol, R.I.) and Alex Bury (Shrewsbury, Mass.) will be future leaders for the Friars and are expected to contribute in 2005. As a rookie in 2004, Bury played in all 16 games, including 13 starts. His collegiate level experience will be an asset to the team this season. Maduro did not play last season due to an injury, but is ready to be a solid contributor to the 2005 team. He had a strong spring and will be an important offensive threat this season.
Two sophomores, Matt O'Donnell (Armonk, N.Y.) and Ricardo Arocha (Fanwood, N.J.) will add experience and depth to the team. O'Donnell also saw a fair amount of playing time last season as he played in seven games. He is expected to continue his high level of play. Arocha saw minimal playing time in the 2004 season, but it is probable that he will see more time on the field this season. He had a productive spring season, posting one goal and one assist. Walk-on sophomore Michael Narciso (Livingston, N.J.), also will compete for a spot wide in the midfield or up front and add depth to the team.
The one rookie in the midfield this season, David O'Connor (Limerick, Ireland) will add talent and experience to the position. O'Connor was a captain of the club team that competed in the Munster Regional Cup quarterfinals and also was a member of the team that won the local regional cup in 2004.
FORWARDS
This season, Coach Daley will be looking to an athletic and experienced starting forward line to lead and improve the team's offense. The top two scorers on the 2004 team will be returning this season, seniors Eoin Lynch (Yarmouth, Maine) and Ian Wexler (Minnetonka, Minn.). Lynch, a tri-captain, has led the team in scoring for the past three seasons. He is tied for seventh all-time at Providence in goals with 18. In 52 career games for the Friars, Lynch has recorded 39 points. Wexler also has been a goal scoring threat in his first three seasons with the Friars as he has registered 11 goals in 50 games. As a sophomore, he recorded a career-best five goals. Lynch and Wexler will be assisted this season by a strong midfield group who should add some offense.
Coach Daley expects his other two incoming freshman forwards to contribute immediately. Michael Iafrati (Warwick, R.I.) and Timothy Ritter (Weston, Mass.) will give a much needed boost and will add depth and skill to the forward position. Ritter was a four-year letter winner at BC High School, and earned a varsity letter at Bridgton Academy last year. As a post graduate at Bridgton, Ritter scored 41 goals and added 15 assists in 21 games. For his efforts, he was an All-New England selection and MVP of his team. In his senior year, Ritter was named MVP and was an Eastern Massachusetts All-Star as well as a Boston Herald All-Scholastic. Iafrati was a four year varsity soccer player and earned many honors as well. He was named to the All-State first team in his junior and senior seasons and was the Rhode Island Gatorade Player of the Year and an NSCAA All-American his senior year at Toll Gate. He was the top scorer on the Toll Gate soccer team in each of his four seasons.
WRAP UP
The Providence men's soccer team has the potential talent and experience that are essential for a successful 2005 season. The 15 veteran players as well as the eight newcomers will be looking to immediately grow as a team. Over the past few seasons, the Friars have shown that they have the ability to qualify and compete in the BIG EAST. After a tough 2004 season, but a very positive 2005 spring season, in which the squad posted a 3-2-1 mark, the team hopes to establish its place among the BIG EAST's and the nation's elite.
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