University of Albany's Bo Jelovac Earns America East Men's Soccer All-Academic Team Honors - UAlbany Sports 2009

Cambridge, Mass. - University at Albany's Bo Jelovac was named to the America East Conference All-Academic Men's Soccer Team, as announced on Tuesday, Nov. 10 by the league office.

Jelovac, a business administration major with a 3.33 cumulative grade point average, was a member of the America East Conference Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll and UAlbany Athletics Honor Roll last year. The junior forward led the team in scoring this season with two goals and one assist for five points. Jelovac's first career goal came in the final minutes of regulation in UAlbany's 1-1 tie against Coastal Carolina, the Big South Conference regular-season champion, on Sept. 4. He was named to the Coastal Carolina/adidas Invitational All-Tournament Team for his efforts.

To be nominated for the distinction, student-athletes must be a starter or important reserve for their team and participate in at least 50 percent of their team's games or competitions. In the classroom, student-athletes must have a 3.30 GPA and have completed at least one calendar year at their institution.

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Men's Soccer Wraps Up Non-Conference Slate With 1-0 Loss

Worcester, Mass. - Shane Regan's first career goal in the opening minutes of the second half led Holy Cross to a 1-0 victory over UAlbany in a non-conference men's soccer match on Tuesday, Sept. 29 at the Linda Johnson Smith Soccer Stadium.

The scoreless first half did not feature many good opportunities for either team to get on the scoreboard. The first and only shot on net of the opening stanza came in the 43rd minute, when the Crusaders' Ethan Tarricone sent in a bullet which was saved by UAlbany goalkeeper Adrian Foncette.

Holy Cross (2-6), which advanced to last season's Patriot League title match, got the only goal it needed just 1:11 after the break. Ryan O'Hanlon deflected a free kick off the post. The ball bounced to the foot of Regan, who buried it to the left corner from the penalty area.

UAlbany threatened to net the equalizer shortly after the goal was scored, but Crusader goalkeeper Thomas Booth, an all-conference second-team selection last year, made consecutive saves on shot attempts by Bo Jelovac and Rikkert Pilaar. The Great Danes also earned four of their five corner kicks in the second half, but the visitors could not find the back of the net and settled for their fourth one-goal defeat of the season.

Foncette made three saves on nine opportunities for the Great Danes in the losing effort. The Crusaders' Booth stopped two of the six shots he saw to earn the victory .

UAlbany (0-7-2) will open up America East Conference play when it hosts Hartford on Saturday, Oct. 3 at 3 p.m.

UAlbany (0-7-2) 0 0 - 0
Holy Cross (2-6) 0 1 - 1

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Men's Soccer Concludes Play at Penn Soccer Classic With 2-0 Loss to Temple

Philadelphia, Pa. - Tyler Witmer scored the game-winning goal in the 38th minute and Mike Puppolo added an insurance tally late in the second half to lead Temple to a 2-0 victory over the UAlbany men's soccer team in the second round of the Penn Soccer Classic on Sunday, Sept. 20 at the Amber Sports Complex. The Great Danes, who also dropped a 3-0 decision to Penn on Friday evening, placed fourth in the tournament with the loss.

UAlbany (0-6-1) controlled play for the opening 20 minutes by taking the match's first five shots. The team had its first major opportunity to get on the scoreboard when Claudio Dantas made a bid to head the ball past Owl goalkeeper Bret Mollon off a corner kick taken by Darko Knezevic. However, Mollon made the key save to keep the match scoreless.

Temple (2-3-1), which suffered a 3-2 overtime loss to Navy in the tournament's opening round on Friday, regrouped and took over for the rest of the stanza. After failing to score on four corner kick opportunities, the Owls were able to punch in their first goal in the 38th minute when Witmer took a short pass from J.T. Noone and placed the ball in the top right corner of the net.

The second half featured plenty of back-and-forth action and saw the teams combine to attempt 21 shots on the goalkeepers. Temple threatened numerous times to double its lead early in the second half, but all six of their shots fired in a span of five minutes were either wide of the goal, blocked by Great Dane defenders or denied by goalkeeper Adrian Foncette.

After Bo Jelovac had his open look at the net denied by Mollon in the 73rd minute, Dantas had another chance for the Great Danes to tie up the score with under 10 to play. However, the senior's first shot was blocked, and his second attempt was stuffed by Mollon to preserve the shutout. Mike Puppolo sealed the final outcome when he took a pass at midfield from Rodrigo Zuleta in the waning minutes and dribbled all the way in before ripping a shot to the corner of the net.

UAlbany's Foncette turned away four of the 14 shots he faced and suffered the loss. Temple's Mollon made seven saves on 15 opportunities and pick up the shutout victory.

The Great Danes will continue their four-game road trip when they travel to face crosstown-rival Siena on Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 3 p.m.


Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Men's Soccer Drops 2-1 Non-League Overtime Decision to Fairfield at Varsity Field

Albany, N.Y. - Jack Burridge made his way through traffic and scored his second goal of the season in the 96th minute to lead Fairfield to a 2-1 overtime victory over the UAlbany men's soccer team on Sunday, Sept. 13 at Varsity Field. The Great Danes rallied from behind to force overtime with a goal midway through the second half before the Stags dealt them their second home defeat in extra time this fall.

UAlbany (0-4-1), which was playing its third overtime match of the young season, controlled play early and attempted three of the first four shots in the match. After Claudio Dantas' header attempt to put the Great Danes on the scoreboard went wide left, the Stags came back the other way and netted the match's first goal in the 11th minute. Michael Eager chipped the ball down the left sideline to Christian Uy, who evaded several defenders and finished with a shot to the far post.

Both teams had trouble gaining opportunities to score through the rest of the stanza. Both defenses forced the opposing offenses to be whistled for being offsides nine times, which included a Great Dane goal which was called back because the player was ahead of all the Stag defenders.

The Great Danes, which held a 14-7 shot advantage in the opening half, came out strong in the second frame and were able to net the equalizer in the 70th minute. Anthony DeSalvo sent the ball downfield to Bo Jelovac, who slipped around a defender and beat freshman goalkeeper Michael O'Keeffe with a blast to the right corner of the net. Despite gaining two corner kick opportunities and not allowing the Stags to take a shot on goal, UAlbany was unable to net the go-ahead score. Kwadwo Asante had a good look from the top of the box to potentially give Fairfield the win in the 89th minute, but his shot flew wide of the net.

Fairfield (1-2), which earned the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference's automatic bid to the 2008 NCAA Tournament after upsetting nationally-ranked Loyola in the league's title bout, almost ended the match in the second minute of overtime when Matthew Uy fired a low shot which hit the right post. Matt Ernst was in the perfect spot to score on the rebound, but his shot was stuffed by UAlbany goalkeeper Adrian Foncette from point-blank range.

UAlbany had a golden opportunity to net the game winner when it was awarded a corner kick in the 95th minute. However, the ball was cleared by the defense and the Stags started coming back the other way. The ball made its way up to Matthew Uy, who cleared the ball down to Burridge from the midfield line. The sophomore then made his way through traffic on the right side of the box, and ripped a low shot to the right corner of the net to give the Stags the sudden victory.

UAlbany's Foncette, who set a Division I program record for saving 16 shots in Friday's loss to Colgate, turned away five of the 19 shots he faced this afternoon. Fairfield's O'Keefe was credited with seven saves on 23 chances en route to earn his first career victory in net.

UAlbany begins a four-game road trip next weekend when it competes at the Penn Soccer Classic, which will be co-hosted by Pennsylvania and Temple. The Great Danes will open up tournament play versus the Quakers on Friday, Sept. 18 at 5 p.m. It will be the squad's third straight match against a reigning conference champion.

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

UAlbany Men's Soccer Falls to Colgate, 3-1, Despite Foncette's Record-Setting Performance

Albany, N.Y. - Mike Reidy scored twice and Alex Weekes had a goal and an assist to lead Colgate to a 3-1 win over UAlbany in non-conference men's soccer action on Friday, Sept. 11 at Varsity Field. Great Dane goalkeeper Adrian Foncette set a Division I program record for making 16 saves in the loss.

Colgate (3-1), which has made two straight appearances in the NCAA Tournament and was picked to win its third consecutive Patriot League title in the preseason coaches' poll, had the first major scoring chance of the match in the 10th minute. Chris Ross fired a shot from outside the box which was saved by Foncette, and Weekes' attempt to pot a goal on the rebound was once again denied by Foncette.

Shortly after Ross' second attempt from just outside the box hit the post and was cleared away, the Raiders were able to get on the scoreboard in the 20th minute. Leach took a shot from the right corner which was saved by Foncette, but Weekes, who was named to the Herman Trophy watch list for national player of the year honors, got to the rebound first and sent the ball to the far post. UAlbany's Claudio Dantas attempted to tie the score when he had a one-on-one opportunity with goalkeeper Chris Miller in the 21st minute, but his shot went wide right.

Colgate, which held a 1-0 advantage at the break, was able to double its lead in the 48th minute on an indirect kick taken from outside the box. Ross tapped the ball with the top of his foot, and Weekes sent a laser on goal which was stopped by Foncette. However, Reidy collected the short rebound and shot it to the right post to give the visitors a 2-0 advantage.

The Raiders increased their advantage to three goals in the 61st minute when Reidy redirected a shot which was attempted by Chris Salmon. Foncette made an initial stop on the play, but the ball continued rolling slowly until it found the back of the net.

UAlbany (0-3-1) got on the scoreboard in the 70th minute when the squad was awarded an indirect kick from outside the right corner of the box. Dantas made a cross to Ian Peach, who headed in his first goal of the season to the far post. Foncette made four more saves, including some from point-blank range, before the final horn sounded signaling the end of regulation.

The 16 stops made by UAlbany's Foncette on 25 chances broke the previous Division I standard of 14 set by Bouna Coundoul, who is currently a goalkeeper for the New York Red Bulls, on Sept. 3, 2003 against Syracuse. Colgate's Miller made five saves on 19 chances to earn the victory.

UAlbany wraps up this weekend's homestand on Sunday, Sept. 13 when it hosts Fairfield, which won the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament last year, at 4 p.m.

Colgate (3-1) 1 2 - 3
UAlbany (0-3-1) 0 1 - 1

Colgate: Scoring - Mike Reidy (2-0), Alex Weekes (1-1), Jeff Leach (0-1), Chris Salmon (0-1). Goalkeeping - Chris Miller (90:00, 1 GA, 5 saves).

UAlbany: Scoring - Ian Peach (1-0), Claudio Dantas (0-1). Goalkeeping - Adrian Foncette (90:00, 3 GA, 16 saves).


Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

University of Albany's Jelovac Scores First Career Goal in 86th Minute Salvages A Tie for Men's Soccer in Tournament - UAlbany Sports 2009

Conway, S.C. - Bo Jelovac scored his first career goal in the 86th minute as the UAlbany men's soccer team played Coastal Carolina to a 1-1 tie in the opening round of the Coastal Carolina/adidas Invitational on Friday, Sept. 4. Jelovac's tally came just two minutes after the Chaticleers scored the go-ahead goal to salvage the draw.

After a back-and-forth scoreless first half which saw the teams combine for only nine shots, including three on net, each squad had a strong opportunity to strike first after the 60-minute mark. The Chaticleers' Alex Russell headed a shot that went just wide before Shaun Kane fired the ball high just 75 seconds later.

After both teams went the first 38 minutes of the second half without recording a shot on net, Coastal Carolina (0-1-1), which advanced to the Big South Conference title match last season, was able to get on the scoreboard first by netting a second-chance goal in the 84th minute. Riley Phelps fired a shot which was punched away by Foncette, but James Stapleton took the rebound from 20 yards out and sent the ball to the back of the net.

However, the Great Danes quickly shook off the tally by netting one of their own when Jelovac sent home a laser from just outside the box a few minutes later. The teams held each other in check through the end of regulation and headed to overtime.

In a tension-filled evening which drew 40 fouls and four yellow cards between the teams, nothing was decided in 20 extra minutes of play. David Burke, Milos Jankovic and Konner McNamara played every minute for the second straight match defensively in front of Foncette. The squad's back line, which has also included Vojislav Petkovic and Ian Berger, has allowed just two goals in 205 minutes of action this fall.

Foncette turned away four of the 12 shots he saw for the Great Danes. The tally he surrendered late in regulation was the first goal scored against him when the Great Danes were playing at even strength, a feat which lasted 538:58.

Philip Latham, who played the first half for the Chanticleers, did not record a save on three opportunities. He was replaced by Scott Angevine, who failed to make a stop on two chances in the second stanza and the two overtimes.

With the draw, UAlbany (0-1-1) still put itself in a position to win the tournament if it can beat Virginia Commonwealth in the second round on Sunday, Sept. 6 at 11 a.m. The Rams won the tournament's earlier match by a 3-0 score over St. Francis, N.Y.

UAlbany (0-1-1) 0 1 0 0 - 1
Coastal Carolina (0-1-1) 0 1 0 0 - 1

UAlbany: Scoring - Bo Jelovac (1-0). Goalkeeping - Adrian Foncette (110:00, 1 GA, 4 saves).

Coastal Carolina: Scoring - James Stapleton (1-0). Goalkeeping - Philip Latham (45:00, 0 GA, 0 saves), Scott Angevine (65:00, 1 GA, 0 saves).


Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Men's Soccer Opens Season With 1-0 Overtime Loss to Northeastern

Albany, N.Y. - Mike Kennedy found the back of the net in overtime to lead Northeastern to a 1-0 victory over the UAlbany men's soccer team in the season opener for both schools on Tuesday, Sept. 1 at Varsity Field.

The teams played the first two halves evenly. Northeastern (1-0) held a slim 9-8 advantage in total shots at the recess, and the squads took 10 shots apiece in the second stanza. The Huskies' first major chance to score came in the eighth minute when Josh Danesh set up Nick Lueders for a one-on-one opportunity with UAlbany goalkeeper Adrian Foncette in the box. However, Lueders was forced to go to his weak foot and Foncette came up with the save.

UAlbany (0-1) had two major chances to score right after the 30-minute mark. Claudio Dantas, the reigning America East striker of the year, found an open Bozidar Jelovac on the left side of the box. Jelovac's shot towards the far post was saved by Husky goaltender Michael Gallagher, and Shaun Kane's attempt to pot the rebound was blocked by a defender and cleared away. Just under two minutes later, Jelovac had possession of the ball again and fired an open shot from 20 yards away that barely sailed wide left of the goal. Kane and Jelovac each had an attempt to score before halftime, but their shots went high and wide.

The Great Danes had to play a man down after a red card was issued with 16:30 left to play in regulation, but the squad still stayed competitive and had its opportunities to get on the scoreboard. With under six minutes remaining, Sean Traverso cleared the ball downfield to Jelovac. The junior was able to beat the last Husky defender, but Gallagher came to the top of the box and made a key stop to keep the match scoreless. Northeastern had possession of the ball in the waning seconds, but Kennedy's shot went high before time expired.

After failing to score on five straight shot attempts to open the extra frame, the Huskies were able to net the sudden-victory goal in the 96th minute. Josh Semerene sent a blast on the right from outside the six-yard box which Foncette saved, and Kennedy collected the rebound and sent the ball to the far corner of the net to seal the victory.

UAlbany's Foncette made nine saves on 26 opportunities in the losing effort. Northeastern's Gallagher, who was making his collegiate debut, made seven stops on 18 chances and earned his first shutout and win.

The Great Danes return to action this weekend when they travel to South Carolina for the Coastal Carolina/adidas Invitational. UAlbany will face host Coastal Carolina on Friday, Sept. 4 at 7:30 p.m. and Virginia Commonwealth on Sunday, Sept. 6 at 11 a.m.

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

University of Albany Men's Soccer Announces Three Commitments for 2009 Season - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. - University at Albany head men's soccer coach Johan Aarnio announced on Thursday, August 6 that the program has received commitments from three student-athletes. Dylan Clements (Cherry Valley, N.Y./Cherry Valley-Springfield/SUNY Cobleskill), David Hawksworth (Sheffield, England/All Saints Catholic) and Vojislav Petkovic (Belgrade, Serbia/Sportska Gimnazija) will become Great Danes in the fall of 2009.
Clements, who can be positioned at defender and midfielder, competed at SUNY Cobleskill last season and will have three years of eligibility remaining. Making 13 starts, Clements helped the Fighting Tigers advance to the semifinal round of the Northeastern Athletic Conference Tournament and finish the season with a 7-5-2 record. Clements, who moved from New Zealand with his parents in 2006, most notably led Cherry Valley-Springfield High to the Class D sectional title, scoring both goals in the squad's 2-1 victory.

Hawksworth, a forward and midfielder, and Petkovic, a defender, each competed at some of the highest amateur levels in their respective countries. Hawksworth was most recently a member of the Sheffield FC Under-18 Team. Founded in 1857, Sheffield FC is recognized by FIFA, the international governing body of association football, as the oldest football club in the world. Petkovic most recently played for the FK Grafičar U-19 Team, a club based out of his hometown of Belgrade.

"This group should add balance to areas vacated by the outgoing class," said Aarnio, whose squad matched the program's best record at the NCAA Division I level with a 12-4-2 mark last season. "David (Hawksworth) is a forward runner and linker who can support others and score as well. Vojislav (Petkovic) is naturally left-sided with excellent recovery speed to support our defense. Dylan (Clements) is an under-the-radar kid who will bring strength, tackling ability and balance to our midfield and back areas."

2009 University at Albany Men's Soccer Commitments

Name, Pos., Ht., Hometown (High School/Previous Team)

Dylan Clements, Defender/Midfielder, 6-2, Cherry Valley, N.Y.
David Hawksworth, Forward/Midfielder, 5-10, Sheffield, England
Vojislav Petkovic, Defender, 5-10, Belgrade, Serbia

Four NCAA Tournament Teams Highlight 2009 University of Albany Men's Soccer Schedule - UAlbany Sports

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – University at Albany Vice President and Director of Athletics Lee McElroy announced on Wednesday, March 18 the school’s men’s soccer schedule for the 2009 season. The Great Danes will play a 17-match schedule, which includes four teams that advanced to last year’s NCAA Tournament.

UAlbany’s nine-game non-conference slate features six teams that advanced to their conference championship match and three that won a league title to clinch an NCAA automatic berth. In addition, each of the nine squads posted a winning percentage of .500 or better last year.

The Great Danes open the fall at home against Northeastern on Tuesday, Sept. 1 at 4 p.m. The Huskies posted a record of 7-5-9 last year, falling to George Mason, 1-0, in the Colonial Athletic Association championship match.

The following weekend, UAlbany will compete in a tournament hosted by Coastal Carolina along with Virginia Commonwealth. The Great Danes will face VCU on Sept. 4 and Coast Carolina, the runner-up team in the Big South Conference after suffering a double-overtime defeat in the league title match, on Sept. 6.

The Great Danes will return home for a pair of games against two squads that competed in the 2008 NCAA Tournament. UAlbany will host Colgate of the Patriot League on Friday, Sept. 11 and Fairfield of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference on Sunday, Sept. 13. Both games are slated to kick off at 4 p.m.

One week later, the squad will head to Philadelphia for a tournament co-hosted by Pennsylvania and Temple. The Quakers, who won the Ivy League crown last season, will host the Great Danes on Friday, Sept. 18. UAlbany will close out the tournament at Temple on Sunday, Sept. 20.

The non-conference slate concludes with away matches at crosstown-rival Siena on Wednesday, Sept. 23 and Holy Cross on Tuesday, Sept. 29. The Crusaders fell to Colgate in the Patriot League championship final last year.

UAlbany opens up America East Conference play against Hartford on Saturday, Oct. 3. Conference opponents New Hampshire, Maine and Boston University, which advanced to the second round of the 2008 NCAA Tournament, will also visit Varsity Field. The Great Danes will match up against Binghamton, Vermont, Stony Brook and UMBC on the road.

Head coach Johan Aarnio enters his 10th season at the helm of the Great Dane program. He will oversee a club which returns five starters, headlined by Claudio Dantas, who was named the program’s first America East striker of the year. Last year’s squad finished 12-4-2 overall, which matched a Division I program record set in 2004. The team’s nine-win improvement tied for third in the nation. In addition, the Great Danes’ seven-game unbeaten streak before suffering a 1-0 double overtime loss to Binghamton in the semifinal round of the conference tournament was a program standard in the club’s Division I history.

2009 University at Albany Men’s Soccer Schedule

September – 1 (Tue.), Northeastern, 4:00; 4 (Fri.), vs. Virginia Commonwealth^, 7:00; 6 (Sun.), at Coastal Carolina^, 2:30; 11 (Fri.), Colgate, 4:00; 13 (Sun.), Fairfield, 4:00; 18 (Fri.), at Pennsylvania#, 7:30; 20 (Sun.), at Temple#, 1:00; 23 (Wed.) at Siena, 4:00; 29 (Tue.) at Holy Cross, 7:00.

October – 3 (Sat.), Hartford*, 1:00; 7 (Wed.), at Binghamton*, 7:00; 14 (Wed.), at Vermont*, 4:00; 17 (Sat.) at Stony Brook*, 7:00; 21 (Wed.) New Hampshire*, 2:00; 24 (Sat.) at UMBC*, 1:00; 28 (Wed.) Maine*, 2:00; 31 (Sat.) Boston University*, 1:00.

*America East Conference Opponent
^Coastal Carolina Tournament
#Pennsylvania/Temple Tournament

UAlbany Men's Soccer Announces 2009 Spring Schedule

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – The UAlbany men’s soccer team has announced its 2009 spring schedule. Head coach Johan Aarnio and the Great Danes will compete in three tournaments on the road and play three matches at home on Varsity Field.

UAlbany’s non-traditional schedule begins on Saturday, March 28 at Binghamton University, where the Great Danes will scrimmage against Syracuse and Binghamton. The squad will return home to face Central Connecticut State on Saturday, April 4.

The Great Danes will then play in two more tournaments on the road. UAlbany will head to Colgate for a pair of contests on Saturday, April 11. Aarnio’s club will play Buffalo to start the day, and then face either Colgate or Cornell in the second match.

On Saturday, April 18, UAlbany will compete at the Massachusetts College Classic in Lancaster, Mass. The Great Danes will play two matches against a pair of opponents to be determined. Boston University, Central Connecticut State, Hartford, Providence and Quinnipiac are all scheduled to be in attendance.

The spring season wraps up with two home dates. UAlbany will face Hartwick on Saturday, April 25 before finishing with an Alumni Game on Saturday, May 2.

-agate-

UAlbany Men’s Soccer 2009 Spring Schedule

March – 28 (Sat.), vs. Syracuse^, 2:00; at Binghamton^, 3:00.

April – 4 (Sat.), Central Connecticut State, 1:00; 11 (Sat.), vs. Buffalo+, 11:00; Colgate/Cornell+, 1:00; 18 (Sat.), Massachusetts College Classic#, 1:00/3:00; 25 (Sat.), Hartwick, 1:00.

May – 2 (Sat.), Alumni Game, 11:00.

^Binghamton Tournament (Vestal, N.Y.)

+Colgate Tournament (Hamilton, N.Y.)

#at Lancaster, Mass.

University of Albany's Steward Ceus Drafted by Major League Soccer's Colorado Rapids - UAlbany Sports

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

St. Louis, Mo. – University at Albany’s Steward Ceus was chosen in the 2009 Major League Soccer Draft’s third round by the Colorado Rapids, held today at the Saint Louis Convention Center. He was the 37th overall selection. Ceus, a third-team NSCAA/adidas All-American and America East Conference Goalkeeper of the Year, is the first Great Dane in school history to be drafted by an MLS franchise.

“I am very excited to take the next step in my career and play at the professional level,” said Ceus, a 6-foot-6 goalkeeper who will join Bouna Coundoul, a 2005 UAlbany graduate and two-time America East goalkeeper of the year, in Colorado. “This was also very ironic. I came to UAlbany to try and follow the path that Bouna paved. Now I am following his path again, and I will once again try to fill his shoes.”

In 2008, Ceus became the first UAlbany men’s soccer player to garner All-America honors at any level since Marty Hearney was voted to the Division III All-American squad in 1991. The senior co-captain eclipsed Division I program records for career shutouts (19) and saves (329) while posting a .856 save percentage, an 0.96 goals against average and seven shutouts as a senior. He finished the season ranked fourth in the nation in saves per game (5.93) and ninth in save percentage.

“Steward is a gifted goalkeeper who should do very well and follow in the steps behind Bouna, who can help him as a mentor,” UAlbany coach Johan Aarnio offered. “I congratulate him and wish him the best of luck.”

UAlbany posted a 12-4-2 overall record this year, which matched a Division I program record set in 2004. The team’s nine-win improvement tied for third in the nation with Fairleigh Dickinson, only trailing Maryland (13) and St. John’s (10). In addition, the Great Danes’ seven-game unbeaten streak before suffering a 1-0 double overtime loss to Binghamton in the semifinal round of the conference tournament was a program standard in the club’s Division I history.

University of Albany's Steward Ceus Earns Invite to 2009 Adidas Major League Soccer Player Combine - UAlbany Sports

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

New York, N.Y. – University at Albany’s Steward Ceus (West Haverstraw, N.Y./North Rockland) will participate in the 2009 adidas Major League Soccer Player Combine, from Jan. 9-13 at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Ceus, who was recently named to the NSCAA/adidas All-America third team and was the America East Conference Goalkeeper of the Year, was one of 65 Division I seniors invited to the event.

The coaching and management staffs of all 15 MLS teams will be in attendance to scout talent at the combine, which wraps up just two days before the MLS Superdraft on Jan. 15 in St. Louis, Mo. Last season, 43 of the 58 players selected in the draft participated in the combine. In addition, 12 of them were picked in the first round.

Ceus recently became the first UAlbany men’s soccer player to garner All-America honors at any level since Marty Hearney was voted to the Division III All-American squad in 1991. He eclipsed Division I program records for career shutouts (19) and saves (329) while posting an .856 save percentage, an 0.96 goals against average and seven shutouts this fall. He finished the season ranked fourth in the nation in saves per game (5.93) and ninth in save percentage.

UAlbany posted a 12-4-2 overall record this year, which matched a Division I program record set in 2004. The team’s nine-win improvement tied for third in the nation with Fairleigh Dickinson, only trailing Maryland (13) and St. John’s (10). In addition, the Great Danes’ seven-game unbeaten streak before suffering a 1-0 double overtime loss to Binghamton in the semifinal round of the conference tournament was a program standard in the program’s Division I history.

Goalkeeper Steward Ceus Becomes UAlbany's First Men's Soccer Division I All-American

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Kansas City, Kan. – University at Albany’s Steward Ceus has been named to the 2008 NSCAA/adidas Division I All-America Team, as announced on Saturday, Dec. 13 by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. Ceus, a senior goalkeeper who was a member of the national third team, is the first Great Dane to earn Division I All-America status in the program’s history.

The announcement came one day after Ceus earned NSCAA All-Northeast Region recognition. He becomes the first UAlbany men’s soccer player to garner All-America honors at any level since Marty Hearney was voted to the Division III All-America squad in 1991. The UAlbany co-captain was also honored as the America East Conference Goalkeeper of the Year and earned a spot on the all-conference first team. He eclipsed Division I program records for career shutouts (19) and saves (329), while his .856 save percentage, 0.96 goals against average and seven shutouts were all career bests.

A native of West Haverstraw, N.Y., Ceus is currently ranked fourth in the nation in saves per game (5.93) and eighth in save percentage. He earned a spot on the College Soccer News National Team of the Week and was also the ECAC Defensive Player of the Week as well as the America East player of the week this fall. In addition, the goalkeeeper was a three-time member of the America East all-academic team for his work in the classroom.

UAlbany posted a 12-4-2 overall record this season, which matched a Division I program record set in 2004. The Great Danes’ seven-game unbeaten streak before suffering a 1-0 double overtime loss to Binghamton in the semifinal round of the conference tournament was a program standard on the NCAA’s highest stage.

Trio of UAlbany Men's Soccer Named to All-Northeast Region Men's Soccer Team

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Kansas City, Kan. – University at Albany men’s soccer players Steward Ceus (West Haverstraw, N.Y./North Rockland), Claudio Dantas (Orlando, Fla./Crystal Lake/Jefferson) and Erik DiLorenzo (Bolton, Ontario/Robert F. Hall C.S.S.) were all named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-Northeast Region Team. The three honorees matches a program record.

Ceus, a four-year starting goalkeeper, was named to the first team. He was also honored as the America East Conference Goalkeeper of the Year and landed on the all-conference first team. The senior co-captain eclipsed Division I program records for career shutouts (19) and saves (329). His .859 save percentage, 0.97 goals against average and seven shutouts this season were all career bests. He ranks fourth in the country in saves per game (5.93) and eighth in save percentage. Ceus earned a spot on the College Soccer News National Team of the Week and was also the ECAC Defensive Player of the Week and the America East player of the week this fall. In addition, the goalkeeeper was a three-time member of the America East Conference All-Academic Team for his work in the classroom.

Dantas, a forward who was named the program’s first America East Conference Striker of the Year, was named to the second team. The junior transfer from Jefferson College paced the nation’s fifth-ranked offense with nine goals and 10 assists. His 28 points led America East and is a Division I single-season program record, bettering the 22 points Nick Southworth totaled in 2000. Dantas’ nine goals matches the Division I single-season standard set by Southworth, and his 10 assists equals the single-season standard for

all divisions set by Ed Campbell in 1968 and matched by Bryan Grabon in 2000. The two-time junior college All-American ranks eighth in the nation with 0.56 assists per game. Dantas also garnered America East co-player of the week laurels.

DiLorenzo, a four-year starting defender and two-year captain, garnered a spot on the third team. He anchored a defense that averaged 0.56 shutouts per game, a mark that ranks 10th nationally. DiLorenzo also recorded one goal and five assists, and sparked the largest comeback in the program’s Division I era in a 5-4 win over UMBC. In addition, DiLorenzo was voted to the league's all-championship squad for his performance in the conference tournament.

UAlbany posted a 12-4-2 overall record this past fall, which matched a Division I program record set in 2004. The Great Danes’ seven-game unbeaten streak before suffering a 1-0 double overtime loss to Binghamton in the semifinal round of the conference tournament was a new school standard on the NCAA’s highest stage.

UAlbany Men's Soccer Falls to Binghamton in America East Conference Semifinal Match

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – Cameron Keith’s goal in the second overtime led Binghamton to a 1-0 victory over UAlbany in the semifinal round of the America East Conference Men’s Soccer Championship at Varsity Field on Wednesday, Nov. 12. The Bearcats advanced to this weekend’s championship game against the winner of tonight’s other semifinal match between Boston University and Vermont, while the Great Danes’ best season in four years came to a stunning end.

“I felt we were absolutely the better side,” said head coach Johan Aarnio after the match. “One of the difficult parts of competition which I told the team was that sometimes you are the better side and you do not get the result. It is just one thing that can change (everything), and that ended up costing us.”

The teams played the first two halves evenly. Total shots were even in the first half at eight apiece, and the Great Danes had an 8-5 advantage in the second half. However, nothing was decided in 90 minutes of action.

UAlbany (12-4-2) controlled play from the opening kickoff in the first sudden-victory overtime and outshot the Bearcats by a count of 3-0 in the stanza. Following the team’s second corner kick of the frame, Mike Peters fired a shot from outside the box in that was blocked by the Bearcat defense in the 93rd minute. The ball bounced out to Mikael McNamara on the left, but his shot attempt sailed wide. Binghamton earned its ninth corner kick of the match in the 99th minute, but the ball was cleared away by the Great Dane defense.

In the second sudden-victory overtime, Binghamton (12-5-3) would take advantage of its first shot since Kyle Kucharski’s attempt with 12 minutes remaining in regulation was saved by UAlbany goalkeeper Steward Ceus. Playing from the left sideline, Cody Germain lobbed the ball towards Keith, who was all alone in the box. Ceus came out in an attempt to intercept the ball, but last season’s America East striker of the year got to it first and chipped in the game-winning score at 101:13. With the winning play, the Bearcats advanced to the conference championship match for the sixth straight time, which is a league record.

UAlbany’s Ceus made four saves on 14 opportunities in his final career match. He ended his career as the program’s all-time Division I leader in shutouts (19) and total saves (329). Binghamton’s Jason Stenta stopped four of the 19 shots he faced against the nation’s fourth-ranked offense to earn the shutout.

“They have to keep their heads up,” Aarnio said. “They showed championship intensity and what a championship side is made of. They all showed that we were the better side today. We did not get the result, but we need to build on this and bring it back next year.”

Despite winning just three matches last season, the Great Danes matched the program’s Division I record for single-season victories. The program will most notably return Claudio Dantas, who was named the America East Striker of the Year. He set the single-season Division I mark for points and matched the all-time single-season standard for assists.


America East Conference Championship – Semifinal Round

Binghamton (12-5-3) 0 0 0 1 - 1
UAlbany (12-4-2) 0 0 0 0 - 0


Binghamton: Scoring – Cameron Keith (1-0), Cody Germain (0-1). Goalkeeping – Jason Stenta (101:13, 0 GA, 4 saves).

UAlbany: Scoring – None. Goalkeeping – Steward Ceus (101:13, 1 GA, 4 saves).

UAlbany Men's Soccer Enters Six-Team America East Conference Tournament as Second Seed and A 1st Round Bye

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – Riding a seven-match unbeaten streak, the University at Albany men’s soccer team will enter the America East Conference Championship as the second seed. The Great Danes have racked up 12 victories this season, which equals the program’s highest win total as an NCAA Division I program. UAlbany matched its highest seeding for the conference tournament, as the team also received the second seed in 2004.

The higher seed will host each match in the six-team tournament, which begins on Saturday, Nov. 8 with a pair of quarterfinal matches. Fourth-seeded Vermont, the reigning tournament champion, hosts fifth-seeded Hartford in the first quarterfinal at 1 p.m., and third-seeded Binghamton will entertain sixth-seeded New Hampshire at 7 p.m.

UAlbany (12-3-2, AE 5-1-2) will host a semifinal match on Wednesday, Nov. 12 at 1 p.m. against the winner of Saturday’s battle between third-seeded Binghamton, the last team to defeat the Great Danes on Oct. 8, and sixth-seeded New Hampshire. Top seed Boston University, which advanced to the NCAA Tournament as an at-large selection last season, will host the other semifinal on the same day at 7 p.m. against the Vermont/Hartford winner. The championship match will be played at the site of the highest remaining seed on either Nov. 15 or 16 at a time to be determined.

The winner of the conference championship will receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, while the other contending teams will be eligible for an at-large selection. Last year, America East was one of 12 leagues that placed at least two teams in the NCAA field.

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2008 America East Conference Men’s Soccer Championship

Saturday, Nov. 8 – Quarterfinals (at higher seeds)

No. 5 Hartford at No. 4 Vermont, 1 p.m.

No. 6 New Hampshire at No. 3 Binghamton, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Nov. 12 – Semifinals (at higher seeds)

Binghamton/New Hampshire winner at No. 2 UAlbany, 1 p.m.

Vermont/Hartford winner at No. 1 Boston University, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 15 or Sunday, Nov. 16 (at highest seed remaining)

Semifinal winners, TBD

Program-Record Six UAlbany Men's Soccer Players Garner America East All-Conference Laurels

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Cambridge, Mass. – University at Albany’s Steward Ceus and Claudio Dantas lead a group of a program-record six players who were voted to the 2008 America East All-Conference Men’s Soccer Team, as announced on Wednesday, Nov. 5 by the league office. Dantas became the first Great Dane to be named the America East striker of the year, while Ceus was recognized as the league’s goalkeeper of the year.

Ceus, who ranks fifth in the nation with 6.08 saves per game, also earned a spot on the all-conference first team. The senior co-captain has eclipsed Division I program records for career shutouts (19) and saves (325). His .859 save percentage, 0.97 goals against average, nine wins and seven shutouts this season are all career bests, while his save percentage is also 13th in the country. In addition to being named to the College Soccer News National Team of the Week on Nov. 3, Ceus was also honored as the ECAC Defensive Player of the Week and the America East Conference Player of the Week for his efforts in the last two matches of the regular season.

A first-team all-conference selection, Dantas paces the nation’s seventh-ranked offense with nine goals and 10 assists. His 28 points leads America East and is a Division I single-season program record, bettering the 22 points Nick Southworth totaled in 2000. Dantas’ nine goals matches the Division I single-season standard set by Southworth, and his 10 assists equals the single-season standard for all divisions set by Ed Campbell in 1968 and matched by Bryan Grabon in 2000. The two-time junior college All-American entered the week ranked sixth in the nation with 0.59 assists per game. Dantas has also garnered America East co-player of the week laurels.

UAlbany’s Don Johnson, Gaby Seguin Gauthier and Erik DiLorenzo all landed on the all-conference second team after posting career numbers and helping the squad rack up 12 victories, which matches a Division I program record. Johnson, a midfielder, has accumulated six goals and two assists for 14 points. He was named to the College Soccer News National Team of the Week and was also the America East player of the week after scoring two goals in a 3-0 win over Boston University. Seguin-Gauthier, a four-year starting midfielder who has never missed a match in his career, has netted one goal and eight assists. The senior’s 0.47 assists per game ranks 19th in the nation. He scored the eventual game winner and added two helpers in a 4-0 win over Bryant, and he also set up the game-winning goals against Pittsburgh, Robert Morris and Siena. DiLorenzo, a four-year starting defender and two-year captain, anchors a defense that averages 0.59 shutouts per game, a mark that ranks eighth nationally. He has also recorded one goal and five assists, and sparked the largest comeback in the program’s Division I era in a 5-4 win over UMBC.

Freshman Konner McNamara, who has started all 17 matches on defense, earned a spot on the league’s all-rookie squad. In addition to playing a major role in the backfield, he has three assists, which includes setting up the game-winning goal in a 1-0 victory over Robert Morris.

UAlbany earned the second seed for the upcoming America East tournament. The team will enter the postseason riding a seven-match unbeaten streak, which is a Division I school record.

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2008 America East Men’s Soccer All-Conference Teams

First Team: Claudio Dantas, UAlbany; Carlos Villa, Hartford; Justin Leskow, Binghamton; Michael Bustamante, Boston U.; Ivan Guarin, Hartford; Kyle Urso, New Hampshire; Jordan Crasilneck, Vermont; Barry Neville, Binghamton; Dan Schultz, Boston U.; Connor Tobin, Vermont; Steward Ceus, UAlbany.

Second Team: Cameron Keith, Binghamton; Shaun Taylor, Boston U.; Don Johnson, UAlbany; Gaby Seguin-Gauthier, UAlbany; Samuel Appiah, Boston U.; Richy Dorman, Boston U.; T.J. Gore, Vermont; Erik DiLorenzo, UAlbany; Kyle Manscuk, Binghamton; Jake McFadden, Vermont; Roger Scully, Vermont.

All-Rookie Team: Konner McNamara, UAlbany; Ryan Walter, Binghamton; Andy Tiedt, Binghamton; Michael Bustamante, Boston U.; Colin Henry, Boston U.; Pat Boucher, Hartford; Jorge Rodriguez, Hartford; Daniel Tannous, Maine; Andrew Bulls, UMBC; Brad Hilton, New Hampshire; Yannick Lewis, Vermont.

Striker of the Year: Claudio Dantas, UAlbany

Midfielder of the Year: Michael Bustamante, Boston U.

Defender of the Year: Connor Tobin, Vermont

Goalkeeper of the Year: Steward Ceus, UAlbany

Rookie of the Year: Michael Bustamante, Boston U.

Coaching Staff of the Year: Neil Roberts, Boston U.

UAlbany's Steward Ceus Honored by College Soccer News and America East Conference

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Cambridge, Mass. – University at Albany senior goalkeeper Steward Ceus earned a spot the College Soccer News National Team of the Week for the week ending Nov. 2. In addition, he was named the America East Conference Player of the Week as announced by the league office on Monday. Ceus becomes the second Great Dane to earn a spot on the College Soccer News National Team of the Week and the fourth UAlbany player to garner the America East player of the week honor this season.

The co-captain eclipsed two Division I program records and helped the Great Danes blank two America East opponents this past week. In the team’s 3-0 win at Maine on Oct. 29, he broke the Division I school standards for career shutouts and career saves even though UAlbany was outshot 19-12. His nine stops also matched a career high. Ceus then added to his shutout total by recording five saves in Sunday’s scoreless overtime tie versus Vermont. After finishing with two shutouts and 14 saves this past week, Ceus now has 19 shutouts and 325 saves in his career.

With the pair of shutouts, UAlbany earned the second seed in the conference tournament and tied the program’s Division I mark with 12 victories. The Great Danes will enter the postseason riding a seven-match unbeaten streak, which is a Division I program record.

Rankings Note: The Great Danes are seventh, a season-best ranking, in the latest NSCAA Northeast Regional poll ... St. John’s is first in the regional rankings, while South Florida and Connecticut follow in the order.

UAlbany Men's Soccer Enters America East Championship Tournament As #2 Seed

UAlbany Men's Soccer Enters America East Championship Tournament As #2 Seed with tie versus Vermont today. UAlbany Will Host AE Championship Semi-Final Round On Wed. Nov.12. More to come...

Albany, N.Y. – Steward Ceus recorded his 19th career shutout as the University at Albany men’s soccer team played America East Conference opponent Vermont to a 0-0 draw in the teams' regular-season finale on Sunday, Nov. 2 at Varsity Field. With the tie, the Great Danes earned the second seed in the six-team America East Tournament and a bye in the first round.

“As a coach, you can not expect anything more than what we got here today,” said head coach Johan Aarnio. “The players gave all they had and left it on the field to get first or at least second place and a bye in the first round. That was accomplished, which gives us a tremendous situation. We left the field with our chins up, and we will be back in a week and a half to try and win a championship.”

UAlbany (12-3-2, 5-1-2 AE) had the first chance for either team to score in the 10th minute when Gaby Seguin-Gauthier took a shot from just inside the box. The ball was saved by UVM goalkeeper Roger Scully and bounced out, but he was able to recover and take control of the rebound before a Great Dane striker could get to it first.

Vermont (8-3-7, AE 4-1-3) had two excellent opportunities to score in the 34th minute, but the Great Dane defense was able to deny each attempt. Yannick Lewis headed a shot on goal that got past Ceus, but Mikael McNamara was there to head the ball away and out of bounds. On the ensuing corner kick taken by Jordan Carsilneck, T.J. Gore fired a low shot to the right post which made its way past a diving Ceus. However, Ian Peach was able to punch the ball back out before it crossed the goal line and keep the match scoreless.

UAlbany’s best chance to score in the second half arguably came in the 79th minute. L.J. Papaleo’s shot from the top of the box was blocked and bounced over to Claudio Dantas, who was about 12 yards out on the left side. Dantas had a look at the far post and ripped a shot, but Vermont goalkeeper Roger Scully dove on the ground and covered the ball up.
With under two minutes remaining in the second overtime, UVM’s Crasilneck made a through-pass to Kyle Luetkehans. However, Mikael McNamara recovered in time to block the shot, and Ceus grabbed the ball before it could make its way in the net. By holding on for the tie, the Great Danes set a Division I program record for extending their unbeaten streak to seven matches.

“Defensively, we are proud as a group to get the clean sheet and shutout,” said co-captain and defender Erik DiLorenzo after the match. “We have a good mixture of some new guys such as Konner McNamara and some more experienced players such as Hilco Beeks, Mikael McNamara and myself. Steward, as always, was big in the goal for us."

UAlbany’s Ceus recorded his career-best seventh shutout of the season, making five saves on 17 opportunities. The Great Dane defense was credited with two team saves. UVM’s Scully made four saves on 16 chances to earn his eighth shutout of the year.

“After what happened last year, this has been a great turnaround season for us,” added DiLorenzo. “I think everyone is very happy with where we finished. It will not matter who we play in the tournament. We are just going to look to get some wins.”

Seniors Kenneth Ibe, Don Johnson, Mikael McNamara, Seguin-Gauthier, DiLorenzo and Ceus were recognized for their contributions to the program prior to the match.

Vermont (8-3-7, AE 4-1-3) 0 0 0 0 - 0

UAlbany (12-3-2, AE 5-1-2) 0 0 0 0 - 0

Vermont: Scoring – None. Goalkeeping: Roger Scully (110:00, 0 GA, 4 saves).
UAlbany: Scoring – None. Goalkeeping: Steward Ceus (110:00, 0 GA, 5 saves).

UAlbany Men's Soccer Blanks Maine, 3-0, In America East Action

UAlbany Men's Soccer Blanks Maine, 3-0, In America East Action. More to come...

Orono, Maine – Senior goalkeeper Steward Ceus recorded his 18th career shutout and junior forward Claudio Dantas factored in to a pair of goals to help lead the University at Albany men’s soccer team to a 3-0 win over the University of Maine on Wednesday afternoon. With the victory, the Great Danes guaranteed themselves at least home-field advantage in the opening round of the America East Conference Tournament. In addition, the team’s 12th win this afternoon matches the Division I program record set back in 2004.

“This was a very physical match, but our guys really stepped it up,” said head coach Johan Aarnio, whose team was guaranteed a home match in the upcoming conference tournament after Vermont defeated Hartford by a 1-0 score earlier this afternoon. ”Steward was dominant in goal and put forth one of his best perfomances.”

UAlbany (12-3-1, AE 5-1-1) got on the scoreboard in the 16th minute when Bjorn Bekkers took a cross from Dantas and buried a shot into the upper right corner of the net. With his 10th helper of the year on the play, Dantas matched the all-time school record for assists in a season. Ed Campbell set the standard in 1968, and it was matched by Bryan Grabon in 2000.

“Bjorn scored a highlight film type of goal,” said Aarnio. “He is very strong and sees the field well.”

Dantas doubled the Great Dane lead when he received a pass from Mike Peters and beat goalkeeper Nemanja Kostic to the lower left corner of the goal in the 29th minute. He also matched Nick Southworth’s Division I program record for goals in a season with his ninth on the play.

In the second half, UAlbany got an insurance goal from L.J. Papaleo off a direct kick

taken by Erik DiLorenzo in the 66th minute. Maine (4-9-2, AE 1-5-1), which gave up more than two goals for the first time this season, outshot the UAlbany by a 19-12 clip and had its chances to avoid the shutout. However, UAlbany goalkeeper Steward Ceus along with the defensive line led by starters Milos Jankovic, Konner McNamara, Hilco Beeks and DiLorenzo would not let anything through.

UAlbany’s Ceus matched his career high with nine saves on 19 chances. He also broke two school Division I program records for career shutouts (18) and saves (320). Buona Coundol (17 shutouts) and Trevor Serraro (312 saves) held the previous marks. Maine’s Kostic was credited with four saves on 12 opportunities in the losing effort.

The Great Danes can lock up the top seed in the America East Conference Tournament for the first time ever if they can win their final match of the regular season at home versus Vermont on Sunday at 2 p.m. Seniors Gaby Seguin-Gauthier, Don Johnson, Mikael McNamara, DiLorenzo and Ceus Five will be recognized for their contributions to the program prior to the match.

UAlbany (12-3-1, AE 5-1-1) 2 1 - 3
Maine (4-9-2, AE 1-5-1) 0 0 - 0

UAlbany: Scoring – Claudio Dantas (1-1), Bjorn Bekkers (1-0), L.J. Papaleo (1-0), Mike Peters (0-1), Erik DiLorenzo (0-1). Goalkeeping – Steward Ceus (90:00, 0 GA, 9 saves).

Maine: Scoring – None. Goalkeeping – Nemanja Kostic (90:00, 3 GA, 4 saves).