A year after reaching the Skyline Conference finals for the second time in three seasons in 2009, the Old Westbury men’s soccer team faces the challenge of fielding its deepest and youngest team under the direction of sixth year head coach Jason Warshaw.
The Panthers return 13 of 27 players from last season and brought in a group of 15 freshman and three transfers. Despite the roster turnover, Warshaw is optimistic at the start of preseason.
This year Old Westbury has seven upperclassmen and 23 underclassmen, so although it looks to be somewhat young, the Panthers have some maturity in some of the players who are coming back. Among the 13 returning players are six starters as well as a group of players ready to step into more prominent roles.
Warshaw has high expectations for Old Westbury, despite a third place showing in the 2010 Skyline Conference coaches preseason poll. Warshaw said “The squad in 2010 doesn’t list any current All-Skyline selections, but we will reveal a true team effort”. Clearly put, he said “We now have “athleticism, depth and options”.
The team has a common goal in 2010 - To be the best team they can be, not the best individual.
GOALKEEPERS
Senior
Darian Bryan returns for his final season at Old Westbury. He is coming off a 7-2 season in 2009 and has a career mark of 16-10 with three shutouts and a 1.78 goals against average. Bryan is the lone remaining member of the 2007 Skyline Conference Championship team. While he is primed to conclude his collegiate career in style, it is his continued increase in leadership between that pipes that will guide the Panthers.
Sophomore
Pablo Diaz, who transferred from Suffolk Community College, is the newcomer this season.
BACKS
In addition to Bryan, the Panthers will have plenty of veteran leadership in the backfield. Seniors
Victor Farfan and
Scott Madocks enter their second year with Old Westbury while sophomore captain
Brian Hanley started in 20 of 21 matches as a freshman.
Sophomores
Anthony Cardenia and
Ernesto Navarrete along with the newcomers, freshmen
Michael Bayne,
Scott Carey and
Steven Greene will all add depth and talent in the backfield.
MIDFIELD
Old Westbury has a blend of experience and youth in the midfield this season. Seniors
Andrew Holder and
Ugur Kahveci were the only Panthers to appear in all 22 matches last season. Junior captain
German Parodis knocked in three goals last season and could very much increase his scoring load this season.
Joseph Zorbo and fellow sophomore
Omer Brown are the other two returnees.
Junior
Oraine Pringle, a transfer from Mohawk Valley Community College, is the fastest player on the team and is capable of playing up front or in the midfield.
Anthony Ippolito,
Thomas Manz and
Diego Mercado will be impact freshmen and are projected to start in the season opener against the York Cardinals (Sept. 1). Sophomore transfer
Jeffry Bolivar, from LIU-C.W. Post, and freshmen
Bryan Bolivar,
Anthony Echevarria,
Christopher Martelli and
Joseph Martinez will all be in the mix for playing time.
FORWARDS
Despite losing two-time Skyline Conference Player of the Year Fabian Santibanez, the forwards will be a more talented group. Sophomore
Donny Alerte will be asked to fill some of the void left by Santibanez. Alerte is the top returning scorer after netting five goals in 13 matches last season. Sophomore
Steven Burgos appeared in seven games as a freshman and is the other returnee.
Freshman
Christopher Barbosa stood out the most in preseason to earn a starting spot along side Alerte. Barbosa has the potential to be a target player. They will both team up to form an aggressive air show along with creating opportunities for others to score. Freshmen
Hansel Riddock,
Christian Montanez and
Donald Stock are the other top newcomers and add depth to a group that will pressure the ball.
SCHEDULE
Old Westbury opens the season at home against York (Sept. 1). Following an at the Drew tournament, the Panthers take on a non-conference slate at Vassar (Sept. 8), FDU-Florham (Sept. 11), Ramapo (Sept. 15) and Stevens (Oct. 27) as well as home games against King’s (Sept. 19), Kean (Oct. 8), City Tech (Oct. 18) and Stevens (Oct. 27).
In Skyline Conference play, Old Westbury hosts Mount Saint Vincent on Sept. 23. Other home games come against defending champion St. Joseph’s-L.I. (Sept. 25) in addition to Sage (Oct. 2), Bard (Oct. 16) and Farmingdale State (Oct. 21). On the road, the Panthers head to Mount Saint Mary (Sept. 18), NYU-Poly (Sept. 29), Maritime (Oct. 5), Yeshiva (Oct. 14) and Purchase (Oct. 23).