Men's Soccer

NOVEMBER 14, 2007  

The SUNY College at Old Westbury Men's Soccer team concluded the 2007 season as the best performance in the program's history.  For the first time, the Panthers claimed a Skyline Conference Championship and an NCAA Championship Tournament appearance, while finishing with a record of 12-3-1 overall and 8-0-1 in league play.   

With a senior class of seven, expectations were high for the Panthers in 2007.  Led by a strong senior class, Old Westbury was picked to finish in the top half of the league standings.   Fueled by sheer motivation and passion, the seven seniors, along with the other teammates led the Panthers to their first Skyline Conference Championship title in the program's history. 

Head Coach Jason Warshaw concluded the 2007 season being awarded the Skyline Conference Coach of the Year.  Warshaw, in his third season as head coach, guided his team to a 12-3-1 overall record and 8-0-1 in the Skyline Conference. This season marks the first time in his three seasons with the Panthers, that Warshaw has been named the Coach of the Year.  Freshman Justin Leakey (Baldwin, N.Y.) was named the Skyline Conference Championship Tournament Most Valuable Player.  

The Panthers placed five student-athletes on the All-Skyline Conference teams.  Earning 1^st Team honors were senior defender Alexander Renwart (Baldwin, N.Y.), freshman midfielder Kimron Annikie (Central Islip, N.Y.) and junior forward John Senatore (Ridge, N.Y.).  Renwart has been a mainstay on the Panthers defense; he has helped the OW defense allow just 1.63 goals per game.  Annikie ranked 14^th in the nation as he tallied 11 assists at an average of .65 per game during his freshman campaign.  Senatore led the Panthers in both goals and points.  He netted 19 goals with an average of 1.12 per game (8^th in the nation) to go along with 44 points for an average of 2.59 per contest (6^th in the nation).   

Senior defender Sandro Chiarlitti (Westbury, N.Y.) and Justin Leakey were named to the 2^nd Team All-Skyline Conference.  Chairlitti supported the Panther defense with his hard nose style of play.  Leakey tallied 15 goals and 34 points, averaged 2 points per game (32^nd in nation) and .88 goals per game (21^st in nation) in his first season with the Old Westbury Panthers.

On a week to week basis, the Panthers were recognized by the Skyline Conference, claiming weekly awards throughout the season.  John Senatore ( Honor Roll -September 10, Honor Roll -September 24, Honor Roll -October 1, Honor Roll -October 15, Player of the Week -October 22), Justin Leakey ( Rookie of the Week -October 1, Rookie of the Week -October 29, Rookie of the Week - November 5), Brandon DeNoyer ( Player of the Week -November 5), Kimron Annikie ( Honor Roll -September 10) and Divine Jackson ( Honor Roll -September 17) received awards throughout the season.

In the statistics column, a trio of returning Panthers resurrected the offensive attack with John  Senatore, Justin Leakey and Kimron Annikie propelling the Panthers offense to rank 16^th in the nation with an average of 3.29 goals per game.   

On the defensive end, Brian Hicks and Brandon DeNoyer controlled the opposing offenses with stellar play in the goal.  Hicks was limited to only eight games in his senior season before going down with a season ending injury.  Hicks posted a 6-1 record and tallied 40 saves, resulting to a .85 goals against average.  DeNoyer was called upon when Hicks was sidelined, and responded to the tune of a 6-2 record with a 1.89 goals against average while tallying 61 saves.   

Even though Old Westbury will be graduating seven sensational seniors, the Panthers are scheduled to bring back next season, their leading scorers John Senatore and Justin Leakey in addition to Kimron Annikie, who led the team in assists. 

With the pieces now in place, the team is starting to take form to Warshaw's vision of the future, and the Old Westbury community can already see change happening.