Preseason Video Interviews

ELMIRA, N.Y. -- With an entirely new coaching staff and a dozen new players, the Elmira College men's soccer team is locked in on changing the culture around the program and return to postseason play. The road to the postseason begins with the season opener on Friday, September 1, as the Purple and Gold square off with Medaille College in an 11:00 a.m. bout on EC's grass pitch at Campus Field.
 
Kevin Brenner enters his first season at the helm of the program, following a coaching stop at Division II Lake Erie where he led the Storm to back-to-back postseason bids. The new Soaring Eagle skipper has high expectations for his new squad, and from the sounds of preseason, it looks like the Purple and Gold are on the right track to get back in the E8 playoff mix.
 
"I couldn't be happier with the guys," raved Brenner. "They have shown that they put in some real hard work over the summer, and they came in and killed the fitness testing. We want to be one of the fittest teams in the conference and in the region."
 
Brenner continues, "Expectation-wise, there is no reason that we should not finish in the top four of the conference and make it to the Empire 8 playoffs. We have the talent here and as long as we implement our game plan and do all of the little things, I think that this team can compete for the conference championship straight away."
 
Goalkeeper
Jacob Liese '20 is back as Elmira's lone returner at the goalkeeper position. The native of Massapequa, New York, started in three of Elmira's first four games during the 2016 campaign and looked to be on track to be a mainstay between the posts. However, a season-ending injury closed the door on Liese's debut season, which saw him produce 13 saves and a 1.73 goals-against average.
 
Completing the goalkeeping corps is a pair of freshmen in Anthony Lipp '21 and Jacob Mattice '21. Both rookies are listed at six feet tall and possess a wide wingspan, adding quality depth at the netminder position. Lipp was an All-League selection during his high school career, while Mattice claimed All-Northern Athletic Conference First-Team honors during his senior year. Look for both freshmen to challenge for minutes this season.
 
Backs
With a good mix of returners and newcomers, Elmira will have plenty of options on defense this season. Headlining the group is two-time Empire 8 All-Conference recipient Colin Morrison '19 and 6-foot-5-inch Rodney Smith '19, both of whom will form an intimidating presence on EC's back line. The two classmates have been mainstays in the center of Elmira's defense since their arrival on campus during the fall of 2015.
 
Outside backs Kurt Bartholomew '18, Kyle Beekman '18, Jonathan Miller '18 and Jameson Asmus '20 have all shown the ability to play at a high level during their Elmira careers and the Soaring Eagles will be counting on much of the same this season. Bartholomew, who will once again don the captain's 'C' on his bicep this year, will serve as a vocal leader on EC's back line. Beekman and Asmus have shown that not only can they defend, but they can also get into the scoring mix as well. Beekman delivered the game-winning goal that sent Elmira into the 2015 Empire 8 Championships, while Asmus tallied his first career goal in a five-goal throttling of Utica last year. Miller returns for his third go-around with Elmira, after playing for the Purple and Gold during the 2012 and 2014 campaigns.
 
Newcomers Derek Caramella '21 and Luke Kretschmer '21, as well as John Broyles '19, will add depth to the outside back position. Caramella was a Section III First-Team All-League honoree during his senior season, while Kretschmer is coming off a solid career at Southern Regional, where he helped lead the Rams to the No. 10 seed in the NJSIAA South Group 4 Tournament. Broyles, who was a member of the 2015 iteration of the Purple and Gold that qualified for the E8 Tournament, returns to Elmira after a successful year playing junior college soccer at Finger Lakes Community College. Broyles racked up 11 points (3g-5a) for the Lakers in 2016 and produced four points for Elmira during the 2015 season, making him a viable scoring threat from the back line. 
 
Midfield
The heart of any successful team is a strong midfield, and with the return of several standouts from 2016 along with a handful of talented rookies, Elmira should be fairly optimistic heading into the new season. Holding down the center midfield positions will be upperclassmen Tony Barraco '18 and Aidan Gray '19, both of whom have been key contributors over the years for Elmira. Barraco returns as Elmira's leading point getter from a season ago (3g-1a-7p) and will be looking to replicate the numbers he produced in 2015 when he claimed Empire 8 All-Conference First-Team honors. Gray, a native of Australia, is coming off of a four-point season (1g-2a) and will once again be counted on to utilize his superb touch and passing ability to link play from the back line and create scoring chances on the counter attack. 
 
Andrew Spitznogle '19 is also back for his third season with Elmira this fall, as is senior Yaniv Kogan '18, who missed the 2016 campaign. Spitznogle finished last season with a share of the team lead in assists (2) and will look to add some firepower in EC's attacking third. Kogan, on the other hand, will add a physical presence and solid ball control to Elmira's midfield corps.
 
Newcomers Levi Ahl '21, Michael Courtney '21, John Mullan' 21, Cameron Sanderson '20 and Josh Broyles '21 will all be in the mix to compete for a starting spot, as well as quality minutes off of the bench. After a rigorous preseason packed with quality scrimmages, Courtney and Sanderson look like they could be immediate contributors, while Ahl, Mullan and Broyles add to EC's depth at a crucial position, something Elmira lacked a season ago.
 
Forwards
Consistent contribution from this group will be the biggest factor in Elmira's push for a postseason bid. However, it is a relatively small group Coach Brenner will be utilizing up top, as just four players are listed on this year's roster as forwards. Leading the pack is fourth-year talisman Donte Donegal '18, who found the back of the net three times during his junior campaign. Donegal is visibly leaner and stronger from a season ago, and pair that with his exceptional speed, look for him to create havoc in the attacking third.
 
Also returning for his senior season is Elmira native Brendan Wise '18, who started in six of the 15 contests he played during his debut with the Purple and Gold in 2016. Wise provides EC with a physical presence up top and is not shy about distributing the ball on the counter or in the attacking third.
 
Joining the two upperclassmen up top will be freshmen Tyler West '21 and Cameron Lambert '21. Although neither athlete will overwhelm you with their size, both have a good first touch and a keen eye on scoring. Look for the two rookies to compete for minutes off the bench during their debuts with the Soaring Eagles.
 
Season Opener
The 2017 campaign begins on Elmira's grassy pitch at Campus Field on Friday, September 1, as the Soaring Eagles welcome the Mavericks of Medaille College for an 11:00 a.m. non-conference tilt. A look through the record books will show that Elmira and Medaille do not have the richest of rivalries, as the season opener will serve as just the third all-time meeting. The Mavericks are coming off of a strong 2016 season that culminated with 12-5-2 overall record and a trip to the AMCC title game, setting up a must-see season-opener between these squads.