Fact Sheet
The Rowan University men’s soccer team looks to improve upon a successful 2009 campaign. The Profs finished the year with a 13-6-2 overall record and a 5-2-2 mark in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC). Rowan reached the final of the NJAC Championship Tournament.
“Last year we went back to the way Rowan is supposed to play, as a unit,” said head coach Dan Gilmore. “We are an unselfish team that plays good defense. I expect us to once again challenge for the conference title, get back to the NCAA tournament and win some games in the NCAAs.”
The Profs return a solid core of veterans. Leading the way is captain and starting goalkeeper Charlie Cunliffe (sr. Lakewood, NJ/Lakewood). Last season, he totaled 123 saves for an 86.6 save percentage. Cunliffe only allowed 19 goals in 21 games for a 0.91 goals against average. He posted seven shutouts. He was named the NJAC Goalkeeper of the Year and to the All-Conference first team. Cunliffe garnered Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Metro Defensive Player of Year and All-Star first team honors. He was also chosen to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-South Atlantic Region third team.
“Cunliffe is a key component to our team,” stated Gilmore. “He is fit and trained all year. Cunliffe is an experienced keeper. He is a great kid with excellent work habits. He steps up on and off the field. Cunliffe is a good student and the perfect representative of our soccer program.”
Challenging Cunliffe are veteran Michael Fanz-Huster (so. Waterford, NJ/Hammonton) and newcomers Ryan Gill (so. West Deptford, NJ/West Deptford), Anthony Zukofsky (fr. Scotch Plains, NJ/Scotch Plains-Fanwood) and Kevin Vasta (fr. Randolph, NJ/Randolph). Fanz-Huster appeared in three games last year and stopped six shots for a 75.0 save percentage. Gill transferred from Methodist University (NC) where he played in seven games. He recorded 23 saves for a 92.0 save percentage. Gill only surrendered two goals in 401 minutes for a 0.45 goals against average. Zukofsky earned All-County first team and All-State second team honors at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School. Vasta was an All-Conference second team and an All-County third team selection at Randolph High School.
The backfield will be without All-Conference second teamers Jason Dugan and Randy Kohr. Zack Zahrend (jr. Seaville, NJ/Ocean City) moves from the midfield to back. He will be joined by returnees Shane Dooley (so. Burlington, NJ/Burlington Twp.) and Phil Mora (jr. Glassboro, NJ/Glassboro) and rookies Lou Buonocore (fr. Hazlet, NJ/Raritan) and Brian Kahn (fr. Scotch Plains, NJ/Scotch Plains-Fanwood). Jake Dunn (jr. Vineland, NJ/Sacred Heart) and Tony Verchio (jr. Glassboro, NJ/Washington Twp.) have rejoined the team after a one-year hiatus and will compete for playing time.
“Back is the most unsettled position we have,” commented Gilmore. “It is wide open. Zahrend was fantastic as a freshman and we are looking for him to return to that form. He showed up in better shape this season. He is a tough player and a leader. Dunn and Verchio give us depth and experience.”
In 2009, Zahrend played in 18 games and had three assists. Dooley scored one goal, while Mora compiled one goal and three assists for five points. In 2008, Dunn tallied two assists in 18 contests and Verchio saw action in 17 games.
Rowan has a mix of new and old faces at midfielder. Veterans Ryan Gordon (so. Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill W.), Andrew Brawner (so. Mt. Laurel, NJ/Lenape) and John Loiodice (sr. Brick, NJ/Brick Mem.) are competing with newcomers Nick Bolton (fr. Dover, DE/Dover) and Cristhian Gonzalez (jr. Piscataway, NJ/Calasenz (Colombia)) for playing time. Returnee Andrew Ocbo (sr. Sicklerville, NJ/Washington Twp.) is currently injured but will also be in the mix.
“Gordon is in better shape,” praised Gilmore. “He is a work horse and trains hard. He should be a key contributor. Brawner gives us what we need. He is fast and provides a spark off the bench. Loiodice has good skills and vision. With his speed, he has a chance to expand on a last year’s performance. Bolton is really good. He gives us size and allows us to do more with crosses. Ocbo has great abilities. He knows the game and we expect big things out of him.”
As a freshman, Gordon played in all 21 games, tallying five points with two goals and one assist. Loiodice was fifth on the team with eight points on two goals and four assists, while Brawner had one assist. Ocbo saw action in 19 games. Gonzalez transferred from Brookdale Community College where he registered 13 points with four goals and five assists in 12 contests.
Veterans Frank Renna (jr. Paramus, NJ/Paramus), Julian Berrios (so. Lakewood, NJ/Calvary Academy) and Dan Coviello (sr. Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley) are back at forward. Newcomers Joe Parella (jr. Howell, NJ/Howell), Andres Vargas (fr. Green Village, NJ/Chatham) and John Hagerty (fr. Haddon Heights, NJ/Haddon Heights) are in the running to start. Last year, Renna and Coviello each scored one goal. An All-Conference second team selection, Berrios was the team’s fourth leading scorer with nine points on three goals and three assists. Parella transferred from Brookdale Community College, where he finished fifth in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division III with 50 points on 23 goals and four assists. He was named to the NJCAA All-America first team in 2009 and 2008. Hagerty was an All-Conference, All-State and All-South Jersey honoree at Haddon Heights High School.
“Berrios could potentially be outrageous,” exclaimed Gilmore. “He knows the game and has great speed. He just needs to stay healthy. Renna is in the best shape of his life. He is working hard and has been a really big surprise in the preseason. He will be relied upon to score goals this year. Coviello is a hard worker that could be a big goal scorer if he can stay healthy. Parella was a junior college All-American and he is known as a finisher. Vargas can shoot and he will really help us out. Hagerty is a really good freshman.”
Rowan has a tough non-conference schedule. The men’s soccer team plays Christopher Newport University (18-2-4) and Virginia Wesleyan College (14-4-3) in the Chick-Fil-A Invitational on September 10-11. Christopher Newport reached the final eight of the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament, while Virginia Wesleyan was eliminated in the first round. On September 18, the Profs host the University of Scranton (12-6-2). Rowan travels to San Antonio, TX on October 2-3 and will face Southwestern University (9-9) and Trinity University (TX) (15-2-2), which advanced to the second round of the national tournament.
In the NJAC Preseason Coaches Poll, Rowan collected two first place votes and was fourth overall. Defending conference champion Montclair State University (17-2-2, NJAC 7-1-1) was picked to finish first. The Red Hawks received six of the 10 first place votes. Rutgers-Newark (13-6-4, NJAC 4-3-2) and Richard Stockton College (12-9-1, NJAC 4-4-1) were second and third respectively, each earning one first place vote. Rutgers-Camden (8-9-3, NJAC 3-4-2) was fifth, followed by William Paterson University (8-5-6, NJAC 2-2-5), sixth. The College of New Jersey (7-6-4, NJAC 5-2-2) was chosen seventh and the dark horse Ramapo College (10-5-2, NJAC 3-5-1) was eighth. Kean University (7-8-4, NJAC 2-6-1), ninth, and New Jersey City University (7-9-2, NJAC 1-7-1), 10th rounded out the poll.
“We don’t have an easy game on our schedule,” mentioned Gilmore. “The conference one through 10 is deep. You don’t know how teams have improved year to year. In order to have a successful season, we need to have all our guys committed to winning and to each other. They must sacrifice for the betterment of the team. If they do that, they will win.”
