Shannon KeoughThe Cabrini mens’ soccer team returned to the Edith Robb Dixon field on Aug. 17 for preseason camp.
The mens’ team took home the Colonial States Athletic Conference title the previous 2008 season and returned to the NCAA Tournament.
Glen Jaskelewicz returns as a coach for his fifth consecutive year at Cabrini College.
Before last season, the mens’ soccer team hadn’t seen an NCAA Tournament game since 1999.
With the victory and success of last season behind them, eight returning seniors are back and are playing with high expectations.
The eight seniors for this season are Mike Giunta, Evan Hanauer, Andrew Jacobs, Bryan Johnson, Mike Kroener, Justin McCall, Brian Moran and Jason Moran.
Evan Hanauer, a returning senior midfielder, earned CSAC First Team honors in 2008 along with junior Troy Allen.
Hanauer achieved 21 points on six goals along with a team-best nine assists.
Allen completed the 2008 season with 14 points. He had four goals and six assists.
“Cabrini’s pre-season camp always gets everyone ready for the season,” Evan Hanauer, senior midfielder, said.
“We are typically practicing three times a day, which allows everyone to get a lot of time to play before we start the actual season,” Hanauer said.
“We have a great opportunity this year to repeat as CSAC Champions as well as advance in the national tournament, which was one thing we did not accomplish last year as a team.”
“I’m really excited for this year. We have a great team, with a ton of talent.”
Hanauer has high expectations for this upcoming 2009 season.
“I think we will be able to accomplish a lot more than we were able to last year. Expectations are high,” Hanauer said.
“A typical pre-season practice starts off with warm ups, sprints, long distance running and drills,” Ryan Day, junior defense, said.
“The freshmen are doing well so far. It seems like they all came into camp in shape and all are really talented.”
“I’m really excited for the upcoming season and can’t wait to start winning some games,” Day said.
Jason Moran, senior center defender, is playing his last season as a Cavalier. Moran is looked upon as a reliable leader for the team.
“Pre-season was definitely a great team bonding time, which will help us out later on as the year continues. We all worked well together as a team,” Moran said.
“Everyone showed up for camp surprisingly very in shape, and really eager to get ready to play.”
The men all have one goal in mind for this season.
“Our goal as a team is to win the CSAC conference again this year, earn a berth in the NCAA tournament and advance in the NCAA tournament past the first round,” Andrew Jacobs senior midfielder, said.
“For us, pre-season is the time when everyone gets back into game shape and prepares for the upcoming season.”
