Doran, Graves, And Wisner Named Captains For Trinity Men's Soccer
Hartford, Conn. - The Trinity men's soccer team, under the direction of Head Coach Michael Pilger (6th season), is eager to begin the 2009 campaign, after the Bantams last season with its best record since 1999 at 11-5 (2nd most wins in program history) and advancing to its first New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Semifinals. Trinity has steadily improved each of the last few seasons, entering the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) National Top 25 for the first time in 10 years last season, and the Bantams possess the talent to stay in the top half of the league this fall despite the loss of nine letterwinners to graduation. The Bantams, ranked No. 5 in New England, will open 2009 at NESCAC rival Colby on Saturday, September 12.
Senior Jason Kulik (Salem, Mass.) and junior Doug Stupay (McLean, Va.) are each returning starters in the backfield that allowed less than a goal per game as a unit last fall. Senior Brandon Ward (Framingham, Mass.), junior Ethan Kuhnhenn (Takoma Park, Md.), and sophomore William Ruppe (Great Falls, Va.) are among the leading candidates that will compete with a solid freshman class for the remaining backfield positions. Sophomore Grant Schonberg (Mendham, N.J.), a January transfer from Division I Richmond, should step in as the starter in goal, while senior Nathan Maggiotto (Concord, N.H.) is a capable backup.
At forward, senior tri-captain and 2008 All-NESCAC and All-New England selection Sam Wisner (Wayland, Mass.) is back after leading the Bantams in scoring with eight goals and eight assists in his first season on the squad. A transfer from Hobart in 2008, Wisner is joined by sophomore Dan Mayernick (Gladwyne, Pa.), who tallied seven goals and two assists as a rookie, dependable senior Adam Lanza (Glen Cove, N.Y.), and junior Jamie Paterson (Alpine, N.J.) as returning strikers.
Senior tri-captains Chris Doran (Wayland, Mass.) and John Graves (Cincinnati, Ohio) and junior Peter Marlette (Buffalo, N.Y.) anchor the midfield, as both have been contributors for three seasons. Graves, the team's rookie of the year in 2006, moves to the midfield after three years on defense having proven his worth as a scorer with two goals in 2008, while Marlette notched seven goals and eight assists in his first two seasons. Marlette enjoyed a fine rookie season with four goals and an assist last fall. Sophomore Mike Galluzo (Meriden, Conn.) showed promise at midfield and defense as a rookie, while Ward, junior Austin Lan (Chatham, N.J.) and a mix of veterans and freshman prospects provide depth at the position.
