Garden City, N.Y. - Carlo Acquista, Head Men's Soccer Coach, has announced their 2012 recruiting class, which features 10 new freshmen and two transfer additions. The squad finished the last season with a record of 8-9-1, and finished as runners-up in the ASC Tournament. Following the disbandment of the Atlantic Soccer Conference, the 2012 team will compete independently this season.
The newcomers for 2012 are
Rich Forte (Mineola, N.Y./ Mineola),
Chris Joseph (Great Neck, N.Y./ St. Francis Prep),
Teddy Matozzo (Franklin Square, N.Y. / Carey), Christian Molano (Douglaston, N.Y. / St. Francis Prep),
Ben Nichols (Lyndonville, V.T. / Lyndon Institute),
Alejandro Penzini (Caracas, Venezuela / Washington Academy), Contantine Pougiouklidis (Whitestone, N.Y. / Bayside),
Will Rezin (Great Neck, N.Y. / Great Neck South),
John Sabal (Valley Stream, N.Y. / Valley Stream North / NYIT),
Louis Sepulveda (Brentwood, N.Y. / St. John the Baptist),
Alex Tengnaes (Bassaras, Sweden / Aspero Idrottsgymnasium) and
Reid Wilson (Rochester, N.Y. / Victor).
"We have a lot of new guys on the team this year," stated Acquista. "There are many young players, but they possess as much talent and skill as some of the veterans. I believe they will mesh well with the returners, learn from the upperclassmen and will contribute to a great team chemistry on the field this season."
Forte, a defender from Mineola was named All-County twice and was an All-County Honorable Mention during his time at Mineola High School.
Joseph, the first of two recruits out of St. Francis Prep in Fresh Meadows, N.Y., was a four-year varsity starter at midfield and was name a two-time CHSAA First-Team All-League selection and All-NYC Selection. He also competed for the FC Westchester U-16 and U-18 USSF Academy teams. Molano, Joseph's teammate at St. Francis Prep, was also a four year starter at forward for the squad. He captained the team as a junior and senior and was named an All-League three times from his sophomore to senior years.
Matozzo played four varsity seasons at H. Frank Carey High School in Franklin Square, N.Y, where he was named All-County and captain in his senior season.
Nichols, who hails from Lyndonville, V.T., is one of two goalkeepers in the class of 2016. As a junior, he set the Vermont state record for saves in a single season with 35 and was named First Team All-State as a senior.
Penzini hails from Venezuela where he was a member of the Real Esppor Club as a senior, who were the U-18/U-20 First Division National Champions; in the same season, he was the leading scorer for his high school team, Washington Academy.
Pougiouklidis, the second goalkeeper in the class of 2016, was a full season starter for three seasons at Bayside High School and captained the team as a junior and senior.
Rezin, a four-year standout at Great Neck South, received All-County Honorable Mentions as a sophomore and junior, before receiving All-County kudos as a senior captain.
Sabal was a midyear transfer in 2011 from ECC institution NYIT who started 13 games for the Bears in 2011. As the #2 seed in the ECC Tournament, the team defeated CW Post for the Tournament Championship.
Tengnaes comes to Adelphi by way of Aspero Idrottsgymnasium is Bassaras, Sweden, where he also competed on the Lidhults GOIF, Halmstads BK and IF Leikin club teams.
Wilson was a two-year varsity starter at Victor Senior High School in Victor, N.Y. and also was a member of IMG Academy's U-19 men's soccer program.
Sepulveda is the final newcomer from the Long Island area and hails from Brentwood, N.Y. As a senior captain for the Cougars at St. John the Baptist, he helped lead the team to their first CHSAA League Championship in 10 years.
The Panthers will play three exhibition games before kicking the season off at home against Iona on Friday, August 24 at 7pm.
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