2012 Alumni Soccer Game Recap
As a prelude to the alumni match, teams took to the St. Lawrence University Golf Course for a nine-hole captain and crew tournament. The teams were comprised of alumni, current players and parents, with a new trophy being donated by Garrett Quackenbush '95.
Ironically, Garrett and his team including Aaron Costello '15, Jeremiah Bunton '15 and Dan Marvin '12 won the tournament with a score of +1. Meanwhile, two teams tied for second place at +3. Congratulations guys!
Click here for a photo gallery of Alumni Weekend, including the awards banquet, the golf tournament and the alumni game!
The March summer weather that we experienced didn't carry over to the annual last Saturday in April! It was a chilly morning as I checked and prepared "Sandy" for the big matches that were to come later in the afternoon. I was thinking to myself that if the SS SUN Seeker, an RV commandeered and captained by alumnus Eric Bunyan '04, would be here, the alums that weren't able to participate would probably not be under the awning but would probably be inside with the heat on! Of course in the true fighting SAINTS fashion weather could never hold us back! We made a slight adjustment to the plans and issued all players and alums the SAINTS long sleeve apparel.
Much like years past, we were blessed with an outstanding turn out with players coming in from near and far alike. Again, many states and class years were represented. NY, CT, NYC, (it's a different country isn't it?) OH, AZ, RI, NH, WY, DC, OK, VT and Canada. The California contingent was missing this year!
The current saints defended the turf in their traditional white uniforms representing the home team.
First, the line ups:
BROWN TEAM:
1. Mike
"Twig" McGlynn '75 (injured reserve)
2. Franco
Bari '98
3. Nick
"The General" Hillary '00
4. Mike
"Bobo" Bobbie '08
5. Chris
"Harry" Harrison '08
6. David
Osorno '08
7. Paul
LaMarca '09
8. Kiel
Dwyer '08
9. Ian
Fairlie '09
10.
Ryan
Moore '09
11.
Tyler
McCune '12
12.
Mike
Manfredi '12
13.
Adrian
Bucksam
14.
Sean
Charles '08
15.
Brian
Abernethy '12
The Alumni Brown Team was the first to kick off against the young bucks. Although the Brown team moved the ball well to keep possession, a turnover resulted in an early goal just 6:33 into the match. Shaka Pilgrim '13 found strong running Brian Gilloran '13 making a diagonal run, who then calmly beat Brian Abernethy '12 , playing in his inaugural alumni game. Although the Brown team got themselves back into a rhythm, strung passes together, the white team connected again. 15:15 gone in the first half Brian Gilloran '13 sets up Mark Provost '15 for the second score. For the next 10 minutes play was pretty even when again Brian Gilloran '13 sets up Yanick Brown '14 for the final score of the half at 28:21. This put the current team up 3-0 at the half.
During the second 30 minute half,
the RED alumni team had watched
enough. Although the Brown team
moved the ball extremely well they had nothing to show for their efforts. The
Red team decided it was time take over! The Red line up included:
RED TEAM:
1. Dave
Defazio '92
2. Garrett
"GQ" Quackenbush '95
3. Neil
"Doc" Patel '99
4. Eric
"Bunny" Bunyan '04
5. Garrett
Huntley '05
6. Charlie
Bour '05
7. Garan
Diarra '05
8. Robert
"Gil" Schaper '06
9. Axel
Galeano '07
10.
Reed
Carr '10
11.
Emmanuel
"Eman" Mbong '10
12.
Terrence
"T" O'Brien '10
13.
Austin
Meeker '11
14.
Brian
Abernethy '12
It is also important to note that we had some truly
outstanding alumni also out of the lineups, but present: Bob Bernatchez ' 79, Andre "Pooch" Webster '02, Nathan Farrell '05, Marco Falcon-Viale '09.
Also Brendan Murphy '02 drove all the way in from Buffalo to be at
the awards ceremony on Friday night, but had to leave early in the morning for
ODP practice. He is the Director of Goalkeeping for the ODP WEST. Now back to
the game...
So rather than having the BROWN team return to the second half, the RED team stormed on! The next 30 minutes was indeed a battle. Two teams, keeping and moving the ball, but the RED team went hard on the attack, and had the ball often. #17 Defazio ‘92 (WY) moved very well and slipped some beautiful final passes in, where current SAINT keeper Nate Goss-Woliner '13, had to come up big. The second half finished with no goals, but the alumni seemed to be playing with greater confidence going into the second game!
The BROWN team could see the table was set for them to step on and keep the pace high! Just 3:00 minutes into the second game the Alumni struke. Former All American and current St. Lawrence Women's Coach Franco Bari '98, weaved his way down the flank and placed perfect service to an oncoming Mike Manfredi '12. Manfredi also playing in his first alumni game, and also a former SAINT defender, slotted it past current SAINT keeper, Aaron Costello '15. This was Mike's second career goal!
The crowd at "SANDY" went wild and were calling for more! The BROWN team kept up the heat until the 10:29 mark, when the WHITE team crept back into the play. Brian Gilloran '13 scores again as Mark Provost '15 returns the favor from earlier in the day. Just like that, the tables turn once again, and Brian Gilloran '13 scores his third goal of the afternoon to go with his two assists. This goal seemed to break open the play and with just 45 seconds to go in the half, Brian Gilloran '13 picks up his third assist to go along with his three goals, by setting up Craig Davis'14 for the final goal of the half.
In the final 30 minutes the RED team came back on to try and preserve their second half shut out of the first game. But this time, goal scoring was on their mind. The pace was still high and the RED team not only gained the momentum, but they were dominating! This continued for nearly 8 minutes. Without anyone noticing, the Alumni were using there experience and ingenuity and were playing with 12 players!
Despite this intelligent use of the alumni bench, Brian Gilloran '13 scores again this time from Andrew Bednarsky '14. At that point the alumni picked it back up had had some sustained possession in the attacking half of the field. However, the White team weathered the storm and Brian Gilloran '13 scores again, this time from a heads up play by Juan Chang '14 Finally with 12 minute to go Pete Walsh'14, picks up his first goal of the afternoon with a great final pass from, who else, Brian Gilloran '13. Gilloran'13 finishes with a career day, on 5 goals and 4 assists.
Although the outcome wasn't what the alumni were expecting, the current team is safe for one more season losing only 1 alumni game in the modern history of these historical events! However, I overheard alums from both teams, wanting to recruit more alumni from the 60's-70's-80's to wear the white team down! I also heard the youngest alumni talking about possibly wanting to visit "CAMP DUROCHER" over the summer, to be more prepared for next season... Yes, grasshopper, wax on wax off, because only the ninja's attack at night!
It was a great game even though the score was a little one sided, this coach really enjoyed watching the beautiful game played the "right" way by all three teams. I can't wait until next year! Let's see if we can have three teams plus, Alumni vs. Alumni, across field. There has also been talk about our alumni playing Clarkson alumni sometime during the year as well. Looking forward to seeing all of you again soon. Until then... Get in shape, Stay in shape, never give up!
I would also like to give a very special thank you to Neil Patel '99. Neil organized a fun event to literally paid your program dividends each time the current team scored goals and racked up "clean sheets" To date Neil's game, totaled pledges of over $10,000.00! As of 5/18/2012 we have received $9335.00!
We would also like to thank the following SAINT Soccer alumni who have made financial contributions or gifts in kind to the program this year: If you made a contribution and you do not see your name here, please make sure that development knows your contribution was for men's soccer.
Herring-Cole Society ($2500-$4999)
Michael Reisman '80
Chapel Bells Club ($750-$1499)
Steve Jo '94; Bob Durocher M'94
Scarlet and Brown Club ($500-$749)
Eric Bunyan '04; Neil Patel '99; Garrett Quackenbush '95; John Reed '85; Bob Bernatchez '79
Quad Club ($250-$499)
John Loftus '05; Dave DeFazio '92; Dave Batson '82; Mr. and Mrs. John Prokos '80; Kent Peterson '72; Tim Bealer '01; Ali Montacer '01; Dan Annan '00
Others
Jeff Abrams '98
Rasool Alizadeh '02
Franco Bari '98
Mike Berner '00
Howard "Mani" Beckford '01
Matt Bronner '96
Reed Carr '10
Richard Chamberlain '78
Brian Cifuentes '00
Neil Cifuentes '96
Mr. and Mrs. John Closson '84
Mr. and Mrs. Shawn Conway '99
Ryan Corey '95
Andy Coutts '90
Marco Falcon-Viale '09
Nate Farrell '05
Axel Galeano '07
Laird Hetlage '84
Garrett Huntley '05
Mark Koolen '72
Randall Laird P'13
Tim Lauria '96
Mr. and Mrs. John Malary '98
Emmanuel Mbong '10
Rob McCarter '82
Brendan Murphy '02
Chris Peters '75
Elliott Savitz '06
Mr. and Mrs. Savitz P'06
Gil Schaper '06
Dan Schmitt '01
Evan Schutt '05
Vince Tersegno '80
Ron Thomson '70
Mike Whittier '89
Mr. and Mrs. Mike Woulf '03