2007 MEN'S SOCCER SEASON IN REVIEW
Jan. 10, 2008
The 2007 season marked the end of the four-year careers of the seven senior members of the Emmanuel Men's Soccer Team. This was the squad's largest senior class since the program's inception in 2002. The graduating seniors include: Chris Clark (Cohasset, MA), Marko Nichols-Marcy (Red Hook, NY), Zach Michonski (East Hampton, MA), Zach Fallon (Hope Valley, RI), and team captains Mark DaCruz (Taunton, MA), Mark Iannucci (Kingston, MA) and Josh Sugarman ( Pembroke, MA).
Senior forward Chris Clark will leave Emmanuel as the program's all-time leading scorer with 28 goals and 12 assists for 68 total points. Clark tallied 6 goals and 2 assists to lead the Saints this season. Emmanuel's senior full-backs, Fallon, Iannucci, and Sugarman have anchored the Saints' defense for the past four years. Fallon has played in every game during his four years at Emmanuel, totaling more games played than any other player in program history.
While the seniors' leadership was solid all season, the Saints struggled to put numbers in the win column this season. Emmanuel wrapped up the year with an overall record of 5-10 and a 3-7 mark in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play. The Saints captured two early non-conference wins, defeating New York's Baruch College (3-1) and shutting out Newbury College (3-0). Emmanuel knocked off new GNAC opponent Mount Ida College (2-1) and then picked up two-straight conference wins over Daniel Webster College and Albertus Magnus College as the season came to a close. Emmanuel's hopes for a tournament bid hinged on a much-needed win over GNAC powerhouse Johnson & Wales University in the Saints' final game of the year. Unfortunately, the Saints fell to the Wildcats (3-0) to end the season.
Several newcomers to the Emmanuel program were major contributors this season. Freshman forward Gavin Molta (Southwick, MA) started in 11 of his 14 games played and was the Saints 2nd leading scorer with 3 goals and 2 assists this season. Emmanuel had three new goalkeepers share time in net this season, including junior transfer Jeffrey Boughton (Chandler, AZ), freshman Carlos Perez (Boca Raton, FL), and freshman Jesse Tannetta (North Billerica, MA).
Head Coach Julio Avila will return next season for his 7th year with the Saints. Coach Avila and Assistant Coach Colin Goin have 17 veterans returning next season. They will look to add some solid recruits to the squad for the 2008 season.