2011 SEASON IN REVIEW
November 10, 2011
BOSTON, Mass. - The 2011 Emmanuel College men's soccer team enjoyed the greatest season in the program's 10-year history, setting numerous records en route to an 11-6-4 overall mark (5-5-0 GNAC) which included the program's first-ever Great Northeast Athletic Conference tournament victory and appearance in the GNAC Semifinals.
The Saints opened the season with the program's best start, going undefeated over the first six contests to compile a 2-0-4 record which included shutouts against Maine Maritime Academy (0-0 tie on 9/3), Husson University (0-0 tie on 9/4), Newbury College(3-0 win on 9/13) and Lesley University (0-0 tie on 9/15). Shutout victories over Curry College (1-0) and Wheelock College (10-0) would help EC improve to 4-1-4 midway through the campaign and put them in a tie for the national lead in shutouts among NCAA Division III institutions. Their 10 goals scored against Wheelock was a new single-game program record as were the eight assists and 28 total points recorded in the win.
The squad continued to excel and opened the month of October with a program-record five-game winning streak with victories over Saint Joseph's College (ME) (1-0 OT on 10/1), Elms College (4-0 on 10/3), Suffolk University (3-2 on 10/5), Regis College (2-02 on 10/8) and Rivier College (2-0 on 10/10). They'd close out the regular season with their 11th shutout of the year, notching a 3-0 win over Anna Maria on 10/22 to earn the #6 seed in the GNAC Tournament to match the program's highest seed ever in post-season play.
In the opening round of the GNAC tourney, the Saints headed across town to take on the #3 seed in Emerson College. During the regular season on 9/28, the Lions registered a 1-0 win over the Saints but Emmanuel would get some revenge in the playoffs with a 3-2 victory, earning them their first-ever trip to the GNAC Semifinals. Junior midfielder Jeremy Scanlon (Belmont, Mass.) recorded two goals in the win, both assisted by sophomore midfielder Danny Richman (Medfield, Mass.) while sophomore defender Kevin Esposito (Gales Ferry, Conn.) netted the game-winner in the 81st minute of action to propel them to the win.
In the GNAC Semifinals, the Saints fell to the eventual GNAC Champions in Saint Joseph's College (ME) by a 4-1 score, wrapping up the most productive season to date. Their 11 total wins exceeded the previous high of eight set in 2006 while several other new standards were set including points (111), goals (43), assists (25) and shutouts (11). The 11 total shutouts ranked tied for 20th in the country among Division III programs.
The Saints also made history with three All-Conference honorees as senior Mathew Koenemann (Montpelier, V.T.) and junior Pawel Samolewicz (Chicopee, Mass.) were named to the Second Team while sophomore Allan Parrelli (Reading, Mass.) was named to the Third Team. Parrelli set new EC single-season records for goals with 11 and points with 26 while Samolewicz was a defensive force that helped the Saints post a 1.13 goals against average.
Koenemann will graduate holding the record for penalty kicks scored, converting five over his career and will depart with fellow seniors Ivan Barrera (Bogota, Colombia), Wilhelm Du Bois (Key Biscayne, Fla.), Patrick Froass (Oneida, N.Y.), Kelly Louis-Charles (Orange, Conn.) and Jonny Stevens (Derby, Conn.), leaving 18 returners on the roster to build for the 2012 campaign.