Aug. 19, 2004

Poughkeepsie, N.Y. - Preseason practice is underway for the 2004 Marist men's soccer team. With the luxury of returning all 24 players from last season's squad that reached the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) semifinal, the season shapes up to be a highly successful one for the Red Foxes.

Head Coach Bobby Herodes will have the opportunity to field a balanced scoring attack led by junior Bruno Machado and sophomore forward Keith Detelj. Machado had an outstanding sophomore campaign finishing second on the team with five goals and two assists for 12 points in 16 games. For his performance, the midfielder also earned 2003 MAAC All-Second Team honors as well as National Soccer Coaches Association (NSCAA)/Adidas Second Team accolades. Detelj, a MAAC All-Second and All-Rookie Team selection, had one of the best rookie performances in recent history, leading the team with nine goals, including three game-winners, and six assists for 24 points.

Joining Machado and Detelj up front will be sophomore Benjamin Castor and senior Patrick Safino. Castor, who earned a MAAC Player of the Week honor, enjoyed a solid rookie debut finishing the season tied with Machado in goals (five), assists (two) and points (12). Safino played in 17 games for the Red Foxes recording two goals and an assist. Herodes will also look to junior Alex Giotis and sophomore Brian Walsh for offensive contributions.

Senior captain David Musinski will anchor the midfield once again for Marist. Musinski, who earned MAAC All-First Team and NSCAA All-Second Team accolades, finished with three goals and an assist. Also in the midfield is a trio of veteran seniors in Ricky Cusano, Matt Flaherty and Matt Morsch. Cusano continued his excellent play in the midfield notching two goals and four assists in 18 games. Flaherty, hampered by injury most of the season, appeared in 10 games for the Red Foxes, tallying one goal and three assists, while Morsch furthered his playing experience, appearing in 10 games.

Also in the middle is sophomore Anthony Graci, who finished his rookie campaign fourth on the team in scoring with 10 points. Herodes will look to Graci for an offensive punch after he recorded three goals and four assists in 18 games.

Rounding out the core of the midfield are juniors Kyle Nunes, Bobby Van Dyke and Matthew Partain. Nunes started 16 of his 17 appearances, scoring a goal and two assists. Van Dyke, who may also see time on defense, played in 16 games and connected with teammates for two assists. Partain played in nine games last season, starting three, and recorded two assists.

On the defensive end, junior Tomislav Rogic will be counted on to apply pressure to opponents top scorers. Rogic started all 18 games for the Red Foxes en route to earning MAAC All-First team accolades as a sophomore. In two seasons with Marist, Rogic has started all 35 games.

Joining them in the Marist backfield are seniors Peter Rea, Rob DePiero and J.R. Balzarini. Rea tallied a goal, a game-winner, and an assist in 12 games. Balzarini saw time in 16 games, while DePiero logged minutes in nine games. Completing the defensive unit is junior Dustin Byrnes who appeared in 16 games, starting 15 as a sophomore.

In goal for the Red Foxes will be senior Mike Valenti. Valenti posted a 5-1-1 record with two shutouts in 16 games. He made 72 saves and notched a 1.25 GAA in 1221:25 minutes. Sophomore Michael Danyo may also see minutes in net after logging 385 minutes in between the posts. Danyo earned a 4-0-0 record with 25 saves and a 1.40 GAA.

To complete his team, Coach Herodes is adding a group of six newcomers, five freshmen and one transfer, that will see time on defense and in the middle.

Damian Caputo, a Long Island native, will see time in the midfield and at forward this season. Caputo was named the 2003 Catholic League Player of the Year and earned All-State honors while at St. Anthony's High School.

Vinny Cacioppo joins Marist from Rockland High School. As a senior, he anchored the defensive, which not only went undefeated (13-0) but unscored upon within the league. Cacioppo is a three-time All-League and All-Section and a two-time All-County honoree. He was also inducted into the North Rockland Sports Hall of Fame. Allan Kakembo also joins the defense, transferring from Dutchess Community College. At DCC, Kakembo was a two-time All-Conference Selection.

David Aucar, Scott Grouten, and Matt Mones will split time on defense and in the midfield. Aucar had a successful four years at Ossining High School, winning two League Championships. A four-time All-League selection, Aucar helped is club team, the Yorktown Spirit, to three consecutive New York State Championships and travlled to Italy with his Olympic Development team. Grouten, who played with Mones on the seven-time State Champion Oakwood soccer club, joins the Red Foxes from East Windsor, CT. At East Windsor, Grouten was a three-time team captain and team MVP. He also earned All-State and All-Conference accolades his junior and senior years. Mones joins the Red Foxes after a successful career at St. Joseph's High School. The Connecticut native and four-year varsity starter, recorded 40 goals and 30 assists. He was also a two-time All-State and All-COnference selection.

Marist once again has a very competitive schedule beginning with the season opener September 1 at Leonidoff Field against 2003 America East conference champions Binghamton at 7 p.m. Three other non-conference home games will be played under the lights, including visits from Colgate (Sept. 8), Hofstra (Sept. 22) and Army (Sept. 29). The Red Foxes host Albany at 4 p.m. September 19. Marist travels to Stony Brook, Fordham and Oneonta before conference play opens October 8 at home against Canisius. The Red Foxes will also host MAAC opponents Niagara (Oct. 10), Manhattan (Oct. 29) and the home finale against defending conference champions St. Peter's on October 31. The Peacocks are one of two Red Foxes opponents (Binghamton is the other) to have reached the second round of the 2003 NCAA Tournament. Marist will play its other five conference opponents on the road: Oct. 16 at Siena, Oct. 22 at Fairfield, Oct. 24 at Iona, November 5 at Loyola, the MAAC regular-season champions last year, and the regular-season finale Nov. 7 at Rider. The MAAC Tournament will be held Nov. 12-14 at Rider's Campus Field. The top four teams from the regular season will qualify.