SELINSGROVE, PA – The Susquehanna University men's soccer team welcomes back six starters and 17 letterwinners from last year's squad which finished 9-8-1 overall and in third place in the challenging Commonwealth Conference with a 4-2-1 mark under head coach Jim Findlay, who begins his ninth season on the Crusader sidelines.

Opposing defenses will once again be forced to contend with two-time All-Region selection Nate Snyder (Catawissa, PA/Southern Columbia), who netted 11 goals and finished with 26 points in 18 games last season from his striker spot to increase his school-record totals to 34 goals and 80 points in 53 career games entering his senior season.

Fellow senior forward Justin Makar (Weirton, WV/Sewickley Academy) is a two-time second-team All-Conference selection who added four goals last year to boost his career totals to eight goals and eight assists in 46 career games, while junior Seth Baughman (Howard, PA/Central Mountain) provides scoring punch off the bench after netting four goals last year, along with sophomore Malek Giet (Harrisburg, PA/Susquehanna Township).

In the midfield, senior Phil Smeltz (Lancaster, PA/Hempfield) moves into the lineup after appearing in all 18 games last season, and is joined by sophomore Mark Richter (Morristown, NJ/Morristown) who dished out three assists as a freshman. Sophomore Matt Gawlas (Mechanicsburg, PA/Mechanicsburg) comes off a solid freshman season in which he scored three goals and had two assists, while junior Eric Baltimore (Shavertown, PA/Dallas) played in 11 games last season for the Crusaders.

The defense is led by senior Billy Morgan (Easton, PA/Easton), a four-year starter, along with sophomore Isaac Laubach (Millville, PA/Millville), who earned second-team All-Conference as a rookie in 2005. Senior Ryan Rispoli (Bath, PA/Northampton) saw significant time at fullback last year while sophomores Matt Campbell (Leola, PA/Conestoga Valley) and Dan Husko (Brick, NJ/St. Rose) could also see action on defense as well.

In goal, senior Austin Kelsey (Benton, PA/Benton) has split the starting duties for the past three seasons and compiled a 14-12 record with nine shutouts and a 1.17 goals against average in 26 games, with sophomore Patrick Donegan (Lewisburg, PA/Lewisburg) looking to earn time as well.

Seniors Joe Essock (Spring Grove, PA/Spring Grove) and Ed Lamy (Danvers, MA/Danvers) are seeing time at both midfield and on defense in preseason, while freshmen who could see playing time include forward Dennis O'Hara (Salem, VA/Salem), midfielders Ian Hutchison (Pottstown, PA/Owen J. Roberts), Andrew Cordell Carey (Fenwick Island, DE/Indian River) and defender Kyle Elsenbaumer (Fogelsville, PA/Parkland). Hutchison's older brother, Justin, was a four-year member of the team and two-year starter who graduated following last season.