SELINSGROVE, (Pa.) — Susquehanna University men’s soccer head coach Jim Findlay wasn’t pleased with last season’s 5-13 campaign. Sure it was his first year as head coach of the program, and eight of the losses were by one goal — including seven by identical 2-1 scores — but Findlay believed his team was better than that.
With all but two starters and 13 letterwinners returning from that team, Findlay and his team won’t accept a similar campaign in 1999. They’ve adopted the motto of “no more excuses” for the season, which begins Wednesday with a 4 p.m. home contest against new opponent Alvernia.
“No more excuses is our motto. I’m sick of them (excuses), I think we all are,” said Findlay, who is also in his first season as head coach of the Crusader women’s soccer team. “The program’s basically been given everything we’ve asked for. The talent level is there and we now have some depth. We’re a year older and a year wiser. Now we’ve got to win some games”
In addition to the talent and experience, Findlay believes he’s tweaked the system just enough to help the team win some of the close games. The team will operate out of a 4-4-2 set (defenders, midfielders, forwards) this season, instead of the 3-5-2 formation it had last season. The extra defensive player should prevent the team from getting beat on its own end when it is pinching up offensively late in games.
THE DEFENSE
Anchoring that defensive effort will be senior three-year starter and co-captain Steve Russo (Manchester, N.H./Manchester H.S.). Russo’s played in 38 games as a Crusader and started all 16 he was healthy for last season, helping the defensive compile a 2.61 team goals-against average.
Assisting Russo on defense will be three sophomores in Brad Levine (Mahwah, N.J./Mahwah H.S.) — a transfer from Division I Radford — returning letterwinner Brent Musser (McAlisterville/East Juniata H.S.), and Mark Wells (Schnecksville/Parkland H.S.). Musser started 10 games a year ago and played in 14, while Findlay expects Wells to “step up and provide some of the toughness we lack on defense last year.”
Those four players will be the primary line of defense for senior goalkeeper John Steigerwald (Toms River, N.J./Monsignor Donovan H.S.), who played in just two games last season but has appeared in 13 during his career — compiling an impressive 1.67 goals-against average and .863 save percentage.
Findlay has also been impressed by the play of sophomore Patrick Quillian (Oklahoma City, Okla./Casady H.S.), who has also been pushing for playing time in goal this season.
THE MIDFIELDERS
The team appears to be quite deep at midfield where the four probable starters and top reserve all have starting experience. A pair of seniors lead that group in three-year letterwinner Ryan White (Tuckerton, N.J./Pinelands H.S.), and two-year letterwinner Josh Steffen (Selinsgrove/Selinsgrove Area H.S.). White has played in 39 career games and been a starter for much of his Susquehanna career, scoring three goals with two assists for eight points. Steffen has appeared in 33 games in his first two seasons at Susquehanna, scoring one goal with six assists for eight points. He transferred to Susquehanna from Division II Lock Haven as a sophomore and has opted to use his extra year of eligibility, despite being listed as a senior last season.
Junior Sal Saladino (Hughesville/Hughesville H.S.) was supposed to be a starter at one of the midfield positions, but may be lost for the start of the season with an ankle injury. Saladino started at forward, and then defender respectively during his first two seasons, playing in 34 games and scoring five goals with two assists for 12 points.
Sophomore Beau Heeps (Allentown/Parkland H.S.) was tabbed as the other starting midfielder, while fellow sophomore and returning starter Luis Salgado (Neptune, N.J./Neptune H.S.) will move into Saladino’s spot. Heeps played and started 17 games a year ago and scored a goal and an assist. Salgado played in all but one game during his freshman year, starting 15, and scored two goals with a pair of assists for six points (0.35 ppg).
Findlay believes juniors Bill Cleary (Chester Springs/Bishop Shanahan H.S.) and Jamie Kahler (Whitesboro, N.Y./Whitesboro H.S.) have also looked good in the midfield during the preseason and will see time this season. Freshman Peter Swartz (Landisville/Hempfield H.S.) was also expected to play, but a recent injury may slow down his progress.
THE FORWARDS
The offense possesses two of the top forwards in the Commonwealth League in senior co-captain Chris Yearicks (National Park, N.J./Gateway H.S.) and sophomore Aaron Littzi (Kingston/Wyoming Valley West H.S.). Both are returning league All-Stars, with Yearicks earning first-team honors in 1997 and joining Littzi on the second-team last season.
Yearicks scored four goals and four assists to finish second on the team in scoring last season with 12 points (0.67 ppg). He has played in 53 games during his collegiate career — the most of anyone on the current roster — and holds the school record for career assists with 21, adding 12 goals for 45 points.
Littzi netted a team-high 10 goals and six assists for 26 points (1.44 ppg). He tied for the fourth most goals in a season at Susquehanna, and finished 10th in the final MAC stats in scoring.
“I think a key for us this year is for Chris and Aaron to really learn how to play together up front. Chris spent a lot of time in the midfield last year, meaning this is a new combo for us. Once they get a couple of goals together, we hope that will open the flood gates up,” said Findlay.
Adding experienced depth at forward will be senior Mike Zuccato (Waldwick, N.J./Don Bosco Prep) and sophomore Brad MacKeverican (Orefield/Parkland H.S.). A three-year letterwinner, Zuccato was hurt most of last season, but has scored 10 goals with five assists for 25 points in 43 career games. MacKeverican played in 13 games a year ago, but did not score.
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