A Fresh Start
Men's Soccer Team Seeks Success Under New Head Coach,
Findlay Leads Team into Opener Saturday at W. Maryland
SELINSGROVE, (Pa.) - First-year head coach Jim Findlay is hoping to lead the Susquehanna University men's soccer team into a new era this season, bringing some fresh, youthful enthusiasm to the 1998 Crusaders.
Findlay inherited seven starters and 11 returning letterwinners from a 1997 squad which finished 6-9-2, and has added a talented pool of freshmen to that nucleus. He has also opened up the team's style of play to be more attacking, offensive-minded and "fan-oriented."
"I wanted to make soccer fun again for my players. I needed to change their attitudes from a negative one to a positive one," said Findlay, who was an assistant coach at Lycoming College the past two seasons and a former player for the Harrisburg Heat professional indoor team. "We have changed a few things this year and moved some people around for the team's benefit."
The new style is accompanied by a new 3-5-2 formation which Findlay said will increase goal scoring opportunities and make the game more entertaining for fans.
"We want to dictate our style of play and not have teams make us adjust our style. I want to take each game one at a time and aim for a .500 season," he said.
With the new style, Findlay is hoping the team can significantly increase the 25 goals it scored a year ago without sacrificing its solid 1.23 team goals-against average of 1997. Former Selinsgrove High School All-State goalkeeper and University of Scranton MAC All-Star Justin Dively will play a key role in that defense as Findlay's assistant coach.
The new-look Crusaders and Findlay will make their debut in a 1 p.m. game at Western Maryland Saturday.
UP FRONT
While there has been a battle for the starting forward spots in preseason camp, it appears as if either senior T.J Martin (Branford, Conn./Branford), junior Mike Zuccato (Waldwick, N.J./Don Bosco Prep) or freshmen Aaron Littzi (Kingston/Wyoming Valley West H.S.) will start up front for the Crusaders.
Zuccato started in all but one game last season and was tied for the team lead in goals with four, also adding an assist for nine points (0.53 ppg).
Martin is a three-year letterwinner who played in 12 games a year ago, netting three goals. He has five goals in 40 games for his career.
Littzi impressed the coaches with his play in the Lycoming scrimmage.
THE MIDFIELD
A returning MAC Commonwealth League All-Star and school record-holder in career assists, junior Chris Yearicks(National Park, N.J./Gateway H.S.) has moved to the midfield this season from his striker position last year. Yearicks' move will help him take defenders on and create shots for himself without having his back to the goal according to Findlay. He led the team in scoring with three goals and eight assists for 14 points (0.82 ppg). He has seven goals and a school record 15 assists for 29 points in his career.
A pair of returning starters are also back along the midfield in sophomore Josh Steffen (Selinsgrove/Selinsgrove H.S.) returns and is joined by junior Ryan White (Tuckerton, N.J./Pinelands H.S.). A transfer from Division II Lock Haven last season, Steffen started all but three games and came up with three assists.
White is being moved from outside midfielder to the inside to better utilize his passing skills. He scored a goal and an assist last season, despite playing in just eight games because of a knee injury.
Rounding out the five-man midfield will be a pair of talented freshmen in Beau Heeps (Allentown/Parkland H.S.) and Luis Salgado (Neptune, N.J./Neptune H.S.). They will play left and right wings in the midfield.
THE DEFENSE
With one less defender in front of the keeper this year, Findlay is counting on solid play from three veteran players. Senior sweeper/defender and co-captain Eric Flowers (Woodbury Heights, N.J./Gateway) will anchor the trio after starting all 17 games last season and scoring two goals. Flowers has appeared in 43 games during his Crusader career.
He will be joined by scrappy junior returning starter Stephen Russo (Manchester, N.H./Manchester), and a converted wing in sophomore Sal Saladino (Hughesville/Hughesville H.S.).
Russo was a stalwart on defense last season while starting all 17 games. Saladino, meanwhile, started 12 games last season, playing in all 17, and was tied for the Crusader lead in goals with four.
Findlay has a good problem in goal where both of his starting goalkeepers from last season return in senior co-captain Paul Detweiler (Chalfont/Central Bucks West H.S.) and junior John Steigerwald (Toms River, N.J./Monsignor Donovan H.S.). Detweiler was bothered by injury last season but should get the nod to start the season after compiling a 2.14 goals-against average and .779 save percentage last year in 11 games. Steigerwald had better numbers with a 1.24 goals-against average and .846 save clip in 10 games and provides quality depth at the position.
Freshmen Pat Quillan (Oklahoma City, Okla./Casady H.S.) also "looks promising" according to Findlay, providing even more depth in goal.
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