Seniors help team surpass expectations

2010 season round-up: Returning just one goal scorer from a season ago, the Bryant University men's soccer team faced tough challenges, but bested expectations

By Sean Donahue
Staff Writer

Returning just one goal scorer from a season ago, the Bryant University men's soccer team faced tough challenges in 2010, but managed to best the preseason poll prediction in the team's third season against Division I competition.

The Bulldogs (4-10-2, 2-6-2 Northeast Conference) were projected to finish last in the NEC in the preseason coaches' poll with question marks on offense as senior Tom Nelan (East Haddam, Conn.), who contributed two goals last season, was the only returning player who found the back of the net for Bryant in 2009.

Though Nelan scored another two goals this season, along with two assists, it was another senior, Norbert Guery (Andover, Mass.) that led the Bryant offense this year. Despite being employed in different positions throughout his career as a Bulldog and not scoring since his freshmen year, he tallied a team leading five goals, including two game winners, in 2010. Guery was a constant threat on offense and also led the team with 11 points (5 goals, 1 assist) and 25 shots.

Senior Norbert Guery led the Bulldogs with 11 points and 5 goals in 2010

Guery's two game winners in conference play helped the Bulldogs to a ninth-place finish, beating the preseason poll's ranking of 11th.

In addition to Guery and Nelan, the Bulldogs were led by several other seniors who played key roles in 2010. Goalkeeper Victor Tutino (Deer Park, N.Y.) started all 16 games for Bryant and posted a 1.96 goals against average along with a .718 save percentage and four shutouts. Midfielders Jordan Martin (Bristol, Conn.), Sean Kaukas (Glastonbury, Conn.), and Erik Lekstrom (Worcester, Mass.) were all regular starters who contributed in the build-up to several of Bryant's goals this season. Kaukas tied for the team lead with two assists and also added a goal. Senior defender Dan Loreaux (Duxbury, Mass.) saw time in 13 games for Bryant.

Despite losing seven seniors, the contributions of several young players should give the Bulldogs a solid foundation to build on going into next season. A lack of proven scorers may have been the Bulldogs' biggest question mark heading into this year, but the team has a lot to look forward to offensively in 2011. Though Guery and Nelan led the offense, sophomores Ryan Stone (Wakefield, R.I.) (3 goals), Jimmy Lineberger (Warwick, R.I.) (1 goal, 1 assist), and Angelo Caputi (Guayaquil, Ecuador) (1 goal), along with freshman Christian Carrasquillo (Manchester, Conn.) (2 goals), all found the back of the net for Brant this year.

On defense, sophomore Matthew D'Amelio (Lincoln, R.I.) started every game for Bryant this season, while sophomore Eddie Curry (Massapequa, N.Y.) played in all 16 games, starting 14. Junior defender Ben Lawrence (Amherst, N.H.) started 14 games for the Bulldogs and junior midfielder Nicholas Parisi (Holbrook, N.Y.) played in all 16, starting 15. Other underclassman saw a good amount of minutes this season, including freshman Joseph DiMauro (Middletown, Conn.) and Terence Morrissey (Hingham, Mass.).

Sophomore midfielders Edward Barr (Fairfax, VA.) and Caputi both played their way into major roles on the team before injuries cut their season short.

The Bulldogs set a solid foundation in its third season at the D-I level as the returning players gained some valuable experience, playing against some of the top teams in the nation. Bryant faced off against two of the nation's top 20 ranked teams this season in No. 11 Monmouth and No. 17 Brown.

Bryant had two winning streaks this season, inclduing consecutive wins against Long Island and Quinnipiac to give Bryant a .500 NEC winning percentage with a 2-2-1 record at the time. Bryant brought its unbeaten run to three games with a tie at Central Connecticut, improving its record to 2-2-2 before a tough schedule to end the season saw the team suffer defeats in their final four games.

The Bulldogs can take pride in knowing they played their opponents close in most of their games this season. The Bulldogs won, drew or lost by a lone goal in 11 of their 16 matches this season. Entering the final transition year before the men's soccer program gains DI postseason eligibility in 2012, the team knows turning just a few more of those tight games into victories will put them in position to challenge for a NEC tournament spot in two years.