FIGHTING TIGERS EARN #2 SEED FOR NJCAA 2006 REGION III DIVISION III MEN’S SOCCER TOURNAMENT

The SUNY Cobleskill men’s soccer program will be the number two seed for the upcoming 2006 NJCAA Region III Division III Championship Tournament. Ranked sixth in the latest NJCAA Division III National Poll the second seeded Fighting Tigers will host a quarterfinal regional play-off contest versus the winner of Saturday’s first round game between number ten seeded Mohawk Valley Community College and number seven seeded Fulton-Montgomery Community College, to be played in Johnstown, NY at Fulton-Montgomery, on Tuesday October 24th at a yet to be determined kick-off time.

The program’s number six national ranking was the highest ranking since the 2000 season as the Fighting Tigers posted a program best 14-1 overall record on the regular season with a 5-1 record versus Mountain Valley Conference opponents under the direction of fourth-year head coach Rob Szmarz.

“To return to the Region III Tournament was a goal we set as a team before the season started,” said coach Szmarz. “Now it’s time to throw out the regular season records because everyone starts out with a blank slate. We know that we’re going to be tested every time out. We now have to be ready for the challenges that are ahead of us.”

The Fighting Tigers have outscored the opposition by a 61 to eight margin this year and have posted ten shutouts during the campaign to date. Leading the way for the Cobleskill offense is 2005 NJCAA All-Region III Team selection senior forward Hugh Campbell, Bronx, NY, Evander Childs High School, with 14 goals and five assists and multi-talented freshman midfielder Essaha Jallow, Bronx, NY, Dewitt Clinton High School, with five goals and four assists. Freshman forward Jamey Crumb, McGraw, NY, McGraw High School, has chipped in with six goals and seven assists while senior midfielder Gilbert Francillon, Brooklyn, NY, Midwood High School, also a 2005 NJCAA All-Region III Team selection, has added nine goals and eight assists on the season.

Cobleskill has also received significant offensive output from freshman midfielder Greg Klopfer, Voorheesville, NY, Voorheesville, NY, with five goals and eight assists and freshman Rilwan Salawu, Brooklyn, NY, Franklin D. Roosevelt High School, who has posted six goals and 13 assists during the campaign. Also making contributions offensively are senior midfielder Tom Wickham, Broadalbin, NY, Broadalbin-Perth High School, with a goal and three assists, freshman forward Austin Standhart, Schoharie, NY, Middleburgh High School, with a goal and three assists and freshman forward Aaron Aiken, Hartford, NY, Hartford High School, with three goals and an assist.

On defense, 2005 All-NJCAA Region III Team selection senior Josh Cookfair, Scotia, NY, Schalmont High School, and senior transfer Phil Venditti, Voorheesville, NY, Voorheesville High School, have provided solid upfront protection for freshman goalkeeper Abdou Seck, Bronx, NY, Dewitt Clinton High School, limiting teams to 0.61 goals per game including nine of the team’s 10 shutout victories. Cookfair has also added two goals and a pair of assists on the offensive end while Venditti has contributed a goal and two assists on the year.

The Fighting Tigers have posted a 34-24-3 overall record during Head Coach Rob Szmarz’s, Queens, NY, SUNY Potsdam, four seasons leading the program and have made two post-season appearances in 2005 and 2006.