FIGHTING TIGER MEN’S SOCCER TEAM MEMBERS EARN 2006 NSCAA/ADIDAS® JUNIOR COLLEGE DIVISION III ALL-EAST REGION HONORS

The National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) in conjunction with the Adidas Corporation have awarded six SUNY Cobleskill men’s soccer team members Junior College Division III All-East Region Team Honors. The Fighting Tigers posted the best season in program history this year with a 15-2-1 overall record, .861 winning percentage, on their way to the Runner-up spot at the NJCAA Region III Division III Tournament. Cobleskill finished the season ranked ninth in the final NJCAA Division III National Poll.

Representing the Fighting Tigers on the All-East Region 1st Team are senior striker Hugh Campbell, Bronx, NY, Evander Childs High School, senior defender Phil Venditti, senior midfielder Gilbert Francillon, Brooklyn, NY, Midwood High School, and senior defender Josh Cookfair, Scotia, NY, Schalmont High School. Freshman goalkeeper Abdou Seck, Bronx, NY, Dewitt Clinton High School, and freshman midfielder Essaha Jallow, Bronx, NY, Dewitt Clinton High School, were named to the All-East Region 2nd Team by the association.

The award was the latest for Hugh Campbell who proved to be an explosive offensive force for the Fighting Tigers. The veteran striker was recently named a National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) First Team All-American closing a career that has seen him named to both the All-NJCAA Region III Team and All-Mountain Valley Conference Team both of his seasons with the Orange & Black. A powerful player with excellent speed Campbell scored 13 goals and had six assists on the year to lead the team in scoring with 32 total points.
 
In the midfield Gilbert Francillon was a key reason for the Fighting Tigers’ 2006 success providing defensive presence and potent offensive firepower. During the season Francillon scored 10 goals and passed out eight assists for a total of 28 total points. He was a two-time All-NJCAA Region III Team and two-time All-Mountain Valley Conference selection during his Fighting Tiger career.

Phil Venditti in his lone season with the program solidified the Cobleskill defense during the season earning First Team All-Region III Honors and being selected as the 2006 Mountain Valley Conference Player-of-the-Year. The Siena College transfer also proved to be an offensive contributor during the season with a goal and two assists during the campaign.

With the Cobleskill defense ranked among the tops in the nation, Josh Cookfair’s selection comes as no surprise to any soccer aficionado. The two-time All-Region Team and Mountain Valley Conference selection is renowned for his excellent individual marking skills. Cookfair also proved to be a potent offensive force this season with three goals and three assists.

In the nets, few players enjoyed a rookie campaign like the one that freshman Abdou Seck posted for the Fighting Tigers. The Bronx, NY resident, also a First Team All-Region III Team Honoree and All-Mountain Valley Conference Team selection, posted 10 shutouts during the year while allowing only eight goals in 16 appearances for a goal against average of 0.50. Seck was instrumental in the Fighting Tigers advancement in the Region III Tournament this year stopping three shots in a shootout versus Mohawk Valley Community College in the tournament’s quarterfinal round to give Cobleskill a 3-1 edge and the right to advance to the semifinal round.

Joining his teammates, Essaha Jallow also garnered Second Team All-Region III Team honors during the season.  Jallow proved to be a smooth operator in the Cobleskill midfield providing excellent transitional defense while scoring five goals and passing out four assists during the season.

Since taking the helm of the program four years ago, Head Coach Rob Szmarz’s teams have returned the Fighting Tiger program to national prominence by posting a 35-25-4 overall record advancing to post season play in 2005 and 2006. The Cobleskill mentor was named both the 2006 NJCAA Region III Division III Coach-of-the-Year and 2006 Mountain Valley Conference Coach-of-the-Year by his peers.