FIGHTING TIGER MEN’S SOCCER RANKED 4TH IN NJCAA NATIONAL POLL

The SUNY Cobleskill men’s soccer program has posted its highest national ranking in nearly a decade as the Fighting Tigers have moved up to the number four position in the current NJCAA Division III National Poll. This represents a jump up from the number nine spot in the association’s opening national rankings. Cobleskill is currently unbeaten at 6-0 on the year and in sole possession of first place in the Mountain Valley Conference with a perfect 3-0 league record. The Fighting Tigers peaked at the number six spot in the NJCAA Division III National Poll during the 2006 season.

“It’s always nice to be recognized as being among the best in the nation but it’s far too early to become enamored with national polls at this time of the season,” said Fighting Tiger Head Coach Rob Szmarz. “We must continue to be blue collared in our approach to every game and not pay attention to the hype.”

The Fighting Tigers started the season by defeating Alfred State College in the opening round of the SUNY Delhi Tournament by a 6-0 margin then stopped Jamestown Community College by a 12-2 count to claim the tournament’s championship. Cobleskill then handed number two ranked Herkimer Community College their first NJCAA Region III Division III loss since 2002  by a score of 2-1 in the Orange & Black’s home and Mountain Valley Conference opener followed by a 7-0 win over visiting Clinton Community College. Cobleskill then took to the road to post hard fought conference victories over arch rival SUNY Delhi by a score of 1-0 and Hudson Valley Community College by an identical 1-0 score this time in overtime.

Offensively senior midfielder Essaha Jallow, Bronx, NY, Dewitt Clinton High School, and freshman forward Kwame Sarpong, Bronx, NY, Beacon High School have lead the way each scoring five goals to go with one assist on the season to date. Freshman forward Emile Barnett, Huntington, NY, John Glen High School, has scored four goals through the early part of the schedule while freshman Cedric Bouemboue, Brooklyn, NY, Aviation High School has added two goals and three assists on the year.

In the nets, freshman goalkeeper Corey Lewis, Plattsburgh, NY, Chazy High School, has shined early on posting two shutouts in two starts to pace a defense that has allowed only three goals on the season and shut out opponents four times in six games.