FIGHTING TIGER MEN’S SOCCER TEAM MEMBERS EARN POST SEASON HONORS

The SUNY Cobleskill Athletic Department announced today that five members of the college’s record setting men’s soccer program have been honored by NJCAA Region III Division III and the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) for their efforts this past season. During the campaign the Fighting Tigers posted a program best 16-2-1 overall record, tied for the 2007 Mountain Valley Conference Championship and finished the year as the NJCAA Region III Division III Runners-up for the second consecutive season. Cobleskill closed the season ranked fifth in the NJCAA Division III National Poll and fifth in the NSCAA/Adidas® Junior College Division Final Regular Season National Poll.

Fighting Tiger senior defender Menesky Magliore, Brooklyn, NY, Clara Barton High School, was named a Second Team NSCAA All-American while garnering First Team NJCAA All-Region III Division III honors. The Brooklyn resident was a driving force for Cobleskill during the season on the defensive end of the field helping the Orange & Black defense post nine shutouts during the campaign allowing the opposition only 0.61 goals per game. During the season the Fighting Tiger co-captain also scored a goal closing his career with two goals and two assists. Magliore was earlier named to the 2007 All-Mountain Valley Conference Team.

Freshman striker David Gardiner, Malta, NY, Ballston Spa High School, was named to the Second Team NJCAA All-Region III Team for his play during the season. Gardiner scored nine goals and passed out two assists on the season for a total of 20 points. The talented rookie notched three multi-goal games during the year in eighteen appearances.

Freshman midfielder Lucas Heffron, Lansing, NY, Lansing High School, was a Second Team NJCAA All-Region III Team selection for the Fighting Tigers. Heffron was an offensive juggernaut for the Fighting Tigers during the season with eight goals and seven assists for a total of 23 points on the year. Heffron scored a pair of goals during Cobleskill’s post season run including a dramatic game tying effort versus Mohawk Valley Community College which led to Cobleskill winning a shootout to advance to the regional finals.

Freshman midfielder Cedric Bouemboue, Brooklyn, NY, Aviation High School, will also join his fellow midfielders as a NJCAA Second Team All-Region III Team honoree. Bouemboue was also earlier named to the All-Mountain Valley Conference Team for a body of work during the season that included four goals and eight assists on the season for a total of 16 points.

Rounding out the post-season honorees for the Fighting Tigers was freshman defender/midfielder Steven Medwinter, Brooklyn, NY, Erasmus Hall High School, who proved to be an aggressive performer on both ends of the field during the season. On offense the talented Erasmus Hall High School alumnus scored a goal and added an assist for Cobleskill for a total of three points on the season. Medwinter’s scored the game winning goal versus Herkimer Community College to help the team to the Mountain Valley Conference Co-Championship then later in the season sent the team to the Region III Championship Game by scoring the game deciding goal in a shoot-out over Mohawk Valley Community College in the regional semifinal. The Brooklyn, NY native was earlier named a 2007 All-Mountain Valley Conference honoree by the leagues coaches. 

“I am extremely pleased that someone of Menesky Magliore’s character has been recognized as an All-American for his work this season. His contributions to our team’s success this year were significant and he was without a doubt the leader of the finest senior class in program history. A class that won 31 games and went unbeaten at home,” said Fighting Tiger Head Coach Rob Szmarz. “These young men are reflective of types of student/athletes that you, as a coach, are extremely pleased to work with on a daily basis. We are proud of what they’ve helped us accomplish in the NJCAA this season and now look forward to the future and our new affiliation with the NCAA.”

For his team’s efforts Fighting Tiger Head Coach Rob Szmarz was honored for the second consecutive season as the 2007 NJCAA Region III Division III Coach-of-the-Year. Earlier the Fighting Tiger mentor was honored as the 2007 Mountain Valley Conference Tri-Coach-of-the-Year marking the third consecutive season he been honored in such a fashion by the league. During his five-year tenure with the program Szmarz has guided Cobleskill to a 51-27-5 record.