With nine starters returning and one of the best recruiting classes in recent memory, Saint Vincent coach Keith Harmon has reason to be optimistic for the 2005 campaign.

Last season, the Bearcats finished in the middle of the pack in the American Mideast Conference with a 9-9 overall record/3-4 conference mark.  Only two players, goalie Brent White and forward Rick Seigh, were lost to graduation.

"The experience is there," Harmon said.  "This is the year that we should make a run in the playoffs."

Five returnees, including forward Dave Suski, defenders Bradd Piccone, Shea Simpson, and Scott Gross, and midfielder Chris Stern, received All-AMC recognition last season.

Suski became the school's all-time leading goal scorer last season, as his 14 goals in 2004 upped his career total to 40.  He also had seven assists, and his three-year total of 94 points is just 11 shy of the all-time SVC record.

Stern started in 17 games and scored five goals and five assists, while the speedy Simpson, the physical Gross, and the rugged Piccone all wrere ironmen, playing over 1400 minutes and helping hold the opposition to just 1.79 goals per game.

Other starters returning include 2004 captain Mike Schreck (18 games started, one goal, four assists), Jarrod Weaver (17 starts, one goal, four assists), and Matt Hanley (18 starts, three goals, three assists).

There will be a lot of fierce competition for the two open spots on the field.

Sophomore Jason Zielinski, who turned in a very nice freshman campaign (17 games, 10 starts, six assists), aims to replace Seigh in the starting line up, as does incoming freshman Dave Lauteri, a "scoring machine" in high school, according to Harmon.

Transfer C.J. Cameron, the starting goalie at California University (PA) for the past two seasons, looks to contribute mightily in his inaugural season in the green and gold.  He will compete with freshmen Brandon Bower and Rob Scudder for time between the pipes.

"Cameron is one of the top goalies in the area, period," Harmon says of his transfer.  "And, I don't think the other teams around here realize that."

Lauteri, Bower, and Scudder are three of 13 incoming players on the roster, and Harmon believes that it's the best recruting class he's had.

"It's the best overall since I've been here," he said.  "While they all might not make an immediate impact, they will all contribute in time, and overall, as a group, they are all very, very solid."

The American Mideast Conference is one of the most competitive in the nation, and this year looks to be no different.  Last year's Northern division co-champions, Roberts Wesleyan (6-1 AMC/18-4 overall) and Notre Dame (6-1/14-6-1) are once again the team to beat, according to Harmon.

The schedulemakers were rough on the Bearcats, particularly early on in the season, as seven of their first nine games will be played on the road, highlighted by a September 21st match at Robert Morris University, one of the first times in recent memory in which an SVC team will take on an NCAA Division I opponent.

"Our key conference games are at home, though," Harmon said, "and that should help us."

Players will report to school on August 17th to begin practice, and the Bearcats first game will be on August 29th, at home against Davis and Elkins.

When asked what to expect for 2005, Harmon did not mince words.

"We want to win the conference title, period."

With the strong returnees and the solid recruiting class, that just may happen.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Nick Kozak, Junior, Midfield: Kozak played in 17 matches last season, starting ten of them.  Plagued by a shoulder injury since his days at Norwin High School, he underwent off season surgery, and looks to play pain-free for the first time in his collegiate career.

Kinglsey Gaah, Sophomore, Midfield:  A transfer by way of Duquesne University and the Community College of Allegheny County, the Ghana native will be playing collegiate soccer for the first time.  Harmon does expect him to open some eyes.

Mark Mastriano, Sophomore, Midfield:  The Penn Hills native enjoyed a very nice freshman campaign, playing in 15 games and scoring one goal and two assists.  This solid play should allow his minutes to increase.

Jason Zielinski, Sophomore, Mid/Forward: He, too, enjoyed a solid freshman season, and hopes to help Harmon forget about the departure of the high scoring Seigh.

Dave Lauteri, Freshman, Forward: Lauteri scored at will during his high school years at Monessen, and Harmon hopes that he can provide the same kind of punch for the Bearcats.

By Jim Berger
Asst. Sports Information Director