Positions up for grabs after six departures

                                      By Jim Berger
                      Assistant Sports Information Director

Coming off of its most successful season in over 20 years, the Bearcats will have to turn to a number of new faces in order to replicate this success in 2006.

Last season, coach Keith Harmon's squad finished 12-8-1, advancing to the American Mideast Conference/NAIA Region IX semifinals- the furthest a Bearcat squad has gone in the post season since 1984.

Gone from a year ago are six main contributors- forward Dave Suski, midfielder Chris Stern, defenders Scott Gross and Shea Simpson, multi-positioned Mike Schreck, and goalie C.J. Cameron.

Suski scored 16 goals to go with 10 assists last season, finishing his four year career as the school's all-time leading scorer.  Stern scored seven goals and assisted on four, while Gross scored six times and Simpson added three goals and seven assists.  Schreck saw time at defender, midfield, and forward, scoring two goals with five assists.  All five were four-year starters and multiple All-AMC selections.

In his lone season in the Bearcat uniform, Cameron was also named All-AMC Honorable Mention after starting 19 games, allowing just 25 goals, and recording seven shutouts. 

As the Bearcats leave the NAIA and begin competing at the NCAA Division-III level in the Presidents' Athletic Conference, Harmon believes that a number of  new faces need to step up in order to fill the shoes of the six departed.

"We have holes completely down the middle of the field," he said.  The challenge is to replace everyone that left."

He feels that a trio of seniors holds the key to success for the 2006 squad.

"Bradd Picone, Matt Hanley, and Jarrod Weaver have to provide leadership to take us to the next level," he said.

Picone, a physical senior defender, has started all but one game during his three-year career, and scored two goals with three assists while anchoring the back line a year ago.

Hanley, a midfielder/defender, missed the first half of last season due to injury, but came back strong to start the final nine games through the Bearcats' playoff stretch.  During his first two seasons at SVC, he started 37 consecutive games, scoring five goals with four assists.

Weaver, another defender, started all 21 games last season, scoring once while adding a pair of helpers.  His speed and footwork should nicely complement Picone's physical play in front of the net. 

Joining Weaver and Picone at defense are a trio of sophomores- Scott Nellis, Ibra Fancher, and Andrew Bianco. 

Nellis appeared in 17 contests a season ago, while Bianco and Fancher hope that their solid play on the junior varsity squad translates to success on the big club.

"The core of our defense, Hanley, Picone, and Weaver, is well seasoned," Harmon said.  "Plus, we have a bunch of very talented sophomores."

Another player mentioned by Harmon who could make a strong defensive impact is incoming freshman Matt Fecik.

"Matt can play all four positions in the back," said the coach, "and he should help us out considerably."

Time at the midfield positions will also be hotly contested.

At center-mid, two incumbents, juniors Jason Zielinski and Mark Mastriano, will battle, along with Fecik's twin brother, Ben.

Outside-mid, like defense, is well seasoned, as a trio of seniors with considerable experience, Nick Kozak, Jim Boland, and Steve Davidovich, return.

Kozak was plagued with injury over the past two seasons, but, when healthy, has proven very productive, seeing time in 48 games in his career, scoring six goals.

Boland started in 11 games while appearing in all 21 last year, scoring twice while adding a pair of assists.

Davidovich also emerged last year as a key contributor,  making 14 appearances, and, according to Harmon, has gotten better every year.

Junior Adam Karlovich, who returns to the Bearcats after sitting out last season, sophomore Ian Ramsey, and freshmen Jim Vargo and Zack Solis will also be vying for time at midfield.

At forward, sophomore Dave Lauteri returns after a fine freshman campaign in which he scored six goals with three assists, despite missing the final six games of the year with a rib injury.

Joining Lauteri in front of the net looks to be freshman Luis Rodriguez, a native of Honduras, who, according to Harmon, possesses excellent speed and ball skills.  Ben Fecik may also see time up front.

A trio of veterans, including senior Greg Walsh and sophomores Rob Scudder and Brandon Bower, will look to replace Cameron in the nets.

"It's a three-way battle right now," Harmon said of the keeper situation.  "It could be any one of them."

All in all, a total of 14 freshmen and one transfer (defender Adam Crone, Frederick (MC) CC) dot the roster, and Harmon sees this as a benefit.

"With all of these newcomers," he said, "it will add a very competitive atmosphere to camp.  Like I said, there are a lot of spots with no established starter."

As the Bearcats make the move to the PAC, Harmon feels that it is imperative to set a winning tone right away.

"It's important for us to establish a winning tradition right off the bat," he said.

He believes Bethany and Washington & Jefferson are the two early front runners in the competitive PAC.

While the Bearcats are ineligible to qualify for post-season play in the PAC and NCAA, Saint Vincent will have the opportunity to do so in the Eastern College Athletic Conference, a conglomeration of over 150 Division-III schools throughout the Northeast.

"We'd love to win 15 games this season," said Harmon, "and, obviously, we'd love to get an at-large into the ECAC playoffs."

The 2006 season gets underway on September 1st, as the Bearcats travel down Route 30 to take on former AMC rival Seton Hill at 5pm.  The team's home opener is on September 6th, a 4pm match with Pitt-Greensburg, while the PAC schedule begins on September 16th with Washington & Jefferson coming to Latrobe. 

                              Players to Watch
Mark Mastriano: The junior midfielder has two years of experience under his belt, and Harmon feels that he has the talent to emerge as a very consistent and reliable player.  Last season, he saw time in 20 games, starting two, while pickking up three assists.

Luis Rodriguez: Harmon has no shortage of superlatives to describe the native of Honduras.  The freshman enjoyed a tremendous amateur career in his home country, and with his speed and nose for the ball, could score plenty of goals at the forward position, teaming with Lauteri to form a lethal one-two punch.

Matt and Ben Fecik: The freshmen brothers both starred at Plum High School in suburban Pittsburgh, and Harmon feels that they will make a smooth transition into the collegiate ranks.  Both are very versatile, as Matt could contribute right off the bat at all four defensive positions, and Ben, a proven goal scorer, should provide his fair share of offense at both forward and midfield.