Press Releases

October 23, 2000
After Momentous Win, Colonials Are Back in the National Top 25

Contact:
Darren Johnson
(631) 287 8313
Fax: (631) 283 4081

Holding one of the nation's most prolific offenses scoreless, the Southampton College men's soccer team befuddled Dowling 1-0 away on Sunday and now is pinning for its second-straight New York Collegiate Athletic Conference title. In rankings released today by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, the sport's governing body, Southampton now re-enters the NCAA Division II Top 25. The Colonials are ranked No. 23 and tied for No. 2 in the Northeast with Dowling and East Stroudsburg University.

The next home game for the Colonials (11-3-1, 6-0), after a nonleague matchup at Caldwell University tomorrow, is Southampton's Homecoming game against Long Island University intercampus rival CW Post on Saturday, October 28, at 2 p.m. The Pioneers (13-2, 5-1) are currently ranked No. 5 in the nation and No. 1 in the Northeast. A Southampton win would ensure the team's second-straight NYCAC crown. The Colonials finish the season November 4 at home vs. unranked league foe Bridgeport on November 4 at 2 p.m.

Last year, the Colonials went undefeated in the regular season and won the Northeast Regional in the NCAA Tournament - the first NCAA berth for any Colonials team since men's basketball did it in 1972. But this year, the Colonials lost top scorer Johan Kron (school record 22 goals in 1999) and defender Nick Rotiroti (who's now playing professionally in France) to graduation. Southampton stumbled out of the gate while the team was learning how to play together and only managed a 4-3-1 record.

Several new Colonials including lightning-fast scorer Peter Nilsson (16 goals) and defender Ragnar Arnarson have helped fuel a seven-game win streak for Southampton. Now, after the rocky start, the Colonials also have reason to hope for another NCAA berth. The top-two teams from the Northeast at season's end should get a bid. Yesterday at Dowling with 10:35 left, Arnarson setup Nilsson right in front of the Dowling net for the score. The Colonials started the year ranked No. 3 in the nation, but quickly fell off the board after losing to two unranked teams last month.