Swede Emotion: Colonials Reload for 2000
With the same European style of soccer that propelled Southampton Graduate Campus to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Div. II Tournament last year, the Colonials return with even better odds at winning it all - and feature the most Nordic players in team history.
With 11 Swedes and an Icelander, the Colonials this year could field an all-European team plus one. However, with several proven American transfers and returnees also on the squad, there should be a lot of healthy competition for starting roles. Last year, for the first time in team history, the Colonials made the NCAA Div. II tournament by winning the New York Collegiate Athletic Conference title with an 8-0 record. The Colonials (16-1-2) went undefeated until losing to eventual National Champion Southern Connecticut State (20-0) in quadruple overtime in the national quarterfinals. The Colonials were ranked as high as No. 3 in the nation in coaches polls.
Forward Johan Kron (school-records: 22 goals last year and 60 career goals) of Floda, Sweden, was named to the NCAA Division II All-American First Team and Dusan Erceg of Queens, N.Y., to the All-American Third Team. The team's GPA of 3.32 earned the Colonials the honor of All-Academic Team for Division II.
In the Northeast Region, Nick Rotiroti of Anjou, Canada, and Roger Svensson of Solvesborg, Sweden, were named to the First Team. Carl Lindgren and Daniel Olsson, both of Stenhullen, Sweden, were named to the Second Team. Coach Ed Goodhines, of Southampton, N.Y., was named Northeast Coach of the Year.
Imposing Goalie Returns
Svensson, an imposing, stellar senior goalie who only allowed .60 goals per game during the regular season last year, will lead this year's Colonial team. "He may be the best returning goalie in Div. II this year," Goodhines said, "and he's a possible Major League Soccer selection." Award-winners Lindgren, Erceg and Olsson also return with Long Island standout Rich Stoia of Shirley. Stoia was tied for second on the team with Andreas Lindberg with 10 goals. Lindberg, a junior from Malmoe, Sweden, rejoins the Colonials. Joining the mix will be another Long Islander, Phil Bonelli, a freshman from Commack who has the talent to possibly start on this talent-filled squad.
While replacing stifling defender Rotiroti and designated-scorer Kron will be hard, Goodhines was up to the task during the offseason, recruiting phenomenal players to the small, liberal-arts college. Now Goodhines' goal is to make it to the Final Four of the Tournament. "Once you get there anything can happen, and we could go all the way," he said.
"It's going to be hard replacing the players we've lost, but we think we've done a good job and added a lot of depth to the bench."
Replacing Kron will be another Swede, Peter Nilsson, a sophomore transfer from Goteborg. "He's lightning fast and a pure goal scorer," the coach said.
At midfield, Goodhines said transferring senior Anders Wahrnberg could become the best player in Southampton Graduate Campus single-season history. From Uddevalla, Sweden, Wahrnberg played in Sweden's national league last year and has the potential to be a Major League Soccer selection in 2001.
Also new at midfield will be two freshmen from Karlstad, Sweden: Oskar Tilly and David Nillson. Two junior-college transfers, Rocky Flores of Bay Shore, NY, and Kirk Mullis of Madison, Wisc., are also expected to see important playing time.
Faster Defense
Defense will see the addition of dynamite speedster Ragnar Arnarson of Gardabaer, Iceland. "He may be the fastest player on the team," Goodhines said. Also joining the mix will be two freshmen from Sweden's national Second Division team: Emil Ankarberg of Orebro and Andreas Stark of Stockholm. Junior transfer Marko Albrecht of Chicago was named to the Junior College All-Region Team in 1999.
"Last year we had a special team. They were a close-knit group that played a wide-open, European game," Goodhines said. "This year we've added more firepower, but we still want to keep defense as the priority."
Also returning: junior forward Staffan Linne, of Stockholm, who was first off the bench last year; sophomore defender/midfielder Colin Goin, of Briarcliff, NY, who hopes to be fully recovered from last season's knee injury; rugged junior midfielder Carl Lindgren of Stenhullen, Sweden; sophomore midfielder Jonathan Haulenbeek of Pennsauken, NJ; and sophomore midfielder Matt Vilbas of Whitehall, Pa.
Other newcomers: Freshman defender Victor Vergara of Brentwood, NY; freshman backup goalie Brian Hilton from Holtsville, NY; and freshman midfielder Eddie Torres of Brentwood, NY.
Swede Sensation
Many analysts agree that the best teams in Div. II soccer are competitive with the top Div. I programs because programs like Southampton Graduate Campus can recruit older, more experienced foreign players while Div. I has an age limit and Div. III can't offer scholarships. Swedes, for example, have to serve two years military service before they can consider going to college.
Southampton Graduate Campus' Swedes have made the European style of soccer work here. The college welcomed its first Swede, John Almroth, in 1986. Almroth was a basketball player, but he told his younger brother Bjorn, a soccer forward, of his positive experience here. Bjorn joined the Colonials soccer squad in 1993 and ended up being the college's all-time leading scorer until Kron broke the record last year. Word of mouth led to more Swedes finding Southampton, a pastoral town that's similar to their homeland. Last year there were eight Swedes, now there are 11.
"Like here, Sweden is a laid-back country," said Goodhines. Last year he had traveled to Sweden to attend Bjorn's wedding. But while the Swedes like Southampton's rustic setting, they also like its proximity to the big city. "They love New York City," added Goodhines, who graduated from Southampton Graduate Campus in 1983. "They've been to New York more times than I have."
Goodhines said his Swedish players aren't as rough as American players because Europe has larger and better-groomed fields, promoting passing and teamwork. "The Swedes play with a lot of finesse, and elevate everyone's level," the coach said.
"Soccer in America is played as hockey is played: Full speed from the start, with hard hits and foul play," said Svensson. "European soccer is more tactical and not so dirty."
But they also like to have a good time. When they aren't traveling, most of them live together in a house in Hampton Bays that's well known among Southampton Graduate Campus students. "The Swedes have adapted well and really fit in here," Goodhines said.
"All the Swedes have an awesome time here," Svensson added. "Of course the Hamptons are amazing, but we're also close to the best city in the world."
Photos from the 2000 Season
Coaches Gary Wake, Ed Goodhines and Mark Dawson
Colonial Generals
Ed Goodhines, by far the most successful coach in the Colonials' history, enters his 10th season at the helm of the men's team.
The 1983 Southampton Graduate Campus graduate, who has a career record of 101-59-7 (.631), 8-0 in conference last year, guided his alma mater to the Quarterfinals of the NCAA Div. II Tournament last season. It was the first time any Southampton Graduate Campus team made the NCAA tournament in almost three decades.
After 1999's banner season, Goodhines was named New York Collegiate Athletic Conference Coach of the Year and NCAA Div. II Northeast Coach of the Year.
Goodhines also led the Colonials to consecutive ECAC Division II titles in 1994 and 1995. No ECAC soccer team had ever won consecutive championships. Goodhines, who also is Associate Athletic Director, was the inaugural head coach of the women's soccer team. He coached the Lady Colonials from 1983-92, and led them to the ECAC championship in 1990.
"Ed has been instrumental in building our men's and women's soccer programs," said Mary Topping, Athletic Director.
The native of Fayetteville, N.Y., who played two seasons as midfielder for the Colonials, is single and lives in Southampton.
Mark Dawson, a 1996 alumnus of Southampton, begins his fifth season as assistant coach. In the summer of 1998, he was named head coach for Lady Colonials soccer.
From 1992-94, he played midfield for the Colonials, and was a starter for the 1994 championship team. Dawson lives in Mastic, where he graduated from William Floyd High School in 1991. He earned his Master's degree at Hofstra University.
Gary Wake of Andover, England, serves his second year as assistant coach. A 1992 graduate of West Florida, he played midfielder. He is joined by new goalie coach Brad Murphree.
Captains: Andreas Lindberg, Roger Svensson and Daniel Olsson.
# PLAYER POS HT CL HOMETOWN HIGH SCHOOL
- *Roger Svensson G 6-1 JR Solvesborg,
Sweden Furulund
- Brian Hilton G 5-10 FR Holtsville,
NY Sachem
1 Staffan Linne F 6-0 JR Stockholm,
Sweden Jakobsberg
2 Phil Bonelli F 5-6 FR Commack,
NY Commack
4 Dusan Erceg D 6-2 SR Queens,
NY Grover Cleveland
5 Colin Goin D/M 5-9 SO Briarcliff,
NY Briarcliff
6 Ragnar Arnarson D 6-0 FR Gardabaer,
Iceland Fdolbraut Gardabae
7 Andreas Stark D 5-10 FR Stockholm,
Sweden Vasalunnds
8 *Daniel Olsson M 6-3 SO Stenhullen,
Sweden Lerum
9 Andreas Lindberg M/F 6-3 JR Malmoe,
Sweden Polhemskolan
11 Rich Stoia F 5-10 SR Shirley,
NY William Floyd
12 Rocky Flores M 5-10 JR Bay
Shore, NY Brentwood
13 Oskar Tilly M 5-9 FR Karlstad,
Sweden Rikspgsuerks
14 Carl Lindgren M 5-11 JR Stenhullen,
Sweden Lerum
15 Anders Wahrnberg M 6-0 SR Uddevalla,
Sweden Risberssha
16 Victor Vergara D 5-11 FR Brentwood,
NY Brentwood
17 Matt Vilbas M 5-11 SO Whitehall,
PA Whitehall
18 Marko Albrecht D 6-0 JR Chicago,
IL Whitney Young
19 Kirk Mullis M 5-8 JR Madison,
WI Madison West
21 Jonathan Haulenbeek M 5-9 SO Pennsauken,
NJ Pennsauken
23 Eddie Torres M/F 5-7 FR Brentwood,
NY Brentwood
*CAPTAINS
Head Coach: Ed Goodhines
Assistant Coaches: Mark Dawson, Gary Wake
Goalie Coach: Brad Murphree
Schedule
Sports Scores Page
MEN'S SOCCER 2000
SEPTEMBER OPPONENT SITE TIME
Fri. 1 Southern Connecticut Tournament Away TBA
Sat. 2 Southern Connecticut Tournament Away TBA
Thurs. 7 New Haven Away 4:00PM
SUN. 10 MERRIMACK HOME 1:00PM
Sat. 16 E. Stroudsburg Univ. Tournament Away TBA
Sun. 17 E. Stroudsburg Univ. Tournament Away TBA
Wed. 20 *Mercy Away 4:00PM
SAT. 23 WEST CHESTER HOME 2:00PM
Sat. 30 *Concordia Away 2:00PM
OCTOBER
WED. 4 *ST. THOMAS AQUINAS HOME 4:30PM
SUN. 8 BLOOMSBURG HOME 12:00PM
WED. 11 *MOLLOY HOME 4:00PM
Sat. 14 Lock Haven Away 1:00PM
Wed. 18 *NYIT Away 3:30PM
Sun. 22 *Dowling Away 2:00PM
Tues. 24 Caldwell Away 3:30PM
SAT. 28 *C.W. POST HOME 2:00PM
NOVEMBER
SAT. 4 *BRIDGEPORT HOME 2:00PM
Sports Page
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