WestConn Men’s Soccer Team Takes Title
at Manhattanville College’s 2008 Spring Tournament
Dan Michalowski Named To All-Tournament Team

The WCSU Men’s Soccer Team won the Manhattanville Spring Soccer Tournament, defeating a team of Manhattanville Alumni (which included two former All-Americans on its roster), 2-1, in overtime to take the championship trophy back to Danbury. Mike Savenelli scored both goals in the final, and GK Dan Michalowski made two tremendous saves in overtime to keep the Colonials alive, as WestConn went 6-0-1 on the day, finishing with a 16-5 goal differential. The tournament format was 7-a-side and had two groups playing, with the top two teams in each group advancing to the semi-finals. WestConn won its group defeating Molloy (NY-D 2), John Jay (NY), Berkeley (NY) and York (NY), along with a 2-2 draw against Rockland CC (who also advanced out of the group). In the semi-finals, the Colonials defeated Baruch (NY) 1-0, behind steady all around play, before the dramatics of the championship match. For his efforts, Michalowski was named to the All-Tournament team. Everyone on the WestConn roster played well, contributing to the team’s success. The Colonial roster featured: Anthony Belanger, Dave Carey, Eren Ceylan, Dan DaSilva, Luis Duque, Xavi Guzman, Chris Hoagland, Kisney Lopes, Bob Madden, Jarred McClafferty, Dan Michalowski, Damion Noble, Pat Odell, Dennis Poulter, Mike Savenelli and Arash Tahgavi.

WESTCONN TEAM AWARDS ANNOUNCED AT ANNUAL BANQUET

The WestConn men's soccer team recently held our awards banquet and the following student-athletes earned these awards:

Most Valuable Player: 		Dan Michalowski

Rookie of the Year: 		Luis Duque

Scholar-Athlete: 		Ryan Edgley

Defensive MVP: 		Jordan Dugbartey

Offensive MVP: 		Shane Edgley

Most Improved Player: 		Anthony Belanger

Coaches Award: 		Christopher Hoagland

Unsung Hero: 		Michael Serra

Coaches Recognition: 		Robert Madden and Dennis Poulter

Highest Freshman GPA: 	Anthony Belanger and Kisney Lopes

2007 LITTLE EAST CONFERENCE MEN'S SOCCER AWARDS ANNOUNCED
from the desk of Jack Holleran - LEC Director of Communications

PROVIDENCE, R.I.—The Little East Conference announced its annual end of the season and all-conference teams this afternoon after a vote by the eight head coaches. University of Southern Maine junior striker Sinisa Bajic was named the Offensive Player of the Year, while UMass Dartmouth freshman midfielder Michael Alves was voted Rookie of the Year. Eastern Connecticut State University earned a pair of individual awards with senior goalkeeper Jay Barney being selected the Defensive Player of the Year, while Greg DeVito was tabbed Coach of the Year.

Bajic is just the second student-athlete in the conference’s history to repeat as the Little East Conference Offensive Player of the Year since Rhode Island College forward Kyle Teixeira was recognized in 2004 and 2005. The junior forward from Belgrade, Serbia sits atop the conference circuit in points (24) and goals (11), while ranking third in game-winning goals (4). He recorded a season-high five points, including two markers, at Saint Joseph’s College (Maine) in the opening match of the campaign.

Barney paced the Little East Conference in goals against average (0.60), save percentage (.891), and shutouts (7), while second in saves (99). The Mansfield, Conn. product has not surrendered a marker in the past 556 minutes, six seconds—a streak which began against Coast Guard on Oct. 16. He is just the second player in the conference to be honored in consecutive seasons as the defensive player of the year.

Alves made an immediate impact in the UMass Dartmouth starting lineup, leading the Corsairs in assists (7), while ranking third in points with 13. He scored a season-high three points twice on the campaign, most recently against Connecticut College on Sept.25. Alves is the lone rookie to be honored on the all-conference teams, earning second-team recognition. He is just the second UMass Dartmouth player in the program’s history to be named rookie of the year.

In his first season at the helm, DeVito led Eastern Connecticut to the Little East Conference Tournament and regular season crowns with an overall record of 11-6-3, including a 5-1-1 mark in the conference. The Warriors earned their second postseason berth since 1992, when Eastern Connecticut made an appearance in the ECAC New England Tournament. DeVito and his charges are currently riding a season-high five-game unbeaten streak into the NCAA Tournament.   

Eastern Connecticut posted a conference-high seven student-athletes on the Little East All-Conference teams, including five players on the first-team. Keene State College was just one off the pace, while the University of Southern Maine registered four selections. UMass Dartmouth had three student-athletes recognized and Plymouth State University placed a player on the first and second teams. UMass Boston and Rhode Island College each had a lone honoree.

2007 Little East Conference Awards
			
Offensive Player of the Year			
Sinisa Bajic	Jr.	Forward	Southern Maine

Defensive Player of the Year			
Jay Barney	Sr.	GK	Eastern Connecticut

Rookie of the Year			
Michael Alves	Fr.	Midfield	UMass Dartmouth

Coach of the Year			
Greg DeVito		Eastern Connecticut

First-Team
Name		Class	Pos.	Institution			
Sinisa Bajic		Jr.	Forward	Southern Maine
Mike Cooley		So.	Forward	Keene State
Max Fantl		So.	Forward	Eastern Connecticut
Alex Horne		Jr.	Forward	Keene State
Nicholas Boretti	So.	Midfield	Eastern Connecticut
Greg Cox		Jr.	Midfield	Southern Maine
Ryan Kelley		So.	Midfield	Rhode Island College
Romeo Zeqo		Jr.	Midfield	UMass Boston
Kyle Bedini		Jr.	Back	Eastern Connecticut
Gabe Bergeron	Sr.	Back	Keene State
James Picarella	Jr.	Back	Eastern Connecticut
Takeru Tanikawa	Sr.	Back	Plymouth State
Jay Barney		Sr.	GK	Eastern Connecticut

Second Team
Name		Class	Pos.	Institution				
Sebastian Cordoba	So.	Forward	UMass Dartmouth
Ruke Ehwarieme	Jr.	Forward	Eastern Connecticut
Keith Whittemore	Sr.	Forward	Plymouth State
Michael Alves	Fr.	Midfield	UMass Dartmouth
Scott Cluff		So.	Midfield	Keene State
Caleb Patterson	Sr.	Midfield	Keene State
Maynor Sanchez	Sr.	Midfield	UMass Boston
Jimmy McConville	Jr.	Back	Eastern Connecticut
Tim Murphy		So.	Back	Southern Maine
Colin Reilly		Jr.	Back	Southern Maine
Nick Szwaja		Sr.	Back	UMass Dartmouth
Cal Mintz		Sr.	GK	Keene State