UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT SEASON PREVIEW 3 National Championships 11 BIG EAST Regular Season Titles 7 BIG EAST Tournament Championships ď Ź
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he University of Connecticut menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s soccer team will face one of its most challenging schedules in program history in 2011. The Huskies are scheduled to face 10 opponents that played in WKH 1&$$ 7RXUQDPHQW LQFOXGLQJ ŕ ¤YH %,* EAST programs. In addition to playing one of the toughest schedules in the nation, the UConn menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s VRFFHU WHDP ZLOO ORRN WR ŕ ¤OO WKH YRLG OHIW E\ WKH graduation of standout goalkeeper Josh Ford. Ford, who was an All-American as well as the 2010 BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year, put his name in the UConn record book, leaving the program as the all-time leader in shutouts (50), consecutive starts (85) and wins (54). The Huskies will also play without three starting defensemen due to the graduation of Robert Brickley, Shawn Nicklaw and Greg King. Alan Ponce, who registered two goals and six assists in 2010, completed his eligibility with the Huskies as well. Last season, the Huskies advanced to their 13th consecutive and 31st overall NCAA appearance and will strive to earn postseason berths in 2011 as well. The Huskiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; 2011 slate begins on August 27 against St. Francis at Morrone Stadium on Sunday, August 14. Senior Tony Cascio (Gilbert, Ariz) will lead the way for the Huskies in 2011 as he mans the strong DQG H[SHULHQFHG 8&RQQ PLGŕ ¤HOG &DVFLR ZKR was named a 2010 All-American as well as the %,* ($67 2ŕ ŁHQVLYH 3OD\HU RI WKH <HDU OHG UConn in 2010 with 26 points on 10 goals and
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2011 UCONN MENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S SOCCER
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Returning Starters 16 Tony Cascio M 10 Carlos Alvarez F 9 Stephane Diop M 44 Jossimar Sanchez M 20 Colin Bradley M 23 M. Doudou Diouf F 5 A. Jean-Baptiste D
Sr. Jr. Jr. Jr. So. So. So.
Letterwinners Lost 11 Alan Ponce F 8 Shawn Nicklaw D 14 Robert Brickley D 2 Greg King D 18 Josh Ford GK 0 Matt Sangeloty GK
5-10 170 5-11 170 6-0 185 5-9 163 6-2 175 6-3 180
5-11 5-10 5-11 5-9 6-2 6-1 6-2
165 160 165 170 170 170 205
six assists. Cascio is joined by 2010 All-BIG EAST First Team selection, Carlos Alvarez (Los Angeles, Calif.), as top returning players in the BIG EAST Conference. Jossimar Sanchez (Paterson, N.J.) will provide a VROLG GHIHQVLYH SUHVHQFH LQ D PLGŕ ¤HOG VWDFNHG with attacking players while Junior Stephane Diop (Dakar, Senegal) will look to establish himself as the top scoring threat up top in 2011. Ray Reid enters his 15th year as the head coach of the UConn menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s soccer program as he
boasts a 200-70-34 record. Reidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s teams have garnered seven BIG EAST Regular Season titles, four BIG EAST Tournament titles and the 2000 NCAA National Championship. The Huskies return 17 players from the 2010 roster that will be joined by 10 newcomers for the 2011season.
THE FORWARDS &DVFLR ZKR FDQ SOD\ HLWKHU IRUZDUG RU PLGŕ ¤HOG will use his versatility to lead the Huskies all over WKH ŕ ¤HOG ZKLOH VRSKRPRUH 0DPDGRX 'RX'RX Diouf (Dakar, Senegal), who had a strong season as a freshman in 2010, will strive to become a leader RQ WKH ŕ ¤HOG DQG D FRQVLVWHQW VFRULQJ WKUHDW The Forwards 10 Carlos Alvarez F 23 Mamadou Doudou Diouf F 19 Thomas Palmer F 14 Tyler Leeman F 8 Allando Matheson F
Jr. So. So. Fr. Fr.
5-10 6-1 5-10 5-10 6-1
160 170 170 160 175
The Huskiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; forwards will not lack speed or athleticism with the addition of Thomas Palmer (Hummelson, Pa.), Allando Matheson (North York, Ont.) and Tyler Leeman (Oakdale, Conn.). Leeman was an NSCAA/Adidas All-New England and All-American in high school and was named the CSCA Connecticut Boysâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Soccer Player of the Year. Matheson joins Connecticut after competing with the Under 17 and Under 20 Canadian National