Molloy's offense could remain potent

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Last season was a special one for Molloy College’s men’s soccer team, which barely missed qualifying for the NCAA’s after going 7-2 against East Coast Conference rivals and reaching the tournament title game.

The Lions (11-5-1 overall) outscored opponents by a 40-19 margin, thanks in large part to First Team All-ECC selections Kyle Poetzsch (13 goals, 5 assists) and Mosiah Whyte (9 goals, 6 assists), and will aim for a third straight double-digit win season despite their departures.

“We lost some great weapons, but our rebuilt attack has a lot of potential,” coach Danny Longo said. “Our goal is to make the NCAAs and we’ll be tested early because three of our first four games are against teams that made it last year.”

Though Poetzsch and Whyte moved on, Longo isn’t too concerned where the offense will come from. Massapequa product Anthony Cestaro enjoyed a stellar freshman campaign and earned ECC Rookie of the Year honors after totaling 10 points, including 4 goals. “He’s fast and does great things in the air,” Longo said. “He also causes turnovers and gets us going with counter-attacks.”

Cestaro will play on the right side and is joined at forward by transfer Dan Massey, a junior who previously played at Hofstra, and freshman Conor Rowbottom, a native of England. “Dan’s probably the best pure-scoring forward I’ve coached,” Longo said of Massey, who scored five times in three preseason games. “He’s lethal around the cage. If he gets a scoring chance, he’s going to put it away.” Rowbottom will work left side and like Cestaro, brings plenty of speed to the attack.

In the midfield, Longo is counting on senior captain Adam Carnwath (5 goals, 3 assists), a First Team All-ECC selection, and senior Jason Alvarez, who brings lots of experience and plays strong on the ball.

In the back row, the Lions return junior goalkeeper Raul Bonilla, the reigning ECC Goalkeeper of the Year (10 wins, .802 save percentage, 7 shutouts) and bolstered their defense with the addition of junior Andy Boyland, a JUCO All-American at Nassau Community College. Senior Chris Moschella is a reliable and tough veteran defender, while sophomore Michael Jiminez is steady and versatile.

Molloy is ranked third in the ECC behind LIU-Post and New York Tech. The Lions will prepare for conference play with matchups against Merrimack, Adelphi and Southern New Hampshire. The ECC opener is Sept. 16 at Queens College. 

Lady Lions seek playoff spot
Steve Price, who served as Longo’s assistant coach on the women’s side for seven seasons, takes over a hard-working team with positive chemistry, he said.

“I’m loving it,” said Price, who has seven freshmen and three transfers in the fold. “Our goal is to make the conference playoffs. The ECC seems to get stronger every year.”

Molloy, in search of its first overall winning campaign since 2008, finished 7-8-1 overall in 2016, including a solid 4-3-1 in ECC action. It opens the conference slate at Queens College on Sept. 16.

Nearly 50 percent of last year’s scoring was provided by Danielle Valente, who recorded 12 goals as a senior, but the Lady Lions do return 8-goal scorer Katlyn Merino who’ll be paired up front with newcomer Dana Poetzsch.

“Katlyn is strong on the ball and has the type of craftiness every team needs,” Price said of Merino, a junior who added three assists last season. “She’s going to get plenty of opportunities.”

Poetzsch, a former standout at Hicksville High School, brings a combination of speed and strength. She scored six goals in three preseason games and Price is hopeful it’s a sign of things to come.

In the midfield, seniors Kristen Cummings (3 goals in 2016) and Samantha Mendes lead the way in the center. “They’re going to put out fires and get us going in transition,” said Price, who also expects big contributions from senior Kayla Roundsman and freshman Lauren Marinello, a Calhoun High School product.

Senior Felicia LaPera and junior Amanda Milazzo anchor the defense in the center. In goal, freshmen Jackie Carty and Sara Palmeri provide the Lady Lions with a pair of talented options.