Leading scorers return for Molloy

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Shorthanded down the stretch last season, Molloy College’s men’s soccer team came up short in each of its final three games to finish 10-6 overall, including 5-5 against East Coast Conference rivals.

“We were in the mix all the way,” coach Danny Longo said. “We just didn’t have enough depth to make up for the missing starters late in the season. This year, we brought in a lot of kids to give us depth. I’m excited about the team’s potential.”

The Lions, who outscored opponents by a 36-34 margin in 2015, return a formidable offensive tandem likely to create plenty of havoc once again. Senior midfielder/forward Mosiah Whyte comes off a huge campaign (11 goals, 10 assists) and was in the running for ECC Player of the Year honors, while senior forward Kyle Poetzsch led Molloy with 13 goals in his first season following a transfer from Hofstra. There’s a good chance, Longo noted, both could be paired at striker on a full-time basis after combining for two-thirds of last year’s scoring.

“I can’t see how they wouldn’t be able to duplicate last year’s production,” Longo said of Whyte and Poetzsch. “Mosiah is a tremendous finesse player who glides around defenders. Kyle is an athletic freak. He’s fast, and strong with the ball at his feet.”

In the midfield, Longo is counting on a healthy Josh Zapata to lead the way. Zapata, a senior, missed half of last season with a hamstring injury. “He’s a tremendous talent who can dictate the pace of a game,” explained Longo, who is also looking for seniors Orlando Castanada and Mario Ruiz to make their presence felt along with junior Adam Carnwath and freshman Anthony Cestaro, a Massapequa High School product.

The Lions are replacing half of their starting defense but return goalkeeper Stephen Tappeto, a sophomore from Calhoun High School who started all 16 games a year ago. Also in the mix for playing time in goal is newcomer Raul Bonilla. Senior Steven Jimenez and junior Chris Moschella return as center backs.

“Everyone is buying in,” Longo said. “We believe we can be pretty good.”

Perennial ECC contenders LIU-Post and New York Tech will provide the biggest obstacles for the Lions, who open at home Sept. 1 against the University of New Haven.

Optimism surrounds Lady Lions
Longo, who pulls double duty as Molloy’s women’s soccer coach, is excited about the goalkeeping situation for the Lady Lions a year after one of their top defenders, Gabrielle Batista, was pressed into action between the pipes due to a glaring need at the position.

This year Batista, a senior who in 2014 earned honorable mention ECC honors, returns to her natural position as a central defender with sophomore Brianna Wilson set to take over in goal. Wilson, who stars on Molloy’s women’s lacrosse team, was a two-time All-County goalie at Island Trees High School. “We’re fortunate to have Brianna in the program,” Longo said. “Lacrosse is her main sport and she wanted to concentrate on it last year.”

Molloy, in search of its first winning season since 2008, finished 6-8-2 overall in 2015, including 3-6 in ECC play despite outshooting opponents by a margin of 214 to 188. “We let some games get away,” Longo said. “Our situation heading into this year is a lot better.”

The defense in front of Wilson should be difficult to crack, the coach said. In addition to Batista, the Lady Lions return senior mainstays Courtney Noakes and Gianna Jennosa. Depth should also be a strength, said Longo, who noted five players are battling for the lone starter opening in the back.

Up front, last year’s leading scorer, senior forward Danielle Valente (six goals) is a three-year starter who’s tough to knock off the ball and a quality finisher around the cage. She’s joined by Katlyn Merino, a speedy transfer from Farmingdale College making a transition from defense. Key figures in the midfield include senior Jessica Malone (three goals), junior Samantha Mendes and sophomore Amanda Milazzo.

Molloy starts the season with a pair of games in Massachusetts. The Lady Lions face Merrimack College on Sept. 2, followed by Bentley University two days later. The home opener is Sept. 6 versus Caldwell.