2010 MEN'S SOCCER SEASON PREVIEW

Another September means another season of OUA men’s soccer, and the York Lions once again enter the year with expectations of another deep playoff run.

Several players graduated at the end of last season, but the line-up has been restocked with a number of new players that are hoping to carry the team to more championships.

The Lions entered last year as the defending CIS champions and overcame early struggles to go undefeated in their final 10 games and finish atop the OUA West division. But an upset at the hands of the Western Mustangs in their OUA quarter-final match ended the team’s chances at defending its national title. The memory of that defeat remains at the forefront as the team prepares for this year.

“It’s a season of redemption,” said assistant coach Hieu Quach. “We were ranked number one in our division last year but we didn’t make it to nationals. We want to redeem ourselves and it is our goal to get back to the national championships.”

The Lions have the talent to remain one of the top teams in the OUA and were recently ranked No. 10 in the first CIS national rankings to be released ahead of the regular season.

OFFENCE

The Lions were the clear offensive leaders in the OUA West last year in scoring 30 goals, which was 11 more than any other squad in the division.

The absence of midfielder Francesco Bruno, the team’s leading scorer in each of the last two seasons, leaves the door open for a new offensive leader and third-year striker Adrian Pena will be counted on to step up. He finished second in team scoring last year with six goals and was named an OUA all-star in his rookie season.

Another player with the ability to find the back of the net is Moreno Alberti. He has proved in the past he can score in bunches, recording 10 goals in his first season to earn OUA and CIS rookie of the year honours. Dominic Antonini had a big season last year with three goals and is back again to try and improve on that total.

DEFENCE

The Lions were just as dominant on defence in 2009, allowing only eight goals, which was the fewest total in the OUA West. The team will be without the services of CIS all-Canadian Franco Ruscetta this year as he graduated at the end of last season, but there are several players capable of filling the void.

At the top of the list are 2008 CIS tournament MVP Gerard Ladiyou and former CIS rookie of the year Jamaal Smith. Along with Ruscetta, the two of them anchored the strong defensive presence last year and will be counted on to do the same again this season.

Goalkeeper Alim Karim, a two-time OUA all-star, also graduated after spending the last two seasons with the Lions. In his place will be Sotiri Varlokostas and Nick Karpenko. Varlokostas played in two games for the Lions last season while Karpenko joins the Lions in 2010.

The Lions are known for a possession style of play with lots of passing and movement off the ball, and they are a balanced squad with a roster full of players who can both attack and defend well. That style has worked well for them over the past few years as they have become an OUA powerhouse and they will look to continue that trend with a strong 2010.