Monmouth -  Two And A Half  Star Class Ranking - The Hawks have added a nine member recruiting class that includes eight true freshmen and Anthony Vasquez who transfers in from St. John’s where he saw action in five games last year.  The class includes several players with the talent and experience to push for a starting role.  Monmouth returns a solid core from the 2008 team that was 12-3-4 overall with a 6-1-2 mark in Northeast Conference action.  The biggest shoes to fill from the 2008 team will be those of back Angelo Amato who was named the 2008 Northeast Conference Defensive Player of the Year.  Amato, who was also a 2008 College Soccer News Third Team All-America selection and an NSCAA All-North Atlantic Team member, was an impact player during his four-year tenue in West Long Branch.  The Hawks continued their dominance of regular season NEC play last year when they became the first team in the NEC to win four consecutive NEC Regular season titles.  However, they have been a bit of a mystery when it comes to the NEC Tourney and the automatic invite to the  NCAA Tourney that goes to the Tourney winner.  For the third time in the past four seasons Monmouth failed to survive the NEC Conference Tourney.  The Hawks were upset by Robert Morris in the NEC Tourney championship match in 2005, in 2007 they were surprised by number four seed Central Connecticut State 1-0 in the semifinals of the NEC Tourney, and in 2008 they fell in penalty kicks to number four seed Mount St. Mary’s in the Tourney semifinals when they were unable to take advantage of the scoring opportunities that came their way.  The 2009 NEC race will be as competitive as ever and the Hawks will again field a team that will be tough to beat.  The Monmouth attack will be double barreled up top with the return of junior forwards Ryan Kinne (10g, 6a) who had three game winners and Chase Barbieri (10g, 2a) who had six game winners.  Both are extremely capable finishers up-top or in the midfield and both have a work ethic that can take a toll on opposing defenders.  When Kinne and Barbieri are on their game the Hawks are a force to contend with.  Sophomore George Quintano (2g, 1a) from Manalapan, New Jersey should also be in the mix up-top.  The Monmouth midfield looks to be good in 2009 but the ability of the linkmen to provide diversity to the attack is a bit of a question mark with the potential to be problematic over the course of the season.  Max Hamilton (12g, 0a) and Cesar Blacido (0g, 1a) are among returning midfielders who should play key roles in 2009.  Despite the loss of Amato, the backline should again be a team strength in 2009.  Senior center back Daniel Bostock who was a 2008 First Team All-NEC selection returns to anchor the defense.   Bostock is a team leader and the player who will set the pace for Monmouth in 2009.  Junior Bryan Davis, and sophomores R.J. Allen and Christian Nogueira are among other returning defenders who are very talented and battle tested.  Junior Bryan Meredith who was the starter in goal last year with a 0.54 goals against average returns between the pipe.  Meredith’s presence on the pitch should be a big plus for Monmouth.  He is a very soccer savvy, technically sound, and athletic netminder.   All things considered, anything less than an NCAA Tourney appearance will be a disappointment for Coach Robert McCourt’s team in 2009. 

 

Alex Blackburn - Natick, Massachusetts - Goalkeeper - Natick High School - Member of the Massachusetts ODP team.  Plays club for the New England Eagles FC - High School Team Captain.

 

Cody Califiore - Howell, New Jersey - Midfielder - Howell High School - All-State selection - Scored forty career goals and contributed 49 assists - Plays club for Howell Strykers.

 

Ryan Clark - Freehold, New Jersey -  Midfielder - Freehold Township High School - Named Shore Conference Player of the Year - First Team All-State -  Plays club for Match-Fit Chelsea Academy.

 

Alejandro Cordido - West Haven, Connecticut - Goalkeeper - Notre Dame High School - All-Conference selection - Plays club for the Central Connecticut Extreme.

 

Andrew Dodds - West Chester, Pennsylvania - Defender - Haverford School - First Team All-Main Line in 2007 and 2008 - Plays club for FC Delco Dynamo - Eastern Pennsylvania ODP team.

 

Wes Ostrzycki - Edison, New Jersey - Defender - Edison High School - 2007 All-State and All-County selection - Played club for MatchFit Chelsea - Missed most of 2008 season due to injury. 

 

Tony Sendra - Naugatuck, Connecticut - Midfielder - Naugatuck High School - All-Conference selection in 2007 and 2008 - All-State selection - Plays club for FSA Soccer Plus - Connecticut ODP.

 

Alex Wideman - Linwood, New Jersey - Forward - Mainland Regional High - Forty career goals - Named All-South Jersey - Cape Atlantic League First Team - Plays club for New Jersey Barons.

 

Anthony Vazquez - Middletown, New Jersey - Defender - Middletown North High School - Transfer from St. John’s - New Jersey and Region I ODP team.