2002 Sacred Heart Men's Soccer Preview
8/28/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Aug. 28, 2002
The 2002 version of the Sacred Heart men's soccer team returns 23 letterwinners and nine starters this sesson as the Pioneers are primed to make some noise in the Northeast Conference standings. With a core group of veteren player returning, led by senior forward Franco Cartiera (New Britain, CT), SHU will be looking to improve on its 3-13-2 overall record from a year ago.
Cartiera, a ALL-NEC second team selection in 2001, appeared in 16 games last season for SHU, netting 10 goals and six assists while leading the team with 26 points. The Pioneer tri-captain enters his senior season having played in 51 career games, starting 50, netting 28 goals with eight assists for 64 career points. Fellow senior tri-captain, Matthew Christianson (Danville, NJ) joins Cartiera up front on the Pioneer attack. Christianson enters his senior campaign with two goals and three assists in his carerr at SHU. Senior Rodrigo Nunes (Sao Paolo, Brazil), who returns to the midfield, scored two goals in 2001 and will serve as a tri-captain for the upcoming season.
Senior midfielder Igor Gupskiy (Kiev, Ukraine) will look to add some scoring punch to the Pioneer lineup this fall. Gupskiy finished 2001 as the team's second leading scorer, with three goals and six points. Sophomore Alan Tomczykowski (Bedford, MA) returns after a solid freshman year where he saw action in 15 games scoring two goals and collecting an assist.
Senior Jorge DeSousa (Milford, CT) will return to anchor the Pioneer defense this year. DeSousa finished 2001 with two goals and an assist while also seeing some time in goal. DeSousa saw action in six games last season as the Pioneer goalkeeper, posting a 1.99 goals-against-average with 44 saves and the teams lone shutout in 587 minutes. Also returning in goal this year is junior Anthony Lombardo (Fairfield, NJ). Lombardo appeared in nine games last season recording 29 saves. Seniors Stanley Zazula (Staten Island, NY) and Nick Carney (North Reading, MA) will look to help soldify the backfield for SHU.
The Pioneers will kick off the 2002 season facing Providence and Buffalo in the Central Connecticut Tournament the weekend of August 30th- September 1st. This year's home schedule is highlighted by match-ups with out-of-conference foes Stony Brook, Bucknell, and Colgate and conference rivals Long Island, St. Francis (PA), Quinnipiac, Robert Morris, and St. Francis (NY).
