2018 Roster  |  2018 Schedule

EAST STROUDSBURG – After making steady progress in the PSAC standings in each of the previous three seasons, East Stroudsburg University's men's soccer program finally made the big leap forward last fall.

The Warriors qualified for their first PSAC tournament since 2010 after going 8-3 in the regular season against conference opponents. In the playoffs, they did not surrender a goal across three contests before ultimately topping Gannon 1-0 to claim the program's 20th PSAC championship.

That clinched ESU's first spot in the NCAA Division II tournament for the first time since 2008. While the run ultimately ended with a defeat in the second round to PSAC rival West Chester, the 2018 team is back and ready to establish a continued culture of success. The Warriors get their first chance to prove themselves on Saturday, when they travel to Felician for a 7:30 p.m. non-conference matchup.

"We finally got to the point last year where we felt like we could play with anyone in the conference," eighth-year head coach Rob Berkowitz said. "To win the PSAC championship was a big accomplishment considering how competitive our league is. We bring a solid core of those guys back, and we have some returners and incoming guys who we feel can help replace some of our departed seniors."

BACKLINE

One of those key losses referenced by Berkowitz is Keelby Espinola, who was honored as the 2017 PSAC Defensive Athlete of the Year after leading a backline which surrendered only 17 goals in 20 games on the year. Also gone from that group are long-time starters Shaquille Stephenson and James McMahon (Stephenson remains with the program for his first season as assistant coach).

ESU, though, has plenty of returners with experience as well. Graduate student Nico Gericke, who played a significant role on defense and in the midfield after joining the Warriors at midseason last fall, will likely shift to a central back role in 2018. He will be accompanied by junior Mateo Laredo-Fernandez, who started 17 games in 2017, with junior Matthew West and junior transfer Erik Cardoso also competing for time in the middle.

"We're still figuring some things out in the back," Berkowitz said. "But we have plenty of strong options for the central positions. Marcus Torgersson will see time as an outside midfielder and wing back, and we have a lot of depth in that area with Oliver Lundberg, Nils Bjorquist, and potentially one of our freshmen in Colby Stitchter."

Torgersson enters his junior season with five goals and eight assists across 35 appearances (24 starts). Lundberg and Bjorquist also saw plenty of game action in their debut seasons, combining for 29 appearances and four starts.

Adding to the Warriors depth on the backline are redshirt sophomore Mohamed Jalloh, freshman Josh Kula and freshman Oliver Verity.

GOALKEEPER

Four Warriors are competing to be the final line of defense this fall, with returning starter Will Boerema back for his senior season along with redshirt freshman Evan Miele, senior Steven Robak and junior Riley Lougee.

Boerema earned second team All-PSAC and third team United Soccer Coaches All-Atlantic Region accolades after registering a 0.83 goals-against average, a .767 save percentage and eight  individual shutouts in 2017. He was also named PSAC Tournament MVP after posting three clean sheets during the Warriors' title run.

Robak, though, played a central role in the postseason as well, stepping in as the goalkeeper for the penalty shootout in the PSAC semifinals at top-seeded West Chester, and making two saves to help ESU advance by a 5-4 margin.

Miele comes to ESU as a transfer from Division I Rhode Island, and he was a first team All-State performer while leading Randolph High School (NJ) to a pair of county championships. Lougee is back for his third season as a Warrior; he closed out ESU's shutout over Shepherd during his lone appearance as a sophomore.

"The goalkeeper position is a really unique and positive situation," Berkowitz said. "We have four really good guys who could probably play for most teams in the conference. The other three are all pushing Will for the starting spot, and they all have some kind of experience. It's just about finding the one who gives us the best chance to win."

FORWARDS

Senior Eddy Enowbi is the Warriors' lone first team All-PSAC returner from last season. He paced the offense with nine goals and two assists while starting all 20 games. Also a first team United Soccer Coaches All-Atlantic Region honoree, Enowbi had a team-high 54 shots and led ESU and the PSAC with four game-winning goals.

Joining Enowbi are three other Warriors who saw extensive action last fall. Junior Irvin Zuzic (4 G, 3 A) and sophomore Anton Lysell (5 G, 1 A) were each tied for second on the team with 11 points, while sophomore Michael Tolley appeared in all 20 games and tallied three goals and three assists.

"Eddy is definitely going to be our main threat up top," Berkowitz said. "He's finally healthy, and he's been playing well. All four of our forward options have different skillsets, it's just a matter of finding the right combinations as the season progresses."

MIDFIELDERS

Two-time first team All-PSAC honoree and longtime standout Christian Bukowski was lost to graduation, but returners in the midfield include two second team All-PSAC performers from 2017 in seniors Brandon Levano and Jo Panuccio. The duo combined for 38 starts, seven goals and five assists. Levano has nine goals in his first two seasons with the program; Panuccio enters his second year after transferring from DI Rider.

Graduate student Jordon Ellison is also expected to make an immediate impact. A former starter for both DI Fairleigh Dickinson and Wilmington, Ellison was additionally a two-time All-State performer while playing at Stroudsburg High School.

"We have a lot of really good depth at central midfield," Berkowitz added. "Sergio Bortolon, Will Stewart, Ahmad Awadalla, Rasmus Oehlin, all four of those guys are going to see time as well."

Bortolon joins former teammate Cardosa as a transfer from Judson, an NAIA school in Illinois. He scored a team-high 10 goals as a freshman for the Eagles, and added three goals and six assists in 2017.

Junior Javaughn Hussett, a transfer from DeSales, and freshman George Oku add further depth to the midfield and forward positions. Hussett appeared in 37 games across two years at DeSales, totaling three goals and three assists.

OUTLOOK

The Warriors finished in a three-way tie for third place in the tightly-grouped PSAC regular season standings last year, and they were only one point back of second-place Gannon. Eight of their 11 conference matchups were decided by two goals or fewer, and Berkowitz expects a similarly competitive league in 2018.

"Almost every team in the conference has a realistic shot to finish in the top six and qualify for the playoffs," he said. "A break here or a break there could make all the difference in a top spot or missing the postseason entirely. It will be a difficult road, but we're ready for the challenge."

ESU enters the regular season ranked tied for 25th in the United Soccer Coaches DII national rankings. The Warriors home opener is Tuesday, September 4 at 7 p.m. against Chestnut Hill, while their first PSAC tilt will be a key matchup with 2017 frontrunners West Chester at Eiler-Martin Stadium on Sept. 12.