The 2010 St. Joseph's College soccer team reached the Skyline Conference tournament semifinals before a heartbreaking shootout loss to the eventual champion SUNY Maritime. The Golden Eagles however earned a bid to the ECAC tournament and bowed out in the opening round.
    
There are a total of eighteen returning players from last year – two of them seniors. Eight of those returnees were starters in 2010. Six players – three freshmen and three transfers will be new to the team in 2011.
    
The leadership for the 2011 team will consist of junior defenders MIKE CARROLL and DYLAN EVANS. Both of these hard-working players will provide the best possible example for a young team on how to win soccer games at the college level. CARROLL was a first team All-Skyline Conference selection for 2010. EVANS won an All-Tournament spot in the MCLA tournament in 2010. Both of these players will be central defenders and their success will be critical to the 2011 Golden Eagles.  
    
The 2011 seniors will be defender JULIAN BARREIROS and midfielder GREG APICELLA. BARREIROS figures to be a starting defender and an on-field leader with his three year starting history. APICELLA will come off the bench and provide the energy that he brings to the team.
    
The junior class is comprised of ten players in 2011. The most experienced of these players are the captains – CARROLL and EVANS. Striker JOHN DETTORI returns as the most accomplished scorer for 2011 – he has 36 goals and 83 points with two All-Skyline first team honors in his two years at SJC.. CRAIG CERUTI and BILLY KUHLWILM are two very important parts to the puzzle for 2011. Both of these players will be midfielders and will be counted on to support the attack and to get back and help the defense as well. Both have enough college experience that they also will lead on the field. Goalkeeper CHRIS MUHS enters this season as the #1 goalkeeper. Despite limited game experience, MUHS has had two great learning years under Coach Dan Danbusky and this will be his chance to shine. Also returning will be defender KAROL RADOMSKI and midfielder JOE ALESSI. Both of these players will be looking to improve their playing time after two years in the program. One transfer student comes to SJC for 2011 – MIKE PITTS. PITTS, a goalkeeper, is ready to compete for the starting job after two years at Nicholls College.
    
There are ten sophomores on the 2011 squad. Midfielder TERRENCE DZUS had an outstanding freshman year with 5 goals and 9 assists and a spot on the first team All-Skyline Conference team.. GEORGE EKSTROM will be given every opportunity to break into the SJC defense and it is hoped his playing time will increase dramatically. ANTHONY RAPPA, BRADLY FABRIZIO and KEVIN DEUTSCH will all be tested in the midfield with an eye on helping on the defensive side of the ball. EMIL SADOWSKI and CHRIS DESIMONE should help in getting the ball forward and being dangerous in the offensive third of the field. ADAM FRIEL and JUSTIN VERTICHIO are first year soccer players at SJC. Finally, CONNOR FITZPATRICK seeks to improve his playing time by continuing his growth through practice skill development and confidence.
    
Three freshmen soccer players will be playing at SJC in 2011.  MIKE ANGLIM is a midfielder from Bayport-Blue Point HS. DAVID JARAMILLO is a midfielder from Sachem North HS and ROBERT MANCUSO is a goalkeeper from Longwood HS. All three of these players will work hard in their first year of college soccer to give them the confidence and experience necessary to be contributing players at this level.
    
The 2011 version of the St. Joseph's College men's soccer program seeks once again to go deep in the Skyline Conference playoffs. The non-conference schedule will feature many tough opponents to get the Golden Eagles ready for Skyline Conference play. There is no doubt that the level of success for this team will be determined by the play of the team defense. This team must expend great energy to win the ball and then to maintain possession once they have it. The scoring chances must be converted and everyone on the squad must have the confidence to shoot the ball with success.
    
It is hoped that injuries will not take a heavy toll and that players who are returning will not be satisfied to accomplish what they did last year. every player must improve in 2011 for the Golden Eagles to stay competitive. The style of play for 2011 must be to get into tough, low scoring games and to depend on a stalwart defense to pull us through. But perhaps, most importantly, as Coach Smith enters his final year of coaching, it is critical that the 2011 team whether they win, lose or draw, send Coach Smith into retirement by being a team of "class" - both on the field and in the classroom.