Coach Chernyakhovsky Releases 2013 Men's Soccer Schedule
BROOKLYN, N.Y. – Five home games and a trip to Washington, D.C. highlight the 14-game, 2013 St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) men's soccer schedule released today by head coach Vadim Chernyakhovsky.
The Bears' kick off the season at York College on September 17th in their season opener, starting a stretch of six-straight road games to open their third varsity campaign. The Bears return to Brooklyn Technical High School for their home opener on October 5th against The King's College in the featured game of a doubleheader with the Lady Bears.
After finishing 2012 with a 3-10 record and in fifth place in the Hudson Valley Men's Athletic Conference (HVMAC), Chernyakhovsky looks for continued growth out of his third-year squad. The Bears open conference play on September 28th in the newly rebranded Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (HVIAC) when they visit last year's regular season conference champs Albany Pharmacy.
October will feature a key conference stretch for the Bears squaring off against six-straight HVIAC opponents over a three-week stretch, beginning with a road tilt against Sarah Lawrence (October 3) and concluding with last year's HVMAC tournament champions Berkeley (October 22).
The Bears will then head down to Washington, D.C. to face USCAA foe Washington Adventist (October 24) in a road doubleheader with the Lady Bears, one of six twinbills on the 2013 slate. The Bears will conclude their home campaign celebrating Senior Night on October 29th against borough rivals Medgar Evers.
Chernyakhovsky will look to guide the squad to their first HVIAC tournament – top four teams qualify – when semifinal play begins on Sunday, October 27th with the championship game scheduled for Sunday, November 11th at 1:30 p.m. at Albany Pharmacy.
The Bears were led by last season by All-HVMAC honoree Raul Urshela (Orlando, Fla./Colonial) and then-rookie Matthew O'Neill (Brooklyn, N.Y./St. Edmond Prep) who tallied seven goals each in 2012, Michael Miner (Schenevus, NY/Schenevus) was a stalwart in net, ranked 4th in the NCAA in saves per game (10.1). All three were also named to the Association of Division III Independents All-Independent Teams.
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Tryouts for all men interested in competing on the soccer team will take place at the end of August (dates to be announced later). In order to particpate in tryouts, you must have a completed medical AND take a baseline concussion test in order to be cleared by the Sports Medicine Office. The concussion test will be administered for all men's and women's soccer student athletes with a completed medical on Monday, August 19 at 10 am. Please visit the SJC Sports Medicine website for more information or contact Head Athletic Trainer Oscar Melendez at omelendez@sjcbears.com or (718) 940-5806 with any questions.