Msocalumassoc Jan 2009

1/27/2009

2009 — Q1

Lasell College Men‟s Soccer Alumni Newsletter

Inaugural Edition It is with great pleasure that the Men’s Soccer Alumni Association introduce the inaugural edition of the Lasell College Men’s Soccer Alumni Newsletter. The goal of this newsletter is to keep our soccer alumni informed of the latest news and events pertaining to the Lasell College Men’s Soccer Program. Alumni gathered on October 18. 2008 to participate in the 3rd Annual Lasell College Men‟s Soccer Alumni Game

Letter From the Men‟s Soccer Alumni Association Dear Lasell Men‟s Soccer Alumni: I hope that the early weeks of 2009 are going well for all of you. It‟s hard to believe that it was more then ten years ago that our soccer program began. This past year, several of us met during Friends and Family Weekend to discuss formalizing what we‟ve already been doing for a few years now with our program. As you know, Mike Petruccelli, Dave McInnis, Ryan Michelangelo and myself, along with the help of Coach Pacini, have planned our alumni games and launched a Men‟s Soccer Alumni website. Now that we are bringing on more and more alums each year, we decided that the time was right to formalize our group. This will give all our alumni the opportunity to get involved at different levels and will also give our group sustainability and allow us to grow. In addition to planning and playing in our Alumni Game each year, we‟d also like to see our Association work as a resource for both the current players and alums for things such as networking, fundraising for the soccer program, and collaboration. In the coming months, we will be sending out more information on our Alumni Association. As always, you are welcome to email me at [email protected]. I look forward to hearing from you! Sincerely, -B Smith Brian E. Smith „02

Inside this issue: Team Trip

2

2008 Season recap

3

Men‟s All Conference

4

Alumni Weekend

5

New website launched

5

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Lasell College Men‟s Soccer Alumni Newsletter

A L et te r F r om Co a ch P a ci n i

To: Lasell College Men's Soccer Alumni and Supporters From: Giovanni Pacini, Head Men's Soccer Coach Date: November 1, 2008 RE: 2009 Team Trip

It is with great pleasure that I take this opportunity to inform you of that the Lasell College men's soccer team is planning a pre-season trip for 2009. Depending on the funds raised, the team will have the opportunity to select what type of trip can be ultimately planned. One option is a tour of Great Britain; which will take the team from Scotland south to London; the second possibility is to Costa Rica. Each of these tours includes matches against top amateur teams and training at incredible facilities. The third possibility is a trip to beautiful Saratoga, NY to an outstanding sports complex. Needless to say, any of these is an experience all of our players will remember forever! “It will be through generous donations of these much needed (and appreciated!) funds where this trip will become a reality.”

In order for this to become a reality for our team, we must raise very significant funds to cover potential flights, hotel, and ground transportation. Our team will work closely together to make this a success and must reach out to our friends, family, and you, our alumni supporters. To help reach our ultimate goal, we are hoping to raise a grand total of $75,000.00. Such a total allows the team to take the European trip. It will be through generous donations of these much needed (and appreciated!) funds where this trip will become a reality.

At this time, I am requesting that you now become involved with this fund raising effort. Within your community network, I am hopeful that you can generate significant business and corporate donations. These donations can be large or small, are tax deductible, and go toward the overall cost of the trip and not to a single player. Contributions must be made out to Lasell College Men's Soccer and mailed to: Giovanni Pacini, Head Men's Soccer Coach, Lasell College, 1844 Commonwealth Ave., Newton, MA 02466.

I‟m looking forward to a terrific trip and hope that you will assist with this important effort!

Sincerely, Giovanni Pacini Head Men's Soccer Coach

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Lasell College Men‟s Soccer Alumni Newsletter

Men’s Soccer 2008 Season Review By Janice Coppolino, Director of Sports Information, Lasell College

The Lasell College men‟s soccer team closes out an outstanding 2008 season, finishing second in the GNAC, with a 12-8-0 record, and their second trip to the ECAC Championship tournament in the program‟s history. The Lasers went 9-1-0 in regular season play, before losing in the semi-finals of the GNAC tournament, 0-2, to Saint Joseph‟s College (Me.). Seeded seventh in the 2008 ECAC DIII New England Championship, Lasell closed its season in a 0-1 loss to second seeded Curry College, in the quarter finals. The Lasers started the season off dropping their first three games of the season in tough non-conference action before going 4-1 through the rest of September, and 7-2 in October. During that time the Lasers produced notable wins conference rivals Mount Ida College, 6-0, and a 3-0 second half win over Johnson & Wales University. The Lasers finished ranked 15 th in the nation for scoring offense, having scored 60 goals in 20 games, averaging 3 goals per game. Lasell produced 7 shutouts this season, five of which were solo shutouts by goalkeeper Julian Dutton (Madison, Conn.). Dutton was placed on the GNAC Honor Roll four times this season for his 98 saves and 1.16 goals against average. Dutton finished the season ranked 38th in the NCAA DIII in save percentage (.845) and 72nd in saves per game (6.12). Dutton also shared a shutout and time in net with rookie keeper Matthew Bruninghaus (Plymouth, Mass.). Bruninghaus played in 9 games this season, producing 18 saves and one solo shutout. The keepers were assisted all season by Lasell‟s incredible defenders, Brandon Hanss (Halifax, Mass.), Paul Meucci (Vernon, Conn.), Rocco Mazzaferro (Niskayuna, NY), and Sean Fisher (Griswold, Conn.). Hanss was the anchor for the Lasers defense all season, until an injury sidelined him before the post-season tournament. Meucci, Fisher, and Mazzaferro were skillful and determined in the back field. Meucci was selected to the All-Tournament team for his play during the GNAC Championships. Several Lasers were recognized this season for their individual accomplishments. Senior captain Zach Gagne (Somerset, Mass.) finished the year as the all-time career leader in points, and was named to the Great Northeast Athletic Conference First Team All-Conference. Gagne ended his career as a laser with 121 total points, having scored 48 goals and 25 assists. In 2008, Gagne scored 12 goals and assisted seven times for 31 of those points, and was selected as Player of the Week twice by the GNAC. Gagne finished the year ranked 4th in the GNAC in total points and 5th in points per game (1.72). He is 5th in goals and goals per game (.67), and is fourth overall in assists (7). Gagne was also nationally ranked in the NCAA DIII this season; finishing 79th in points per game (1.63), 95th in goals per game (.63), and 142nd in assists per game (.37). Dan Hatch (Avon, Mass.) and Kuol Acuek (Lincoln, Mass.) were honored as Third Team All-Conference selections in the GNAC. In his first season as a Laser, Hatch finished tied with Gagne as the team‟s leading scorer this season, with 31 points. Hatch scored 13 goals, six of which were game winners, and registered 5 assists. Hatch finished the season ranked 4th in the GNAC for points and second in points per game, averaging 1.82. He was also ranked fourth in total goals, and third in goals per game (.76), and tied for 8th in the GNAC in total assists with five, and assists per game (.29). Acuek has been an impact player in the midfield for the past four seasons, having scored 12 goals and recorded 6 assists for 30 career points. Shane Vinnecombe (Pomfret Center, Conn.), Stephen Petrin (Vernon, Conn.), Matt Tieri (Billerica, Mass.), and Joshua Martinez (Milton, Mass.) were also influential all season for Lasell in the midfield. Vinnecombe accumulated 8 points this season, and Martinez amassed five. Forwards Kyle Cronin (Weymouth, Mass.), Robbie Gonzalez (Palmdale, CA), and Tholemson Francois (Stoughton, Mass.) were also keys to the Lasers successful offense line. Cronin scored 15 points in his first season at Lasell, including two game winning goals. Gonzalez and Francois proved that speed can be deadly, as Francois connected for 27 points this season and Gonzalez added seven, each with one game winner.

Lasell College Men‟s Soccer Alumni Newsletter

Page 4

GAGNE, HATCH, ACUEK RECEIVE ALL CONFERENCE ACCOLADES

By Janice Coppolino, Director of Sports Information, Lasell College

Zach Gagne

Three Lasell College men‟s soccer players were selected to the Great Northeast Athletic Conference All-Conference Teams for the 2008 season. Zach Gagne of Somerset, Massachusetts was named to the first team, with fellow teammates Dan Hatch of Avon, Massachusetts and Kuol Acuek of Lincoln, Massachusetts being named to the third team. Gagne (left) has been an All-Conference selection for all four years as a Lasell athlete. Gagne was named to the NAC All Conference 2nd team as a freshman in 2005, and then the 1st team in 2006, along with being the Player of the Week twice. Gagne was once again recognized in 2007 and 2008 as a first team All-Conference player in the GNAC, and has also been selected as Player of the Week twice in the 2008 season. This season, Gagne is leading the team in points with 31, and is second on the team in goals scored (12). His presence on the field is immense as he can not only create his own offense, but he is a great distributer of the ball, leading the Lasers with 7 assists this season. He is ranked 4th in the GNAC in total points and 5th in points per game (1.72). He is 5th in goals and goals per game (.67), and is fourth overall in assists (7).

Dan Hatch

Gagne is the men‟s soccer team‟s all time leading scorer at Lasell College with 121 total points to date. He has a career 8 game winning goals and a .573 shots on goal percentage. Gagne has been a four year starter for the Lasers, and a three year captain, beginning his sophomore year. During his time at Lasell, the Lasers have made appearances in the NCAA tournament and ECAC post season tournament. Gagne was also selected to the All-Tournament team in 2008 and was honored as the Lasell candidate for the All-Sportsmanship team. Hatch (right) finished his first season with the Lasers as the leader in goals scored and in points. Hatch has made an immediate impact on the Lasers, ending the year with 31 total points, on 13 goals and 5 assists. Hatch is ranked 4th in the GNAC for points and second in points per game, averaging 1.82. He is fourth in total goals, and third in goals per game (.76) in the GNAC. He is also tied for 8th in the GNAC in total assists with five, and assists per game (.29).

Kuol Acuek

In the seventeen games Hatch played this season, he has produced the game winning goal in six of those games. Even more impressive is that five of those six game winners were against conference competition. Hatch is second in the GNAC in game winning goals. Acuek (left) has been a starting player for the Lasell since arriving in 2005, and his impact on the program has been dramatic. He is a technical player in the midfield for the Lasers, however he exhibits tremendous defensive skill as well. Extremely athletic and tough, Acuek will beat players in one on one situations majority of the time. Acuek has played 64 games in the blue and white over his career. He has scored 12 goals and dished out 6 assists, totaling 30 points for his career.

Paul Meucci

Also being honored by the GNAC this season was Paul Meucci, of Vernon, Connecticut, who was selected to the GNAC All-Tournament team along with Gagne. Securing the defense in the center back position, Meucci (right) shows incredible leadership on and off the field for Lasell with his positive disposition. Meucci plays incredible defense but can also create offense with his ability to distribute the ball. Meucci collected two assists this season.

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Lasell College Men‟s Soccer Alumni Newsletter

3rd Annual Alumni game

Like a fine wine….we just keep getting better with age!

and played for an hour or so. We didn‟t officially keep score, but I think it is safe to assume that whatever team Petro was on won.

This past October was the 3rd Annual Lasell College Men‟s Soccer Alumni Game, and a great time was had by all. Each year we are adding more alumni to our group and it was more than evident this past year when we had enough guys for two full sides and a couple of subs (thank god). We hit “the pitch” around 9 a.m.

After the game we had a coffee and bagel reception on the roof deck of the new Rockwell Hall located next to Grellier Field. After this people went their separate ways to shower up and then met back at campus to watch the current Lasers crush our rival Mt. Ida by the score of 6-0 and attend an

By Mike Petruccelli „05

Alumni Athlete Reception in the Athletic Center. After this we went to where else but The Cherry Tree for another alumni event. All in all it was another great alumni weekend. It was great to see everyone again, and I am already looking forward to next year!

Men‟s Soccer Alumni Website Launched Dave McInnis „03 and the Men‟s Soccer Alumni Association have developed a website for Alumni of the Men‟s Soccer program. The website is in it‟s early stages and we would love to hear your feedback about the site. Currently, the site can be found at http://lasellsoccer.wik.is/ . Some of the features of the site include pictures, blogs, chats, and videos. Pictures of our 3rd Annual Alumni Game from this past fall can be found on the site.

Visit http://lasellsoccer.wik.is/