Endicott Hoping to Improve upon Successful 2005 Season

Aug. 21, 2006

BEVERLY, MA - Head coach Stefano Franciosa and the Endicott men's soccer team made it deepest run in the Commonwealth Coast Conference Tournament since 2001, finishing the season with a record of 9-9-1 (7-3-1 CCC). The Gulls advanced to the CCC semifinals after defeating rival Colby-Sawyer College in overtime of the first round. The team played another overtime match in the semifinals, but Gordon College got the best of EC in the extra session.

After dropping six of their first seven games, Endicott played its way into a home tournament game, going 6-1-1 (lost to Gordon, 2-1; tied Salve, 1-1) over the final eight regular season contests. In that span, Endicott allowed just three goals while posting 19 scores of its own.

Tri-captain Josh Lewis '06 (Groveland, MA/Pentucket) Lewis capped a terrific four years at EC by leading the Commonwealth Coast Conference in scoring (4-11-19) and finishing with six goals for 23 points overall. He was also an integral part of the Gulls' push to the semifinals, which garnered the attention of the NSCAA/Addidas All-America Committee.

Lewis became the first men's soccer player in Endicott history to earn All-New England honors, earning first-team recognition for his impressive late-season scoring streak. Lewis, who was also a First-Team CCC All-Conference selection, sparked Endicott's rally down the stretch, recording a point in all but one of Endicott's final eight contests.

Daniel Duvernoy '06 (Hamilton, NY/Hamilton) was also a CCC All-Conference pick while Elias Carrero `08 (Great Barrington, MA/Monumen Mountain) made the third team. As Lewis drew more attention from opposing defenders, Carrero and Kyle Austin '06 (Keene, NH/Keene) emerged as scoring threats.

Austin tallied three goals for nine points, while Carrero scored twice for the Gulls. The two players helped EC control the middle of the field and set up Kyle Schmutte '09 (Wilbraham, MA/Minnechaug Regional), who scored two goals and assisted on two others in his first season of play. Pirapong Sirikietsoong (Bankok, Thailand) and Ruben Margolis '07 (Mexico City, Mexico/Nuevo Colegio Israelita) recorded two goals apiece and Mariano Pagano '06 (Buenos Aires, Argentina) rounded out the attack with a goal and three assists.

After playing some center midfield during the Gulls' slump, Duvernoy returned to his natural sweeper position to solidify an already tough defense, which was anchored by goaltender Cameron Twiss '07 (Reading, MA/Bishop Fenwick). The defense also featured Eitan Bendesky '06 (Mexico City, Mexico/Colegio Israelita de Mexico), Eric Booth '08 (Belchertown, MA/Belchertown), Steven Gloria '06 (Burrillville, RI/Burrillville) and Chris Croteau '07 (Groveland, MA/Pentucket). Gloria was a four-year player for Franciosa, playing at both outside midfield and outside fullback.

Incoming freshmen DJ Picariello `10 (Boxford, MA/Masconomet) and TJ Sapienza '10 (Milford, NH/Milford) should solidify the Endicott defense while Franciosa will look to Michael DeNuzzo `09 (Guilford, CT/Guilford) to have a breakout season.