BRONXVILLE, N.Y. – The Concordia College New York men's soccer team begins its 2019 campaign on Saturday, Sept. 7 at Saint Michael's College. Kickoff for the Clippers' season opener is slated for 4 p.m.
Match Information: Saint Michael's
Date: Saturday, September 7, 2019 | 4 p.m.
Location: Colchester, Vt. | Duffy Field
All-Time Series: First meeting
Last Time: N/a
Media Coverage: Live Stats
About the Clippers
Concordia begins the new season after a 6-8-2 2018 campaign, advancing to the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Championship as the fifth-seed behind a 6-5-1 conference mark. The Clippers averaged 2.00 goals per game last season, the fifth-best rate in the CACC, on a .148 shot percentage while allowing 2.99 goals.
Concordia returns eight lettermen from last season's team that started in double-digit games in junior midfielder Alessandro Battaglia (White Plains, N.Y.), senior defender Romardo Bigsby (Kingston, Jamaica), senior midfielder Elad Katz (Tel Aviv, Isreal), junior forward Dennis Limani (Norderstedt, Germany), senior defender Valmed Marki (Yonkers, N.Y.), senior forward Freddy Nava (Yonkers, N.Y.), senior midfielder Cristian Perez (Boynton Beach, Fla.), and junior defender Luca Sanna (Viddalba, Italy). Senior defender Liam Coffey (Montville, N.J.), sophomore defender Niccoy Morris (Westmoreland, Jamaica) and senior defender Ricardo Velazquez (Bronx, N.Y.) also return after making contributions off the bench, with each appearing in double-digit matches last season.
Limani, one of two returners to start in every match last year alongside Battaglia, is the top-returning offensive weapon for the Clippers with a team-best 13 goals and eight assists over his first two campaigns. Katz and Nava each contributed two goals during the 2018 campaign, with Katz and Limani both tallying four assists last year.
In goal, newcomers Mikael Varin (Toulouse, France) and Christopher Kaev (Australia) join senior Mario Lamacchia (Baldwin, N.Y.) and junior Carlos Penaherrera (Campbell Hall, N.Y.) in the competition for the starter role. Both Varin and Kaev join the Clippers with collegiate experience, with Varin starting 18 games over two seasons at Erskine College while Kaev contributed in a pair of shutouts last year at Monroe College.
About the Purple Knights
Saint Michael's (1-0) welcomes Concordia after besting Saint Thomas Aquinas College in overtime 2-1 on Thursday, Sept. 5.
Jake Bannon and Kenny Cesar both found the back of the net in the Purple Knights' season opener, with Andres Rivas, Kyle Brady and Cam Goodrich all tallying an assist.
In goal, Mathias Loft and Tommy Coil split time as Saint Michael's keeper on Thursday, with both recording one save while Coil earned the win after logging playing the second half and overtime.
Up Next
The Clippers continue their season-opening road swing on Wednesday, Sept. 11 at the College of Staten Island in a 4 p.m. matchup.
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