Issue date: 9/22/06 Section: Sports

Sophomore Colin Hinklemon readies to save a shot by a fellow team member.

Junior Ryan Hoff cuts through a defensemen

With a new season and the completion of a new playing field comes a talented group of players to the 2006 Cabrini men's soccer team.

Although the Cavaliers have more than 15 new players from freshmen and transfer students, this year's roster is lacking in neither skill nor experience.

This year's men's soccer team is a young team that consists of 27 players; 11 freshman, four sophomores, 11 juniors and just one senior.

Head coach Glen Jaskelewicz is returning for his second year and his hopes are high. Last season's Cavaliers went 5-12-2 and 2-7 in the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference division. They did not qualify for the PAC semifinals but with this year's talent, the men are hoping for a much longer post-season.

The team this year is a young group of athletes. With Brent Benner as the only senior, the juniors have been stepping up into leadership roles.

"With most of the team and starting lineup being juniors, I think it's important that they did," Benner said. Benner also said that Barry Magagna, junior midfielder and co-captain, has really shown great leadership.

Magagna is pleased with the dynamic of the team.

"We are meshing well," he said. When asked how he and his fellow juniors were handling the responsibility of leading the team and setting good examples, Magagna said, "It's tough when there aren't many seniors, so we collectively as a junior class have had to step up and become leaders, which has only made the team better as a whole."

According to Benner and coach Jaskelewicz the strength for the team

lies within the bench.

Benner said, "We are just as confident in our subs coming into the game and making an impact as our starters."

A fear of inexperience possibly affecting the younger players is felt by Benner, but after five games so far this season, he feels the newer players have already gotten used to college-level play.

Benner said that he feels this year's team is going to be more successful than lasts. The team, with so many new players, will be able to take many of their opponents by surprise and win more games.

As of September 11, the male Cavaliers are on the board with three wins and two losses. This past weekend they became the first PAC School to win the Jimmy Mills Tournament at Haverford College. The next five games on the schedule are home and two will be PAC games.

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