SEASON PREVIEW 2007
Golden Flyers look to challenge for Empire 8 title
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ROCHESTER, N.Y. (Feb. 15, 2007) -- They finished 12-4 in 2006, a season climaxed by a decisive 17-10 victory over Ithaca for the ECAC Upstate Championship.

No knock against the ECAC, mind you, but Rob Randall (pictured), Nazareth's seventh-year head coach, has his sights set on a bigger prize for 2007. Specific among the goals is an Empire 8 Conference championship and the automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Tournament that goes with it. After winning conference titles in 2003, 2004 and 2005, the Golden Flyers were denied a fourth straight title in '06 after losing to RIT in the semifinals of the conference tournament.

"Things didn't quite go our way in the Empire 8 Tournament (in an 18-13 loss to RIT)," said Randall, "but I fully expect us to be right in the thick of things again. We make it a point to never look beyond that."

Nazareth's 16-game schedule includes its earliest season opener in the program's 22-year history -- Feb. 24 at home against Gordon College of Wenham, Mass. at 1 p.m.

Nazareth lost nine seniors from the '06 team, including 100-goal career scorers Bryan Adams and Chris Balash. One prolific scorer who hasn't gotten away yet is senior attackman Ryan Hotaling (Onondaga HS/Syracuse, NY), who has been a dynamic force the past two seasons and begins 2007 with 102 career goals.

"Other teams are going to know who he is," Randall said. "The key for us will be to find some people to complement him."

Balash and another '06 graduate, Greg Kanellis, started regularly at attack alongside Hotaling and will have to be replaced. Candidates include senior Jordan Hirsch (Hendrick Hudson HS/Montrose, NY, 9 goals, 9 assists in '06); juniors Steve Cutia (Cortland HS/Cortland, NY) and Brian Lissner (East Syracuse-Minoa HS/East Syracuse, NY); sophomore Jim Wall (Corcoran HS/Syracuse, NY); and freshmen Sam Briggs (Acalanes HS/Lafayette, CA), Mark DeCirce (Binghamton HS/Binghamton, NY), John Manion (Geneva HS/Geneva, NY), Erinn O'Hara (Salisbury School/Camillus, NY) and Joe Valasiadis (North Shore HS/Glen Head, NY).

At midfield, the Golden Flyers lost a three-time All-American in Adams, a versatile two-way player who could score, defend and pick up ground balls. Senior Chad Amidon (pictured, Onondaga HS/Syracuse, NY) is the top returning midfield scoring threat after amassing 25 goals in 2006.

The Golden Flyers have an array of middies looking for a boost in playing time for '07, including seniors Kevin Gibbons (Bishop Brady HS/Canterbury, NH), Kevin Kimball (St. Mark's HS/Framingham, MA), Conor O'Keefe (Stony Brook HS/Setauket, NY), Kyle Purcell (Bow HS/Bow, NH) and Jim Schultheis (West Islip HS/West Islip, NY); juniors Matt Aloi (Jamesville-DeWitt HS/Jamesville, NY), Aaron Civalier (Penfield HS/Rochester, NY) and Mark Kanellis (Cortland HS/Cortland, NY); and sophomores Mike Cummings (Notre Dame HS/Elmira, NY), Sean Dennison (Fairfield Prep/Redding, CT) and Chris Law (Catonsville HS/Catonsville, MD). Midfield newcomers are freshmen James Fitzella (James Madison HS/Vienna, VA), Brian O'Donnell (Bethlehem HS/Delmar, NY), Joe Trinca (C.W. Baker HS/Baldwinsville, NY) and Jay Willmes (Webster Schroeder HS/Webster, NY).

The Golden Flyers ranked sixth nationally in scoring offense in 2006 and had a healthy scoring differential of +5.69. Randall, however, would like to see his defense become a bit stingier and he believes he has a solid combination of experience and youth to foster that improvement.

Senior Francis Donald (St. Mark's School/Dallas, TX) started at close defense in '06, but will likely move back to his customary d-middie spot, where he was an honorable mention All-American in 2005. Seniors Ryan Conley (Fairfield HS/Fairfield, CT) and Ryan Perkins (Ithaca HS/Ithaca, NY) each started regularly while senior Will Tuttle (Phillips Exeter Academy/Kennebunk, ME) also played a prominent role. Other experienced defensemen are sophomores Alex Cole (Indian Hill HS/Cincinnati, OH) and Nick Lucarelli (Notre Dame HS/Elmira, NY) as well as junior John Hanss (Irondequoit HS/Rochester, NY), who also excels as a long-stick midfielder. Among the top newcomers are freshmen Kyle Brown (Catonsville HS/Baltimore, MD) and Mitchel Frey (Moeller HS/Terrace Park, OH), scholastic All-Americans in Maryland and Ohio respectively in 2006. Freshman Nate Camelio (Barnstabnle HS/Maratons Mills, MA) also could contribute.

Senior Pat Mullin (pictured, Irondequoit HS/Rochester, NY) is the probable starter in goal after splitting time there last season with the departed Alex Civalier. Mullin won six of his eight starts, had an 8.38 goals-against average and a .569 save percentage. Nazareth also has help in reserve with junior Anthony Desimone (Immaculate Heart Central/Watertown, NY) and three quality freshmen in Todd Dermody (Newfield HS/Selden, NY), Chris Hoffmeister (Holderness School/Norfolk, MA) and Cory Spinale (Governor's Academy/Wakefield, MA).

"I'm always optimistic, but we have several question marks," said Randall, who will be assisted by Ryan Martin and Jeff Mangini. "We have the ingredients to be successful."