Off to a slow start, the soccer team at Brooklyn College has picked up and gradually improved to a possible title in its division of the City University of New York Athletic Conference(CUNYAC).
After 10 games, Brooklyn is 4-5-1 and is led by senior goalie Michael Conway, who has two shutouts to his credit, both by 2-0 scores, the first against league rival York College, last year’s champion, and the second, the most recent one, against non-conference opponent Poly Technic Institute of New York.
Brooklyn is ranked among the top ten teams in Division III in the East, is the only CUNYAC squad to be ranked and, as a team, is in the middle of the league pack. One of the goals for the team is get a home game for the first round of the playoffs.
Defense, goal tending and togetherness are the primary strengths of the team.
“And we’ve been playing together better now than over previous years,” said coach David McLaughlin, who moved up from assistant last year to head coach.
“This is the first year I started the games,” Conway, a Marine Park resident, said. “I just show up, make some big saves and help the team to victory. I’ll start a lot of games. That’s a lot of pressure back there. Coming up with big stops is a big thing for this team. As a goalie I’m the last defender and I just try to stop all the hard shots and help the team. I play soccer to keep active and busy.”
Conway’s objective is to get his degree and move on in the professional world-meaning the business world, and not as a soccer player.
“Compared to last year we are more talented,” said assistant coach Bill Coulanges.
Brooklyn played at such fields as Parade Grounds, Kingsborough Community College, and the Aviator Sports Complex here in this borough this season. The first time that theyplayed at the latter site came against Poly Technic Institute last week.
The players certainly enjoyed playing at this beautiful, large field , and would like to get their home games at this site in the future.
Brooklyn College is trying to build the program to what it used to be in soccer.
“Over the years Brooklyn College stopped its soccer team in the early ‘90s and it brought it back in the mid ‘90s,” said athletic director Bruce Filosa.. “We’ve been competitive, having some good years and some not so good years. Now we’re excited as we’re getting a new building and a new field. That will enable us to draw the best athletes from the city to the program.
“We’re hoping to move in January. And the soccer field would be ready a year later (2010). Now we are able to practice behind the construction site. It’s not a regulation size field.”
“The present team has the same problems like the other CUNY teams have-in getting the players to make it to all of the games,” Coach McLaughlin said. “They have classes and have seven seniors who miss a lot of games.”
For example, four starters were out of the Poly game, but the subs filled in. and they won.
Despite losing to Brooklyn College, Poly Technic has played well in some of its games.
“We’re much improved over last year and are very competitive,” Coach Nate Kalin said. “Last year we had some games that were blown out. Now the wins will come.”
After 10 games, Poly with a 2-7-1 record, has not been beaten badly this year, according to Kalin.
