(12/4/06) Last week the 2006 NSCAA/Adidas Division III Men’s Soccer All-Region teams were announced.  Centenary College’s Nelson Becerra (Paterson/St. Benedict’s) and Chris Hill (Flanders/Gill St. Bernard’s) were both selected as members of the 2nd and 3rd Teams respectively of the NSCAA’s Metro Region.
 

Becerra’s selection the 2nd Team All-Metro Region list was the most recent of numerous accolades the Cyclone freshman, midfielder has received in this his first collegiate season.  He finished the year tied for team lead in total points with 29, while leading the team in assists with nine.  He was voted to the Skyline Conference 1st Team of All-Stars as well as the Conference’s Rookie of the Year.

Hill’s season total were not far off of his teammates, as he finished 2006 with the same number of points, 29, including the team lead in goals scored with 12.  His selection to the All-Metro Region 3rd Team also adds to a list of awards which includes a 1st Team All-Skyline Conference selection and a one-time ECAC Metro Region Player of the Week award.
 

Centenary Head Coach Keith O’Connor when asked about both players contributions this season said, “both players were tremendous additions to our program and are key factors towards the growth of the program”.

(10/30/06)  Earlier today the Centenary Men’s Soccer earned their first ever qualification into the Skyline Conference playoffs with a 3-2 victory over Old Westbury.  The win gives the Cyclones the #3 seed in this week’s conference playoffs, a spot that no Men’s Soccer team has achieved since joining the Skyline four years ago. 
 

Centenary wasted no time getting out the gates.  In just the 2nd minute of play freshman Nelson Becerra (Paterson/St. Benedict’s) found the foot of Kissinger Barreau (Manahawkin/Southern Regional) to lift the home 1-0. Despite out shooting the visitor’s 8-1 in the opening half the score remained 1-0 into the halftime break.  Once again right off the start of the second half, Barreau record his second goal of the game, this time coming on an assist from Josh Spivack (Budd Lake/Mount Olive).  Later in the 66th minute the Panthers cut the lead in half, when Felipe Cavalcanti (Valatie, NY/Crane) scored off a deflection from the Centenary goalie.  The home team was not done however, as less than ten minutes later freshman Chris Guadagno (West Milford/West Milford) connected on a header from Becerra marking his second assist of the afternoon.  Despite the two goal deficit, Old Westbury refused to give up as they again pulled to within 3-2 when John Senatore (Ridge, NY/Longwood) scored on an assist played through by Shawn Holland (Massapequa, NY/St. Anthony’s).
 

Along with the victory pushing the Cyclones into the playoffs, it was also a nice way to honor the team’s four seniors who all played substantial roles in the outcome.  Kissinger Barreau finished with two goals, goalkeeper Donnie Iudica (Dingman’s Ferry, PA/St. Mary’s (NY) notched the victory in net, and defenders Manny Nieves (Hammonton/Hammonton) and Brian Engisch (Frenchtown/Delaware Valley) each played tremendously in the backfield. 
 

Centenary will take on the United State Merchant Marine Academy on Wednesday in the Skyline Conference semi-final, up in King’s Point , NY.  The time of this game has not been decided.  BOXSCORE

(10/19/06) Earlier this week Centenary sophomore Chris Hill (Flanders / Gill St. Bernard’s) was named the Skyline Conference Men’s Soccer Player of the Week and the ECAC Metro Region Player of the Week.

In the team’s four games last week, Hill recorded 18 points on eight goals and two assists helping the Cyclones to a perfect 4-0 week.  He scored at least one goal in every game, including four in a 5-1 victory over Maritime College.  In addition to his four goals, Hill also added an assist giving him nine total points for the afternoon, which set a new Centenary College record for points in a game.

Chris’ selection as both the Skyline Conference and ECAC Metro Region’s Player of the Week, is the first time this fall that any Centenary athlete as received both awards for the same week of action.

(10/14/06)  In the second game of today’s soccer doubleheader at Centenary, the Cyclones Men’s Soccer team improved to 8-6 overall, 3-1 in the Skyline Conference, thanks impart to four goals and a total of nine points by sophomore Chris Hill (Flanders/Gill St. Bernard’s).  Hill’s nine points sets the record for most points scored in a game in Men’s Soccer history at Centenary, while the four goals ties the record for goals scored in a game. 
  

The host Cyclones opened the scoring early as Hill connected on his first goal just 13:30 into play, on an assist from Patrick Trivino (Lyndhurst/St. Mary’s).  As the half continued, Centenary was able to keep constant pressure on the Maritime back-line and goalkeeper.  In the 33rd minute Hill again found the back of the net, this time on the assist from Nelson Becerra (Paterson/St. Benedict’s).  Despite out shooting the visiting Privateers 13-3 in the half, Centenary held just the two goal advantage into the break.  The second half was again Chris Hill’s time to shine as in the 56th minute he nailed the hat trick, scoring off a pass from Kissinger Barreau (Manahawkin/Southern Regional).  Less than two minutes later Hill returned the favor as he fed Barreau for Centenary’s fourth goal of the afternoon.  The lone goal for the visitor’s came in the 70th minute when back-up goalkeeper Andy Roth (Huntington, NY/Huntington) found Mahmet Alkan (Turkey/Ozel Central) on a 70-yard kick and Alkan chipped the ball into the back of the net.  Centenary’s Chris Hill capped off his outstanding performance with a fourth score in the closing minutes, when Chris Guadagno (West Milford/West Milford) played through to him for his final tally, giving Hill nine points for the game.
 

The win gives the Cyclones there first three game winning streak of the season and pushes them into fifth place in the Skyline Conference standings.  As for Maritime College, they fall to 3-7-1 overall, 2-4-1 in the Skyline with the loss.  BOXSCORE

(10/4/06) Earlier today the Centenary Men’s Soccer team won their second conference game of the season, downing Mount Saint Mary College 4-1.
 

The host Cyclones opened the scoring on a goal by freshman standout Nelson Becerra (Paterson/St. Benedict’s) in the 22nd minute.  Becerra created a turnover in the Mount Saint Mary end of the filed and completed the play in the bottom corner of the net.  The visiting Blue Knights were not down for long however, just 0:47 seconds later they were awarded a penalty kick off of a Centenary foul within the 18-yard box.  Andy Espinoza (Mount Kisco, NY/Fox Lane) evened the game at 1-1 with the goal.  Off of the restart, Centenary pushed the ball down the field and was awarded a penalty kick of their own, as Mount Saint Mary was called for a hand-ball in the penalty area.   Becerra netted his and the Cyclones second goal of the afternoon, pushing them back in front again.  Then just before the halftime break, Centenary gave themselves a two goal cushion.  Senior Brian Engisch (Frenchtown/Delaware Valley) scored on a header when Ryan Bilello (West Hempstead, NY/West Hempstead) found him on a 25-yard throw in.
 

The game remained a two goal deficit until the 68th minute, when Nelson Becerra recorded his first hat trick of his career.  Becerra’s third tally came off the left foot following an attempted clear by Mount Saint Mary from a Centenary corner.  With the goals in today’s game, Becerra extended his streak to eight consecutive games of scoring at least one-point.  The victory today pushes Centenary above .500 in the conference standings for the first time all season.  They now stand at 5-5 overall, and 2-1 in the Skyline.
 

The loss for Mount Saint Mary drops them to 5-5 overall, 0-3 in conference play.  The Knights goalkeeper Paul Aries (Nashua, NH/Suffield Academy) made eight saves in the loss.  For Centenary, Damien DiBuono (Succasunna/Morris Catholic) made three saves in route to his fifth victory of the fall.   BOXSCORE

(9/26/06)  Centenary freshman Nelson Becerra (Paterson/St. Benedict's) was named the Skyline Conference Rookie of the Week for Men's Soccer on Monday.

Becerra was chosen for his outstanding play in Centenary's 2-1 victory over Manhattanville College back on Sept. 20th.  He totaled three points which included an assist and the game winning goal on a penalty kick, propelling the Cyclones to their first Skyline Conference win of the season. 

(9/14/06) The Centenary Men’s Soccer team took care of business earlier today versus visiting Yeshiva University.  The Cyclones eased to an 11-0 non conference victory, improving themselves to 2-3 on the season.

The host’s played for 12 minutes before scoring a goal, but from there it was pretty much a continuing event.  Freshman Chris Guadagno (West Milford/West Milford) took a cross from Chris Hill (Flanders/Mt. Olive) and headed the ball to the back of the net, giving the Cyclones a  1-0 advantage.  Over the next eight minutes Centenary capitalized on four more scoring chances and led 5-0 just half way through the opening half.  Freshman Damien Gallegos (Rutherford / Queen of Peace) scored on an assist from Nelson Becerra (Paterson/St. Benedict’s) in the closing minutes of the half, for the 6-0 halftime lead.

The second half brought much of the same dominating play from the Centenary squad, as they again finalized numerous chances, scoring six more times in the second half.  The Centenary offense ended the day with 11 goals, four assists, and a total of 39 shots.  Sophomore reserve Pat Glackin (Whitehouse Station / Immaculata) recorded eight points with four goals scored.  Chris Guadagno finished with three goals and an assist while Chris Hill tallied a goal and two assists.  Freshman goalkeeper Damien Du Buono (Succasunna/Morris Catholic) recorded his first career collegiate shut-out making five saves in 70-minutes of play.  BOXSCORE