By Dylan Butler
The College of Mount St. Vincent men’s soccer team is off to its best start in school history and three freshmen from Holy Cross High School have played a major part.
Michael Massa, Antonio Cicero and Antonio Nittoli, all key members of the Holy Cross state championship team last season, are excelling on the college soccer field as well. All three are starters at Division III Mount St. Vincent helping lead the Dolphins to a 5-1 record, including 1-1 in the Skyline Conference, already surpassing the team’s win total of the past two seasons combined.
Massa, a midfielder, has six goals and three assists, while Cicero has chipped in three goals and three assists. Nittoli is the team's starting sweeper and plays alongside another former Holy Cross standout, senior Michael Giancola, the team’s captain. They have anchored a defense that has recorded two shutouts in the opening six games.
Another former Holy Cross standout, Shaun Higgins, a junior midfielder at Hofstra University, is third on the Pride with one goal and one assist in six games. Freshman Jimmy Theodoropolous, another member of the Knights state championship team last year, has appeared in five games for the Pride. Alessandro Acquista, also in the Holy Cross Class of 2001, has appeared in ?? games for St. John’s University, ranked No. 3 in the nation.
Marcial Alzugaray, who scored the game-winning goal in the state championship title game, has played in five games, averaging 22.6 minutes per game for Division III United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point (6-4, 4-0 Skyline).
Hampton named Red Storm baseball assistant coach
Mike Hampton was named assistant baseball coach at St. John’s University, it was announced by head coach Ed Blankmeyer last week. The Colorado Springs, Colo. native replaces Chris Dotolo, who left St. John’s to become the head coach at Hofstra University.
Hampton, who was an All-American at Clemson University and played in the Cincinnati Reds organization, comes to St. John’s after a two-year stint at Big East rival West Virginia University, where he served as the Mountaineers hitting coach.
“Mike’s got a great background and I think he’ll be a great addition to our staff,” Blankmeyer said. “He’s played at the top level in college baseball and I think his experience there, and as a professional player, will benefit our student-athletes.”
Molloy’s Hamilton commits to Holy Cross
Archbishop Molloy senior point guard Kevin Hamilton verbally committed to Holy Cross College over the weekend. The 6-foot-4 Hollis native, who averaged 3.4 points per game last year, chose Holy Cross over Old Dominion, Iona, Rider and Quinnipiac. He joins former Christ the King standout Jave Meade on the Crusaders.
York’s Keita and White garner CUNY honors
Cheick Keita, a freshman midfielder on the York men’s soccer team, and Khari White, a junior on the York men’s track team, each garnered CUNY honors, the conference announced Tuesday. Keita was named CUNY Rookie of the Week while White picked up Male Runner of the Week honors.
Keita, a native of Mali in western Africa, scored two goals and two assists in the Cardinals 2-1 week, increasing his season total to three goals and three assists.
For the second straight week, White won the Sunday meet at Van Cortlandt Park. Knocking 1:04 off his time from the week before, the Jamaica resident finished at 28:44. White is already almost a minute below his time from the Championships last year, when he finished second.
Women’s volleyball
St. John’s 30-23-30-21-16, Pittsburgh 25-30-20-30-11. Sterie Varghese recorded nine kills and 13 digs as the Red Storm recorded its first ever win over Pittsburgh Sunday at the Fitzgerald Field House. St. John’s (12-2, 3-1) was also led by Mischara Saunders, who led the team with 11 kills and added four blocks and freshman Jennifer Emelogu, who set a St. John’s record with 10 service aces. She also set new career highs in kills (seven) and attempts (29) while adding eight digs and six blocks. St. John's returns to conference play Friday as the Red Storm hosts Providence College.
St. John’s 30-19-30-30, West Virginia 27-30-14-27. Kristy Mercein led the way with 22 kills in a career-high 57 attempts. Sarah McCray recorded 15 kills and 15 digs and Robyn Kurasaki added 50 assists for the Red Storm.
Queens College 30-30-30, Concordia 28-22-23. Cassidy Mariano had 21 kills, Noelia Castillo had 17 kills and Allison Campbell added 46 assists to lead the surging Lady Knights (9-3, 5-0 New York Collegiate Athletic Conference), winners of eight straight games.
Queens College 30-30-30, Kutztown 19-23-14. Castillo had 20 kills and 13 digs and Campbell added 52 assists and eight digs for Queens.
Queens College 30-30-30, Philadelphia University 17-16-21. Castillo had 21 kills and 10 digs and Campbell had 39 assists for Queens.
Queens College 27-30-30-30, Dowling 30-25-27-25. Castillo led the way again with 22 kills and 10 digs, while Mariano added 15 kills and seven digs in a NYCAC match.
Queens College 30-30-30, Molloy College 20-7-11. Mariano had 15 kills and three service aces and Campbell contributed 29 assists for the Lady Knights.
Women’s Soccer
Miami 4, St. John's 1. Laura West led the way for the Hurricanes, netting three goals as host Miami broke a 1-1 tie to cruise to victory Sunday. The Red Storm (2-6, 1-2 Big East) tied the score at 1 on an Erin Zambelli penalty kick in the 45th minute. Next up for St. John's is a home conference match against Providence Friday.
St. John’s 1, Boston College 0. Lisa Rinaldi scored the lone goal in the 27th minute on an assist by Kristy Bergen as the Red Storm snapped a four-game losing streak Friday at DaSilva Memorial Field.
Caldwell 3, Queens 0. Senior keeper Mary Okolski made eight saves for Queens (3-2) in the loss.
Men’s Soccer
York 5, John Jay 1. Cheika Kieta had two goals and two assists and Paul Cardoza also added a goal for York (3-1, 3-0 CUNY). Monair Brown scored the lone goal for John Jay Saturday.
Svoboda takes McLaughlin individual title, SJU finishes second
Andrew Svoboda fired a final-round 1-under par 69 Friday to win the individual title and led St. John’s to a second-place finish at the McLaughlin Tournament at the Bethpage Red Course. The Red Storm finished seven strokes behind Rollins.
Sophomore Kyle Sleasman had a two-under par 68 in the third round and tied for third place at one-over par 211, while junior Jesse Fitzgerald tied for sixth place at six-over par 216.
St. John’s plays next at the Temple Owl Invitational Friday and Saturday.
Reach Associate Sports Editor Dylan Butler by e-mail at Timesledger@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 143.
