By Dylan Butler
Freshman striker Andrei Gotsmanov and sophomore midfielder Ashley Kozicki have both decided to transfer out of St. John's, according to several sources.Gotsmanov, who led the Red Storm in scoring last year with 9 goals and 4 assists for 22 points in 21 games, will head to Division I powerhouse Creighton. Kozicki, who had 2 assists in 19 games and took a leave of absence from the team just before the start of the 204 season, will head to Akron.However Red Storm coach Dave Masur has assembled a stellar recruiting class that should certainly soften the blow felt by the loss of Gotsmanov and Kozicki. Leading a talented group of freshmen are Ryan Soroka from Langhorn, Pa. and Anthony Beltran from Claremont, Calif., who have each recently started for the United States Under-18 and Under-17 national teams, respectively.Both players, who were each named NSCAA Youth All-Americans, played against each other last month in Bradenton, Fla. Beltran started for the U-18s in the midfield, but moved to left back in the second half while Soroka played in the midfield for the U-17s, which earned a 2-1 win.Three former St. John's players have inked developmental contacts with MLS. Chris Corcoran, who was selected by the MetroStars in the MLS SuperDraft (25th overall), signed with the Metros last month. He was on the active roster for Saturday's season opener against Real Salt Lake, but didn't see action in the scoreless draw at Giants Stadium.He did play, however, against St. John's Sunday, starting on the left side of defense in the MetroStars exhibition win.Goalkeeper Bill Gaudette and versatile Ryan Kelly were each selected by the Columbus Crew in the MLS Supplemental Draft and both signed developmental contacts last week. Neither player stepped on the field in the Crew's season opening 3-0 win over the Los Angeles Galaxy Saturday night.They join former St. John's star Chris Wingert on the Crew roster. Wingert also didn't play Saturday, sidelined with an abdomen/groin strain.Marlon Rojas, who played one season at St. John's before transferring to the University of Tampa where he won the Division II national championship in 2001, made his MLS debut with Real Salt Lake Saturday.Rojas, who starts alongside Brent Sancho – another former St. John's player – on the Trinidad and Tobago national team, started for the MLS expansion club before being replaced by Luke Kreamalmeyer in the 72nd minute.The sixth former St. John's player in MLS is Shalrie Joseph, who was named captain of the New England Revolution before the club's season opening 2-2 draw at San Jose Saturday night.Joseph, a Grenada international who was named an MLS All-Star last year and is one of the best defensive midfielders in the league, inked a contract extension with the Revolution March 30.”Shalrie is a tough player and a polished pro who has emerged as a real team leader,” Revolution head coach Steve Nicol said. “We're certainly pleased to have him in the fold going forward.”BaseballC.W. Post 11, Queens College 10. John Aluska went 3-for-4 with a home run and 3 RBI, Mike Sporton, Vinny Miller and William Miller had 2 hits apiece for Queens (2-7-1, 1-2-1 NYCAC) Tuesday afternoon.SoftballSeton Hall 7, St. John's 3. Loren Anguiano, Tami Hill and Jessica Marical each had 2 hits for St. John's (13-17, 1-1 Big East), which rallied from a 4-0 deficit to get within 4-3 before Seton Hall scored 3 runs in the top of the seventh inning last Thursday at St. John'sSt. John's 10, Seton Hall 1. Allina Sainz went 3-for-3 with 5 RBI, Christina Tucker was 2-for-3 with 3 RBI and Meghan Allman and Brittany Crouch combined for a 4-hitter in the second game of a Big East opening doubleheader.Queens College 9, Concordia College 3. Jessica Henck and Jessica Paparella each had 3 hits, Crystal Wilson had 2 hits, including a home run and 4 RBI and Allison Castellucci pitched a complete game to pick up her first win of the year Tuesday afternoon.Queens College 11, Concordia College 0. Tammy Lerch pitched a 3-hit shutout, Henck had 3 more hits, 2 runs scored and 2 RBI, Patti Cronin (3 RBI), Wilson, Maria Scalisi and Alex Anagnostos each had 2 hits for Queens, which improved to 10-7, 4-2 in the NYCAC.Reach Sports Editor Dylan Butler by e-mail at TimesLedger@aol.com or call 718-229-0300, Ext. 143.
