Mon./Fri., Sept. 7/11 – vs. Syracuse (Hamilton, N.Y.), at Albany (Albany, N.Y.), 7 p.m./4 p.m.

 

The Colgate men's soccer team returns home today to host area rival Syracuse University at 7 p.m. on Van Doren Field.  The Raiders will then travel to face another in-state foe, Albany, on Friday at 4 p.m.

 

Syracuse -  The Syracuse men's soccer team (1-1-0) arrives in Hamilton after defeating regional rival Cornell, 2-1, on Saturday. Senior midfielder Hansen Woodruff scored both goals in the win, including a penalty kick in the 61st minute as the game-winner.  Ryan Jones made three saves in the second half to secure the victory.  Woodruff also leads the Orange in scoring with three goals on the season.  

Albany – The Great Danes (0-2-1) wrapped up weekend play at the Coastal Carolina/adidas Invitational Tournament with an 0-1-1 tournament record.  Albany fell to Virginia Commonwealth, 2-1, on Sunday after finishing in a 1-1 draw with Coastal Carolina on Friday.  Junior Bo Jelovac leads Albany in scoring with one goal and one assist so far this season.

 

The Raiders held the Binghamton Bearcats scoreless throughout regulation play, but fell 1-0 in overtime during a non-conference match-up this past Saturday night in Binghamton.  Raiders' goalkeeper Chris Miller (Dallas, Texas) had five saves in the game.

 

Colgate has faced Syracuse a total of 64 times, making the Orange its second-most played opponent in program history.  The Raiders currently lead the series 29-24-11. Last year's match, played at the SU Soccer Stadium, ended in a 1-1 draw.  Senior Chris Ross scored the game-tying goal for the Raiders in that match.  

Friday's game will mark the eighth meeting between Colgate and Albany, with the Raiders leading the series 5-1-1.  The last time the two teams met was at the Raiders Adidas Classic back in 2007, with Colgate downing the Great Danes 3-1.

 

The Raiders are looking to extend their home field winning streak to eight as they take on the Orange at Van Doren Field.  The Colgate men won their first home game of the 2009 season, and seventh consecutive home win, against Long Island on Sept. 1., picking up where they left off last season with a six-game win streak at home.  The Raiders haven't lost a game in Hamilton since Sept. 27, 2008, when they fell to Holy Cross, 1-0.

 

For the second year in a row the Colgate men's soccer team was selected to finish first in the Patriot League preseason poll.  The Raiders collected the most points with 95 and most first-place votes with 12.  Last year Colgate won both the regular season and championship titles adding to its championship title from the 2007 season.

 

Head coach Erik Ronning will begin his fifth season at the helm of the Colgate men's soccer program.  In just four short years, Ronning has brought the Raiders to the Patriot League Tournament four times and won the title the past two seasons to earn consecutive NCAA Tournament bids.  With a Colgate win total of 38 games, Ronning will look to earn his 50th career victory during the 2009 season

 

The Raiders return a strong group of student-athletes this year including seven starters while adding eight talented newcomers to the program.  Headlining the returners are Colgate's top five scorers from last season, Alex Weekes (Stroudsburg, Pa.), Steven Miller (Ivyland, Pa.), Chris Ross (Hurst, Texas), Matt Schuber (Webster, N.Y.) and Jeff Leach (New Canaan, Conn.).  Sophomore Chris Miller will anchor the Raiders in goal after starting in two games last year, as well as the second half of the NCAA Tournament game against Boston College.

 

Two Colgate soccer players have been recognized by national organizations so far this season.  Senior forward Alex Weekes has been named to the 2009 Missouri Athletic Club's Hermann Trophy Watch List.  The List is comprised of the 38 best men's Division I intercollegiate soccer players and is college soccer's version of the Heisman Trophy.  In addition, freshman midfielder Mike Reidy (Webster, N.Y.) was selected as one of College Soccer News' 100 Freshmen to Keep Any Eye On in 2009.

 

Next up the Raiders will host Siena before heading out of the state for the first time this season to face New Hampshire.  The Saints will grace Van Doren Field on Tues., Sept. 15th at 7 p.m., which Colgate will follow up with an away game at New Hampshire on Sat., Sept. 19th at 5 p.m.