Fixing mistakes is key
By Aubrey Gibert
On August 16, 2012
The old cliche says that it's okay to make mistakes, as long as you learn from them. That's the
motto the Buffalo State men's soccer team is standing by entering the 2012 season.
Coming off a rough season in which the Bengals finished 1-8 in conference play (6-9-2 overall),
players and coaches on the team seem to be putting last year behind them. Their focus is on the
upcoming season.
"The goal is to have a winning record and get to the conference playoffs and nothing short of it,"
head coach Rudy Pompert said. "Mentally, we have to believe we can win at all costs and that
means offensively and defensively."
After getting off to a hot start that saw Buffalo State win five of its first six games, the Bengals
faltered last season. They won just one game from that point forward. Coaches and players insist
the drop-off in the squad's play was due to being young and making mistakes.
"We made a lot of freshmen mistakes last year as a team," junior midfielder John Commisso
said. "We made a lot of silly mistakes and it cost us games."
Pompert said he agreed with his midfielder.
"Probably half the goals we gave up last season were silly goals that were untimely and just were
self-inflicted," he said. "We have to do a better job at cleaning up in those areas."
The team lost five seniors, including co-captains Tony Schiappa and Thomas Karanas. Schiappa
was the team's leading scorer last season, and though some teammates have referred to him
as "irreplaceable," Pompert believes they have to cope without him.
"Those players are going to be tough to replace, but we have to move on and we have players I
feel can step in and contribute right away," he said.
One of those players that Pompert alluded to was senior forward Phil Pinzone, who has already
been named captain.
"With losing (Schiappa) and (Karanas), I feel it's my job to take on more of a leadership role
next season in our game management and the team as a whole," Pinzone said.
Pinzone is one of six seniors on a team that is sure to be more experienced than last year's. There
are also ten juniors on the squad.
Pompert said he believes the team needs to improve both offensively and defensively, but views
defense as the priority entering the season.
"We gave up way too many goals last season and I'd like that number to get down to one or less
goals allowed per game," Pompert said. "If we can do that then we can dictate our offense but by
season's end I'd like to be below 20 in terms of goals against and I think we can do that."
In addition to Pinzone, the team will look to other players to step up including sophomores
Andrew Dugan and Marikos Habtemichael and senior Evan Johnson. All three finished top five
on the team in points. Pompert also expects incoming freshmen to contribute.
Junior goaltender Ben Spilman will be back in net this year but will face some competition from
an unnamed transfer in what Pompert called "a healthy competition."
Aubrey Gibert can be reached by email at gibert.record@live.com.
Get Top Stories Delivered Weekly
Recent The Record News Articles
Runge's on-court progress parallels off-court success
Buffalo State men's basketball coach Fajri Ansari remembers his decision to recruit Seth Runge out of Springville-Griffith Institute ...
Bashore Baltimore bound after finding success in fashion field
Kelsey Bashore opened her email over spring break and glanced over one particular message several times to confirm what she was ...
Ladies win OT thriller to close season
After being eliminated from the playoffs last week, the Buffalo State lacrosse team knew Saturday's game at Potsdam would be its last ...
Discuss This Article
GET TOP STORIES DELIVERED WEEKLY
FOLLOW OUR NEWSPAPER
LATEST THE RECORD NEWS
- We've Moved to www.buffstaterecord.com!
- Obama divulges new higher education initiative during visit to UB
- Ailing Podolefsky steps down as president
- SUNY appoints Cohen interim president
- President Podolefsky announces leave to fight cancer
- Rappers put Pepsi in a bind
- Congrats to grads: take next step with gratitude
RECENT THE RECORD CLASSIFIEDS
OUTSIDE THE LINES
- Tips For Improving Mental Health
- New Writers and Illustrators Win Decades-Old Science...
- Moving Resources For Military Families
- Historic Agreement Signed By Red Cross and Armed Forces
- Salonpas® Brand Stands the Test of Time
- Tips to “Yard Your Way” This Spring
- Upgraded Upstate Power Grid Will Deliver a Smarter,...
- A Story To Sing About
- The Gap in Gum Care: Why Caring For Your Teeth’s F...
- Top Tips for Signature Scents and Better-Smelling Laundry
FROM AROUND THE WEB
- The Untold Story of GoDaddy Founder’s Traumatic Life a...
- La Semana del Aprendizaje Juvenil destaca las oportunidades
- BookTrib's Bites: Four Captivating Spring Reads
- Moms Kick Back with Mamaritas
- Generac Urges Americans to Prepare for Power Outages Early
- Youth Apprenticeship Week Spotlights Opportunities
- New Expo Showcases AI Innovation
- Self-Care and Mental Health Tips for Caregivers
- Adventure Awaits: Discover the Playset that Brings...
- Need Auto Glass Repair? Don’t Despair
COLLEGE PRESS RELEASES
- NOW Available: Comcast Launches NOW Brand Prepaid Internet and Mobile Services Nationwide
- Guidenar Launches New Career Test for Gen Z
- GotIt! Education Offers MathGPT Free to All State & Community Colleges
- Shoff Promotions Comic Book & Sports Card Show
- Semiconductor Research Corp unveils 2024 Research Call, $13.8M Funding