Re: [nas] NCAA Previews anyone? (Univ of Portland)

[jonathan wills <jwills@hevanet.com>]

http://portlandpilots.com/sports/msoccer/release.asp?RELEASE_ID=3229


Newcomers key to Portland squad

8/12/2002


Sometimes the best offense, is a really good offense.

Or, you could just rely on a really good defense.

Better yet, rely on a really good offense and a really good defense.

If those statements present too many choices, consider the plight of 
Clive Charles: despite losing five starters and seven letterwinners 
from last seasonıs 13-6-1 team that advanced to the third round of 
the NCAA playoffs, Charles has the task of implementing 12 new 
players into his menıs soccer team. Of Portlandıs six losses, five 
were by one goal -- three by 1-0 scores -- as the Pilots allowed only 
19 goals last season.

And those 12 freshmen are skilled enough and boast such a list of 
credentials that they could field their own 11 to challenge the 
returning Pilots. Thankfully, Charles has six starters returning 
among 13 letterwinners, creating a situation of increased competition 
for starting positions.

Junior forward Nate Jaqua is completely recovered from off-season 
foot surgery, and the all-Americaıs unique combination of speed, 
finesse and size provide the Pilots with a solid offensive starting 
point. On the other end of the pitch, senior keeper Curtis Spiteri 
has been one of the countryıs steadiest goalies over the past three 
years. Wide midfielders Josh Simpson and Eric Cronkrite will join 
with Jaqua to form one of the most potent offenses in the country.

Jaqua, Cronkrite and Spiteri were starters for the Boulder Rapids 
Reserve team that played in August for the Premier Development League 
(PDL) national championship.

Senior midfielder Matthew Domingo is also back after sitting out the 
2001 season with a knee injury, and is joined by interior defenders 
Kyle Tanner and Paul Robinson.

The dozen freshman newcomers - a recruiting class which one Internet 
site tagged the 6th-best in the country -- include a trio of U.S. 
national youth team players, the Oregon and Arizona Players of the 
Year, and seven other players who were all-state performers.

FORWARDS

Jaquaıs two-year total of 19 goals and 15 assists has the junior just 
outside Portlandıs all-time scoring lists, but perhaps more important 
to the Pilots are the nature of his goals ­ heıs sixth all-time with 
eight game-winning goals, including five last season. He scored 
Portlandıs only goals in 1-0 NCAA playoff wins over Gonzaga and 
Washington, and also had the game-winning goal and added an assist 
against Santa Clara.

In taking his second all-West Coast Conference honor, Jaqua was also 
a third-team all-America (NSCAA), first-team all-Far West Region, won 
three WCC Player of the Week honors, was Offensive MVP of the 
Portland Invitational for the second time, and all-tourney at the 
Evansville Classic.

Sheldin Maistry, one of three seniors on the roster, scored 
Portlandıs game-winning goal in a 3-2 over UNLV. Maistry made three 
starts last season and played in 14 games.

Alejandro Salazar, the son of former world-record marathoner Alberto 
Salazar, figures to pair with Jaqua up top after rolling up Oregon 
and Metro League Player of the Year honors at Jesuit High School. 
Salazar scored 33 goals his senior season, leading Jesuit to a 
third-straight Oregon 4A championship.

Patrick Mooney teamed up front with Salazar at Jesuit, and was 
all-Metro and second-team all-state.

MIDFIELDERS

The emergence of Mario Picarelli and return of Domingo mark the 
midfield as Portlandıs deepest position, whether the discussion is 
attacking or holding midfield. Picarelliıs work-rate and ³grinder² 
mentality was a welcome replacement after Domingo was forced to the 
sideline a month before the 2001 season began. A two-time all-WCC 
pick, Domingo is a vocal team-leader.

Picarelli originally joined the Pilots as a walk-on in 2000, and 
emerged last season with 12 starts in 15 games. His defensive work 
was instrumental in Portland posting nine shutouts in 2001.

Simpson spent the summer playing for Canadaıs U-20 national team, as 
well as scoring in bunches for the Victoria United club team. As a 
freshman in 2001, Simpson started all 20 Pilot games, scoring four 
goals with three assists.
Cronkrite made 15 starts and played in 18 Portland games, tying for 
third in the WCC with five assists. He also added two goals. In a 9-2 
win over Air Force, Cronkrite had a goal and three assists. His 
ability to cross the ball from wide positions will be a key for the 
Pilots.

Jarrod Weis enters his junior season after tying Cronkrite with five 
assists. He also added a goal. Weis made six starts and played in 19 
games.

Miguel Guante was Arizonaıs Player of the Year at Buena High School, 
earning Arizona Republic and Tucson Citizen first-team all-state 
honors. Guante has been a member of the U.S. U-17 and U-18 national 
teams, and brings a playmaker mentality to the position.

Ari Oklan, also a former U.S. U-17 national teamer, was team MVP and 
first-team all-Marin County Athletic League as a senior in the Bay 
Area. He helped his Terra Linda high school team to three league 
championships, and also spent four months at the Bollettieri Academy 
in Florida.

Tor Southard and Sean Babcock complete Portlandıs midfield crew. 
Babcock was a three-time all-Valley League player at Corvallis High 
School, and earned three all-state certificates. Southard was a 
two-time first-team all-league player at Salemıs Sprague High School, 
and was second-team all-state as a senior.

DEFENDERS

Kyle Tanner was the mainstay in Portlandıs defense last season, 
leading the team to nine shutouts. Tanner was an honorable mention 
all-WCC pick, starting all 20 games for the Pilots.

Paul Robinson saw action in just four games last season after coming 
down with mono. After appearances in Portlandıs first two games of 
the season, Robinson didnıt return until the playoffs, coming on as a 
substitute to help preserve Portlandıs 1-0 win at Washington.

Ben Benditson made six starts and played in 11 games as a freshman, 
including starts against playoff teams Denver, Indiana, Gonzaga and 
Washington. Brian Cotlove saw action in four games. Twin brothers 
John and Ryan Domingo battled injuries the entire season ­ Ryan made 
three starts and played in five games, while John was sidelined for 
all 20 games.

Portlandıs recruiting focus after the 2001 season began with defense, 
highlighted by a trio of decorated and athletic defenders. Heath 
Pearce spent two years in residency with the U.S. U-16 and U-17 
national teams in Florida, and also competed for the Bradenton 
Academy team for two years. As a member of the Region IV ODP team, he 
was the 1999 Golden Boot award winner. Pearce and the Bradenton 
Academics nearly faced Spiteri, Jaqua and Cronkrite in the PDL 
finals, but lost a semifinal game to the Cape Cod Crusaders.

Josh Brown, a bruising 6-3 200-pounder from Jesuit High School, is 
physically reminiscent of former Pilot, Khary Knowles, and was a 
two-time all-state and all-Metro League player while helping the 
Crusaders to three league and state titles. Alex Darbut joins the 
Pilots from Minnesota, where he led his Edina High School team to 
three straight state titles. Darbut scored the game-winning goal with 
42 seconds remaining in the second overtime of the 2001 state 
championship. In addition to a long list of all-league, all-tourney 
and all-state awards, Darbut also won two state slalom skiing titles.

Jason Young was a two-time all-Three Rivers League player and 
third-team all-state player at Clackamas High School, but will be 
making the move from midfield to defense.

GOALKEEPERS

In three seasons as Portlandıs starting keeper, Curtis Spiteri has 
earned a trio of all-WCC awards, but none were sweeter than the 
second-team honor he picked up last season. Spiteri had eight 
shutouts, including a stretch of four straight blank sheets and 
457:59 scoreless minutes. He also earned a WCC Player of the Week 
honor after slapping shutouts on then-#17 Loyola Marymount and #14 
San Diego. He allowed just 17 goals, made 66 saves and had a 0.91 
goals against average ­ all career bests.

Spiteri ranks fourth all-time at Portland in saves (212) and saves 
per game (3.72), sixth in goals against average (1.17), and third in 
shutouts (20).

Justin Carter made one start and played in three games for the 
Pilots, sharing a shutout with Spiteri in a 5-0 win over Seattle. In 
his first career start, Carter collected a 9-2 win over Air Force. A 
team favorite, Carter made seven saves in 172 minutes of action.

Luis Robles, high school and club teammate of fellow rookie Miguel 
Guante, was a 2001 ODP and NSCAA prep all-America, U.S. U-18 national 
team member, and briefly joined the U-20s for training. Robles was 
Arizonaıs first-team all-stater as a junior and senior, as well as 
Tucson Citizen first-team and Arizona Republic second-team.
Brandon Bronars was all-state tournament, all-Region, Region Keeper 
of the Year, and all-Metro as a senior for Briarcrest Christian High 
School in suburban Memphis, Tenn. He helped BCHS to a 12-2-2 record 
and made 167 saves, was an ODP player in North Carolina (1996-97) and 
Tennessee (1998-present).


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