2010 Schedule / 2010 Roster / 2010 Media Guide

WILKES-BARRE - The Wilkes University men's soccer team will certainly be experiencing a transition period in 2010. The Colonels, who finished last year with an 8-9-1 record, 4-2-1 in conference play, and a Freedom Conference playoff berth, will be without five key seniors lost to graduation a season ago. 

In 2010, the Colonels will be without Greg Miller (Blandon, Pa./Fleetwood), Sean Vona (Vestal, N.Y./Vestal), Arthur Jankowski (Mountaintop, Pa./Crestwood), Troy Gibson (Sinking Spring, Pa./Wilson) and Keith Gardiner (Binghamton, N.Y./Binghamton), of whom Vona, Jankowski and Gibson were All-Freedom Conference performers. Those five players combined for 12 of the Colonels' 21 goals and nine assists. 

“We're not expecting to immediately replace those five, four-year starters from a year ago,” said head coach Phil Wingert, who now has a cumulative record of 267-223-41 as the men's soccer coach at Wilkes. “Our challenge is to mesh the returning and first-year players as quickly as possible while developing positive team chemistry.” 

The returning starters for Wilkes from a season ago include Kaleb Smith (Beavertown, Midd-West), Tom Joyce (Pompton Lakes, NJ, Pompton Lakes), Ed Zulkoski (Mountaintop, Crestwood), Joe Brennan (Oakdale, CT, Montville) and Sean Stitt (Allentown, Emmaus). Smith had an outstanding junior campaign with the Colonels, starting every game in goal and allowing just 27 goals in 18 contests. He was also named the Freedom Conference defensive player of the week on two occasions, as well as the ECAC Men's Soccer defensive Player of the Week. He was the anchor of a Wilkes defense that was fourth in the conference in goals against average and first in saves with 38. “Defensively, our lone keeper is senior Kaleb Smith (Beavertown/Midd-West),” said Wingert. “He's coming off a strong performance in goal last year, registering five shutouts.” 

Joyce was another large reason for the Colonels outstanding defensive performance a season ago. He started every game for Wilkes at defender, and finished the season with an assist as well. Offensively, the Colonels will rely on Zulkoski, Brennan and Stitt to carry the load early. Zulkoski started every game in 2009, recording two goals and an assist while rattling off 25 shots. Brennan had a stellar first year for the Colonels, scoring the game-winning goal in his first collegiate game to push Wilkes over Marywood in overtime. He finished the season with four goals, three of which were game-winners. 

“Zulkoski and Brennan are expected to lead the team's attack,” said Wingert. “Both players are capable of putting pressure on the opponent's defense with their speed, quickness and one-on-one abilities.”
 
Stitt had a solid season for the Colonels at midfield, starting 13 games and recording as assist. Stitt, Smith and Joyce are the only seniors on the team in 2010. “Anchoring the back four will be Joyce and Stitt,” said Wingert. “Their challenge will be to solidify a defense when the season opens.” 

“The success of this team may depend on how quickly the returning and first-year players are able to play as a team,” said Wingert. “We will rely on the returning players to carry us in the beginning of the season as some of the younger players get their feet wet in some of the non-conference matches.” 

The men's soccer team will witness a slew of new faces compete for playing time this fall, as 17 newcomers will be putting on a Colonel uniform. Despite having a youthful squad, the expectations remain the same. 

“Conference play begins the second half of the season,” said Wingert. “We plan to use the strength of our non-conference schedule through the opening half of the season to develop this team into a playoff contender by the time the second half begins.”