Rosemont To Play for CSAC Championship

The Rosemont College men's soccer team will be hosting their neighbor, the Cabrini College Cavaliers in a game to declare the CSAC Champion for 2012.

Although Rosemont's men's soccer program has only been in existence since the College's traditional undergraduate school went co-educational in 2009 (currently in its fourth season),  the Ravens are a team with depth and experience, with their roster featuring no fewer than six seniors and four juniors in the class of 2013.

The team broke through into the CSAC post-season for the first time ever in 2011, defeating the Keystone Giants by a 4-1 score in the CSAC Quarterfinal, but then bowing to the Marywood Pacers 3-1 two days later in the CSAC Semifinal game. This year, the Ravens avenged their loss to Marywood in last season's Semifinal by defeating the Pacers on Friday in the 2012 Semifinal, 4-1. On Sunday, 11/4, the Ravens will be the host team against Cabrini. The game will be played at Bryn Mawr College beginning at 1:00pm.

The Ravens compiled a record of 11-7-1 (7-2 in the CSAC) thus far in 2012. After a slow start to their season when Rosemont lost their first four games, the team earned a 1-1 tie at Widener followed by four wins in a row, including their first two conference games. A loss at Immaculata was then followed by their longest winning streak, six games (five in the conference) to place second in the CSAC, behind powerhouse Neumann University, who claimed the CSAC regular-season #1 seed.

Rosemont's squad boasts four players who have tallied at least 10 points this season. Senior Pat McElroy (Stratford, NJ) is the Raven's leading scorer with 14 goals and an assist. He also leads the team with 58 shots, 24 on goal. Senior Rodney Aguirre (Hammonton, NJ) has found the net six times this year on 23 shots and leads the team with a shot percentage of .261. Aguirre also has three assists for Rosemont. Sophomore Luke McIlvaine (Feasterville, Pa.) has scored five goals on 13 shots while assisting on three. Senior Sergio Martinez (Allentown, Pa.) has scored four times on 21 shots.

In goal, senior Nick Hulayew (Hatboro, Pa.) has been solid between the posts. Hulayew has a record of 9-4-1 with four shutouts and a save percentage of .793.

The Cabrini Cavaliers have earned a spot in the CSAC Championship game by finishing their regular season placed fourth in the conference. The Cavaliers defeated Neumann on Friday night by a 2-1 score and it was the first win for Cabrini over Neumann in their last five encounters. Cabrini last took the CSAC title in 2009. Cabrini's overall record stands at 10-7-3, and they earned a 5-2-2 record in the conference.

After absorbing three losses to begin their 2012 campaign the Cavaliers tied Wesley and then won their next two contests. After two more losses, Cabrini rebounded with two conference wins and a tie before losing to Neumann (2-0) and Rosemont (2-1 OT). After the loss to the Ravens the Cavaliers went on a tear, going 4-0-1 over their last five regular season games. In the post season Cabrini beat Immaculata 3-1 in the CSAC Quarterfinal before last night's defeat of Neumann in the Semifinal game.

The Cavaliers bring much experience to Sunday's game, boasting five seniors and nine juniors on their roster.

A foursome of Cavaliers have accounted for most of Cabrini's scoring in 2012. Brett Lockbaum leads the Cavaliers with 18 points on eight goals and two assists. George Lambritsios is second on the team with six goals and three assists for 15 points. Also in double-figures for points this season have been Anthony Girolamo (5G, 2A, 12 points) and Kyle Johnson (1G, 9A, 11 points).

In goal, the Cavaliers have relied mostly on Eric Nowicki. Nowicki has earned a 6-5-2 record with three shutouts.

In the rivalry between Rosemont and Cabrini, the Cavaliers won the first three games against the Ravens (2009-2011), but this season Rosemont broke through for their first victory over the Cavaliers. In a game at Cabrini on 10/8, Cabrini's Anthony Girolamo scored to put Cabrini up 1-0, but a header by Greg Sauer tied the score a few minutes before the end of the first half. The score remained tied at 1-1 after regulation. In overtime, Rodney Aguirre scored off of a blocked shot at 8:49 into the period to give the Ravens the 2-1 win.