The 2007 Saint Joseph's College Men’s Soccer team showed signs of great things to come during the final weeks of the team’s first season in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference. After a late season surge, the team completed the season 5-11-3 overall and 3-7-1 in GNAC play.

On October 13th, the team held an overall record of 2-8-3 and played to a 1-5-1 record against GNAC opponents, leaving the team virtually no chance of earning a playoff spot.

On October 15th, St. Joe’s found a spark when they defeated non-conference opponent Eastern Nazerene College, 2-1, in double-overtime when freshman defender Matt Zinchuk (Bethel, ME) blasted in a header off a pass from teammate SO Eamonn Harrigan (Caribou, ME) in the 102nd minute.

The Monks used the momentum of the exciting OT victory in their next game to help them defeat GNAC opponent Emerson College, 2-1, on the Lions home field. JR Lane Hubacz (Mapleville, RI) led the offensive charge in the game, scoring both Monks goals.

The team hosted top GNAC team and eventual ECAC Champion Norwich University on October 20th and lost, 4-0, despite a hard-fought attempt to pull out the upset. SO goalkeeper Cory Smith (Ellsworth, ME) was quite busy in the game as the Cadets steered 24 shots on net.

After taking a tough loss to non-conference foe Lyndon State in overtime, the Monks hosted the team’s final conference game of the regular season against the Mount Ida College Mustangs on October 24th. St. Joe’s needed a victory and help from at least two other GNAC teams to earn a berth into the conference playoffs. SR Shannon DeShield (Pembroke, Bermuda) took matters into his own hands and scored both SJC goals to lead his team to a 2-0 victory. Goalkeeper Cory Smith posted his 4th shutout of the season in the victory. Emerson College, Rivier College and Emmanuel College all lost their final games to help the Monks gain the #7 seed in the conference tournament!

Saint Joseph’s faced a tough match-up against #2 seeded Johnson and Wales University. The Wildcats of JWU defeated the Monks handily in the teams’ regular season meeting, 7-0. St. Joe’s led the heavily favored Wildcats 3-1 with 18 minutes remaining off of goals from SO Andre Cushing (Hampden, ME), FY Matt Zinchuk and JR Lane Hubacz. The upset-minded Monks were unable to hold on to the lead, however, as Johnson and Wales scored two quick goals to tie the game and a third goal with four minutes remaining in regulation to secure the 4-3 victory. JWU went on to win the GNAC Championship.

All three of the Monks’ conference victories came against GNAC tournament-qualifying teams.

At the conclusion of the season junior Defender Lane Hubacz was named to the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Second Team. Hubacz’s defensive skills helped the Monks in their late season push to earn the #7 seed in the playoffs. Hubacz also scored three goals on the season.

St. Joe’s was led offensively in 2007 by sophomore Andre Cushing with 13 points. The U Maine-Orono transfer finished tied for the team lead in goals (5) and connected on all three of his penalty kick attempts. FY Paul Robins (Cornwall, England) scored 5 goals and added 2 assists to tally 12 points in his rookie campaign and SO Doug MacCallum (Hingham, MA) also scored 5 goals and 2 assists for the season.

Defensively, FY Brian Simmonds (Waldoboro, ME) and SO Mathew Loiselle (Woburn, MA) each displayed the ability to turn opposing offenses away and look to build on a solid '07 campaign.

Senior captains Dan Rockwell (Guilford, ME) and Shannon DeShield, who may be one of the best player to ever wear a Monks uniform, both played large roles on and off the field for Head Coach Michael Bolanz during their careers at St. Joe’s and will be sorely missed in 2008.

Despite losing four of five top scorers from the 2006 season, including JR Kevin Melega (Easthampton, MA) who missed the season due to injury, the ’07 Monks managed to post a respectable season with a roster that included nine freshmen, six sophomores, two juniors and two seniors.

The Monks will look to Melega to return injury-free in ‘08 to help pick up some of the slack that will be left behind with the graduation of DeShield. The Program now looks to add another very strong recruiting class to this young, now experienced team. Next year the St. Joe’s Men’s Soccer program will look to build off a promising 2007 season, along with the continued development of young players, to propel the Monks into the upper echelon of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference and the New England Region.