New season, new conference,
new captains, same goal
for the Bucks Centurion soccer
team with new young players.
Championship hopes run
high at the beginning of any
sports season, regardless of the
level of play. Such hopes are
especially abundant with the
Bucks Men’s Soccer team who
has been a dominating force
throughout the last decade.
The men’s soccer team
returns only five starters from
last year’s squad, but coach
Justin Burroughs says the new
players will do a commendable
job of filling the shoes of last
year’s players.
Burroughs is entering his
seventh season coaching the
men’s soccer team, which is
entering its first season in the
National Junior College
Athletic Association with
ambitions to pursue tougher
competition and national titles.
The Centurions used to
reside in the Eastern Collegiate
Conference where they won
EPPCC and PCAA state titles.
The NJCAA is made up of 17
different teams, four of which
are ranked nationally.
Last year’s captain has
moved on to Merrywood
University where he plans to
continue his educational goals
and will be starting on the soccer
team. This, however, opens
the door for a young trio of
captains named Cody
Malosiecki (midfield), Tikel
Habte (midfield), and Damen
Custer (goal).
The reason the
coach went with a trio
of captains instead of
an individual is to
ensure there is a captain
on the field at all
times.
Joining Cody and
Tikel in the midfield
well be Brandon
Moninghoff and
Eugene Harmon. Dan
Foley will be playing
up front on offense as
a striker, and David
Nightlinger and
Fatorna Greene will
be playing in the back on
defense.
The coach said, “The team
does not have a go-to guy on
the team, but rather expects the
whole team to contribute. This
is a good thing for team chemistry
and also does not handicap
the team when somebody
needs to step in a big spot.”
Manning the net will be
Michal Kimonicz, who is
returning from last year.
Michal suffered a hairline fracture
of the kneecap last year,
but shows no ill effects this
year from the injury.
The season kicked off at
home against Ocean college
who are currently ranked 12 in
the country. They have an all-
American goal keeper and are
a force to be reckoned with on
the pitch.
The Centurions played at
home against Montgomery on
Sept 13, Union Sept 17,
Brookdale Sept 22, and Morris
Sept 24. The Centurions hit the
road Sept 15 to face their arch
rival Northampton, who has
exchanged countless wins and
losses with the Centurions over
the years.
Centurions to face Bergen
Oct, 12 and heavyweight
Mercer, currently ranked 16th
in the country, on Oct, 13 and
Camden Oct, 15 to finish up
their home games.
The Centurions will hit the
road Sept, 20 when they travel
to face Raritan Valley,
Middlesex Sept. 27, and
Cumberland Oct. 4.
Finishing up the regular season
the Centurions will play
away against Gloucester Oct.
17 and Manor Oct. 19, leading
to the playoffs beginning on
Oct. 22.