ROCHESTER, NY - The RIT men’s soccer team ended its 2009 season with an overall record of 8-8-1, and an Empire 8 record of 5-2-0. The Tigers finished third in the Empire 8, falling to conference rival Stevens in the Empire 8 semifinal. RIT started the season off slow, losing six of their first nine games, before winning six straight games, five of which were Empire 8 contests.
The Tigers had four members earn all conference awards. Senior
Jeff Diaz (Brentwood, NY/Brentwood) and junior
Dom Colaprete (Spencerport, NY/Spencerport) were named to the 2009 Empire 8 All-Conference first team. Senior
Chris Somers (Spencerport, NY/Spencerport) was a second team selection, and junior
Bret Dietz (Harrisburg, PA/Bishop McDevitt) earned honorable mention accolades. Diaz was also selected as RIT’s Sportsman of the Year, his third consecutive year receiving the award.
Diaz, who was named to the second-team the past two seasons, enjoyed plenty of success throughout the year. He finished the season with seven points, on one goal and five assists. Diaz started in all 17 games for the Tigers, and recorded a point in four of the last seven games. The senior midfielder finished his career appearing in 64 games, scoring five goals and assisting on 16 others. In addition, Diaz was named the RIT Male Athlete of the Week on Oct. 5 and Oct. 12, and was named Empire 8 Player of the Week Oct. 11th. In four seasons, Diaz a three-time All-Empire 8 selection.
Colaprete appeared in all 17 games for the Tigers, starting 16. He led the team in scoring, with seven goals and one assist, for 15 points. He scored a goal in five of the Tigers last seven games, and had a career-high four game-winning goals. Colaprete played an essential role in the Tigers success throughout the second half of the season, proving to be an offensive threat. He was named RIT Male Athlete of the Week on Oct. 5, and the Empire 8 Player of the Week on.
Somers, a senior captain and four-time All-Empire 8 selection, was the core of the defensive unit. He appeared in all 17 games. He helped the defense hold opponents to a 1.5 goals per game average, while contributing on the offensive end, with one goal and three assists. He received first-team all-conference honors twice, in 2006 and 2007, and was the Empire 8 Rookie of the Year in 2006. Somers appeared in 70 games throughout his career, scoring four goals and assisting on seven others. He was named RIT Male Athlete of the Week during the week of October 19th.
Dietz, who finished the year second on the team in scoring, built on an already impressive career at RIT. He closed out the season with two goals and three assists, and was a solid player throughout the season. Named as a captain this season, Dietz showed great leadership and was a threat from all areas of the field. He has started in every game since his arrival to RIT in 2007, and was selected to the Empire 8 second team as a sophomore. In addition, Dietz was named to the 2009 CoSIDA/ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District I Men’s Soccer Team. This was his second straight year receiving the award.
Junior midfielder
David Vogt (Rochester, NY/McQuaid) recorded 14 shots, five of which were on goal, while solidifying the unit. Senior back/midfielder
John Braswell (LeRoy, NY/LeRoy), who played in 42 games throughout his career, finished with one goal. He also contributed on the defensive side of the ball, splitting time at back.
Todd Gauloucher,
Matt Broedel (Hamilton, NY/Hamilton),
Sean Coots (Binghamton, NY/Johnson City), and
Ben Frazier (Westminster, MD/Westminster) also helped contribute to RIT’s success this season. Frazier, a freshman goalkeeper, ended the season with a record of 6-4. In 11 games, he made 41 saves and allowed just 1.51 goals per game. Gauloucher finished the season with two goals and one assist, and Broedel also netted two goals on the season. Sean Coots had a goal and an assist.
In addition, freshmen
Mike Allocco (Ballston Lake, NY/Burnt Hills) and
Justin Dambra (Hopewell Junction, NY/John Jay) proved that they were prepared to step in and contribute right away. Allocco recorded an assist and two shots on goal, while Dambra started in every game, helping the defensive unit hold opponents to a 1.5 goals-per-game average.
The Tigers return next season missing a few key members. They look to their underclassmen to step up and fill the leadership roles that are now vacant due to graduation.