The Cardinals, the defending CUNYAC champions, will have a different look this season as they begin their title defense in 2010. York was far-and-away the top offensive team in the CUNYAC last season, but will be without the nation’s third-leading scorer, Elysee Vilsaint, in 2010.
Instead, the Cardinals hope their defense can lead them to their fourth straight title game appearance and third title in the past four seasons. On defense, the Cardinals are anchored by sophomore Jaime Hay, who was a First-Team CUNYAC All-Star and Second-Team Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Metro Region selection last season. Sophomore Brian Broadbelt is coming off a strong freshman season and will be back on defense this season as well. In goal, the Cardinals return junior keeper, Samer Abdelfattah, who led the conference in shutouts with nine, which was four more than any other keeper in the CUNYAC.
Despite the loss of its top scorer, York will still have a few potent weapons who should find the back of net often in 2010. 2009 CUNYAC Second-Team All Stars Hugo Cicanois and Ousmane Toure return for York once again. Toure (five goals) and Cicanois (four goals) are the team’s top two returning scorers.
The loss of Vilsaint will be tough to overcome, but York still has a strong core of players who can help the Cardinals repeat as conference champions and return to the NCAA Tournament in 2010.
The Cardinals open up the 2010 season on the road against SUNY Old Westbury on September 1 at 4:00 p.m. York’s home opener will be on Saturday, September 4 against Trine University (IN).