Dan Abroms '05 (Photo by Seth Siditsky)

August 27, 2003

GENEVA, N.Y.— Featuring 12 first-year players and seven sophomores in 2002 the Hobart College soccer team played its way to a 10-8-2 record and a berth in the inaugural Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament. With the majority of the squad returning, fourth year Head Coach Shawn Griffin is anticipating an even stronger year for the Statesmen in 2003.

Sophomores Ricky Klotz (Homer/Cortland, N.Y.) and Dan Abroms (Pomfret School/New Canaan, Conn.) led the Hobart attack in 2002 with 10 and six goals, respectively, while first-year midfielder Micke Subotowicz (Farsta Gymnasium/Stockholm, Sweden) paced the team and conference with seven assists.

The Hobart defense was anchored by senior captain Bryan Bome (Marcellus Central/Syracuse, N.Y.) and senior goalkeeper Cory Rosier (Liverpool/Liverpool, N.Y.). A 2002 first-team All-UCAA selection, Rosier posted his best season in 2002, grabbing 10 wins and earning two shutouts.

After posting their first winning season since 1999, the Statesmen enter 2003 with eight starters and 18 players coming back from the previous year. Add to that a strong incoming corps and Hobart has the key ingredients for an outstanding season.

Klotz and sophomore John Rosenbaum (Ostra Reals Gymnasium/Solna, Sweden) could head the attack for the Statesmen this season. An All-Region selection in 2002, Klotz’s strength and size will give opposing defenses problems both in the air and on the ground. His willingness to take players on in the offensive third of the field will open up scoring opportunities for his teammates. Rosenbaum also will be dangerous in the box, while his quickness and work rate will force defenders into mistakes.

Sophomores Ben Polk (Western Reserve/West Hartford, Conn.) and Valentin Meloty-Kappella (Northfield-Mt. Hermon/Palo Alto, Calif.) will see quality time at the striker position as well. Proven goal scorers, both players possess strong technical skills and have the potential to be impact players for Hobart.

Eight players return to the midfield, including two All-UCAA selections. Junior Juan Vargas (Del Valle/El Paso, Texas) and sophomore Jamie Smith (Cheshire/Cheshire, Conn.) will run the flanks. Hobart’s most technically gifted player, Vargas can create scoring opportunities from the outside midfield spot. Missing a few games last season due to injury, he is looking to return to his form as the rookie award winner in 2001. An extremely fit player, Smith possesses the endurance and ability to run at defenders for 90 minutes. His one-on-one skills have improved since last season making him a very dangerous part of the Hobart attack.

Sophomores Eduardo Ponce de Leon (Northfield-Mt. Hermon/Puebla, Mexico) and Matt Vesonder (Mountain Lakes/Boonton Township, N.J.) will see quality minutes as well. Their strong technical game and creativity will make them solid contributors. First-year Ben Crosky (Mount Greylock/Williamstown, Mass.) also could have an immediate impact in the Statesmen’s midfield.

The center of the field will be anchored by tri-captains Abroms and Subotowicz. A second-team All-UCAA honoree, Abroms will be looked upon to distribute the ball and provide scoring. An All-Region selection, Subotowicz’s field vision and ability to possess the ball will make the Statesmen’s midfield the most dangerous third of the field.

First-year Farid Hafsia (Huddinge Gymnasium/Stockholm, Sweden) will make an immediate impact in the center midfield as well. An exceptionally hard-working player, the Swedish national possesses great vision, technical skills, and experience despite his youth.

In the back, junior tri-captain Christian Buestad (Northfield-Mt. Hermon/Orinda, Calif.) will anchor the backline. A hard-nosed marking back, Buestad is extremely fit and has improved his game in the air. Fellow classmates Alex Coates (Avon Old Farm/Belvedere, Calif.), Ramez Ghaly (Christian Brothers Academy/Syracuse, N.Y.), and Ross Offinger (Hall School/West Hartford, Conn.) also will vie for regular starting roles in the back. A physical presence in the back, Coates has the ability to strike a long ball, while Ghaly and Offinger both have a strong understanding of the game.

In the goal, sophomore Chris Maravalli (Mt. St. Joseph/Rutland, Vt.) and first-year Carl Fried (Nacka Gymnasium/Alta Sweden) will battle each other for the starting goalie position.

The Statesmen open their season on Aug. 30, at Geneseo at 1 p.m. The following weekend, Sept. 5-6, they will travel to the Richard Stockton Tournament where they will face perennial powers Richard Stockton and the College of New Jersey. Hobart plays its first home contest on Sept. 13, hosting Brockport on Cozzens Field at 1 p.m.