September 19, 2005

GENEVA, N.Y.—The Hobart soccer team continues to be ranked nationally by the weekly National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) poll. The Statesmen are 16th in this week’s poll, down from the eighth spot last week. They also hold the No. 2 spot in the Northeast region. The NSCAA rankings are voted on weekly by coaches across the country.

Hobart’s record stands at 5-1-0 after splitting two games last week. The Statesmen defeated Utica 1-0, before being handed their first loss of the season by 24th-ranked Rochester 2-0.

Sophomore forward Matt Schwartz (Lower Merion/Wynnewood, Pa.) netted the lone Hobart goal against Utica, but no Statesman was able to connect against Rochester later in the week. Rochester, unranked in the NSCAA poll until this week, was a top team in the region last year.

Sophomore Dan Riso (Red Hook Central/Red Hook, N.Y.) (3 goals, 2 assists) and junior Tyler Webster (Acton-Boxboro/Acton, Mass.) (1 goal, 3 assists) have led the offense so far this season, while sophomore goalkeepers Pete Van Dellon (Webster Thomas/Webster, N.Y.) (2-0-0) and Phil DaCosta (Manchester Memorial/Manchester, N.H.) (3-1-0) have lead on the defensive end. Together, the two have combined for 20 saves and allowed just four goals.

Trinity (Texas), Messiah (Pa.), and Ohio Wesleyan again hold the top three places in the national poll this week, while Ithaca sits atop the Northeast regional rankings.

Hobart will return to play on Sept. 22 when it travels to Vassar for its first Liberty League match of the season at 4 p.m.