November 2, 2006

Shawn Griffin

GENEVA, N.Y.—Hobart Soccer Head Coach Shawn Griffin and Assistant Coach Ryan Brooks were named the 2006 Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year in a vote of the league’s coaches. Along with their coaches, five Statesmen were also honored by the league. Sophomores Dan Riso (Red Hook Central/Red Hook, N.Y.), Philipp Schoeniger (Erlangen/Erlangen, Germany), and Pete Van Dellon (Webster Thomas/Webster, N.Y.), junior Brad Weinberg (Marcellus/Marcellus, N.Y.), and senior Jamie Smith (Cheshire/Cheshire, Conn.) were named to the All-Liberty League second-team.

Griffin led Hobart to its best season since 1992, posting a 12-2-2 regular season record, and an unbeaten 5-0-2 conference mark, allowing just three goals in league play. The Statesmen have been nationally ranked all season, climbing as high as seventh. They are currently ranked eighth in the country. Hobart, seeded second in the Liberty League Tournament, is making its first appearance in tournament since 2003.

Riso and Schoeniger have led the Statesmen in scoring this season. Riso totaled six goals and three assists, and was responsible for the game-winning goal in a thrilling 1-0 double-overtime win over league opponent St. Lawrence. He was the first Statesmen to be named to the D3Kicks.com Team of the Week, and collected Liberty League Offensive Performer of the Week and RACA Male Athlete of the Week honors twice this season. Schoeniger has tallied nine points (4 goals, 1 assist), including game-winning goals against RIT, Vassar, and Clarkson, and was named the league’s Offensive Performer of the Week on Sept. 25.

A playmaker, Weinberg leads the team in assists with four. He assisted on both goals in a 2-1 win over Hamilton, earning the Liberty League Offensive Performer of the Week for his efforts. Weinberg has one goal on the season.

Smith and goalkeeper Van Dellon have anchored a very talented defense that allowed just 10 goals in 16 games, and recorded eight shutouts in regular season play. A two-time Liberty League Defensive Performer of the Week, Van Dellon (7-0-2) allowed just three goals during his time in net and has collected six shutouts. He leads the league and ranks second in the country in save percentage (.939), and is sixth in the nation in goals against average (0.32).

The Liberty League Tournament will take place at No. 1 seeded Hamilton, Nov. 3-4. The host Continentals will take on No. 4 Skidmore at 11 a.m. in the semifinal round, while No. 2 Hobart will play No. 3 St. Lawrence at 1:30 p.m. The winners will advance to the championship game at noon on Saturday.