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West Nyack Brothers Shoot for Professional Soccer

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The English Premier League football team Tottenham Hotspur F.C. long ago adopted the song McNamara’s Band as their club anthem, with one verse changed, and if either Tom or Ryan McNamara of West Nyack have their way, one or the other brother—or both—will one day be playing professional soccer, too.

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Tom, a senior at Brown University, and younger sibling Ryan, a freshman at the University of New Hampshire, played together at Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey, NJ, and that they selected soccer over other sports in not that surprising when one considers that both parents also played collegiate soccer.

“They definitely supported me, and it turned out we decided to stay with soccer,” noted Tom, a junior midfielder for the Bears.

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“My dad and mom, and brother told me to always work hard, and to keep getting better; eventually make it to the pros,” said Ryan, a freshman midfielder for the Wildcats. “They told me not to get too self-confident.”

Tom McNamara the Elder and his wife, Kerry, both were graduated from Albertus Magnus. Kerry played two years as a forward at Providence, and then moved on to Ohio Wesleyan; Tom played four years at midfield at Ohio Wesleyan.

“We’re all pretty good, so I can’t really say who is the best player (in the family),” said Tom, displaying the diplomacy of a senior.

“No one’s better than anyone else,” seconded Ryan, also taking a diplomatic route.

Tom has made four starts this season for the Bears, with a goal and four assists. The Bears (5-4-1) are coming off an impressive double-overtime scoreless deadlock against nationally ranked St. John’s (7-2-2), and host Princeton on Saturday night at Stevenson Field in Providence, RI.

Ryan has played in eight games with five starting appearances for the Wildcats (4-6), who will host Binghamton at Bremner Field in Durham, NH, Saturday.

Both brothers, who played travel soccer as 6-year-olds, said the program at Don Bosco Prep, while not as celebrated as the nationally recognized football team, can easily stand on its own.

“Traditionally, the soccer program is one of the best in Bergen County, and we usually make the state tournament and do fairly well,” said Tom, a veteran of four state tournaments, once advancing to the North Division final.

“The soccer is very good; I think we won the Bergen County title three of my four years there,” added Ryan.

With such a family pedigree, and scholastic background the McNamaras are aiming high at the collegiate level.

“I want to have a good season, and hopefully the team does well,” said Tom. “We want to improve on last year.”

This will not be an easy feat, however, as Brown last year was nationally ranked, and advanced to the Round of 16 at the NCAA Championships before bowing to No. 5 California, 2-0.

The Wildcats of New Hampshire, another Division I representative, said Ryan, would like to be ranked in the America East Conference.

“Maybe I can be rookie of the year, and we can even win a championship, and make it to the NCAA’s,” Ryan, always positive, continued. “Last year we lost in the Conference finals; didn’t make the NCAA (Championship).”

Ryan, who followed his brother to Don Bosco, said following him again to Brown was an option, but not an objective.

“I wanted to experience college on my own, make decisions on my own, but it (Brown) was always on my mind,” explains Ryan, who was first discovered by the Wildcats as a high school sophomore while playing for F.C. Westchester, an academy team, at a college showcase. “I committed (to UNH) as a junior.”

Ryan’s professional aspirations extend overseas, where a cousin to his best friend is playing for a Champions League team in England, which is one level below the highest, the English Premier League.

“Ireland is a possibility, too. We have dual citizenship,” said Ryan. “I think it is realistic. I have the ability to make it at some point. Now I have to work to get better, and get stronger.”

Tom, who is obviously closer to the end of his collegiate career, is also looking to play professionally, either in the U.S. or overseas. “Whatever is the best option,” he states.

Spectacular start continues for Spartans

The men’s soccer team at St. Thomas Aquinas College in Sparkill kept its undefeated record intact with a scoreless tie in double overtime against Queens College, in a game played at Bridgeport University.

The Spartans, who are 6-0-4 overall and 1-0-2 in the East Coast Conference, dominated the game outshooting the Knights, 23-9.  Andrew Tartara of Bardonia recorded six saves in the shutout.

Edgar Barragan of Yonkers, Laurie Child of Surrey, England, Daniel Davren of Pearl River, and Remington Lee of Hopewell Junction each had two shots on goal for the Spartans.

The Spartans travel to C.W. Post on Saturday for a 2:30 game.  Both teams are nationally ranked with the Pioneers at No. 6, and the Spartans at No. 17. 

Play ball

Budding collegiate players can showcase their talents on Oct. 15 (rain date: Oct. 16) when Dominican College hosts its fourth annual prospect camp at Tappan Zee High School in Orangeburg (15 Dutch Hill Road; the baseball field is located behind the high school).

The cost of attending is $75. Besides Dominican coaches Rick Giannetti and Chad Duesler, other area college coaches will be invited to participate in the evaluation process.

Attendees are instructed to bring an updated physical from a doctor, and should wear appropriate baseball attire. A wood bat is also preferred.

Check-in time is from 8:30-8:45 a.m., with the camp starting precisely at 9. The college, which is located across the street from Tappan Zee, will also be holding its fall Open House beginning at 1 p.m., giving prospective student/athletes a double play possibility.

For information contact Duesler at 845-848-7705, or by email at chad.duesler@dc.edu.7

Paul Short Run

The Mountains Hawks of Lehigh University, including Suffern High alum Evan Flach, placed 20th out of 45 teams in the Senior Gold Division at the prestigious Paul Short Run at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA.

Oklahoma, ranked No. 4 in the nation, won the title with 34 points, placing four runners in the top 10.

Flach, a senior, came across 128th for Lehigh, clocking 25:44 over the 8k course.

Keeley Bateman of Pearl River was the top women’s finisher for the St. Thomas Aquinas College women’s team, clocking 24:11 in the Women’s Brown 6k competition.

For the Spartan men, who placed 24th in the Men’s White 8k meet, freshman Joe Chegwidden of Hamburg, NJ, was 45th in 27:41. He was followed by sophomore Mike Galonski of Newton, NJ, 60th in 27:52; freshman Alex Andre, an 800-meter specialist out of North Rockland High School, 29:19; sophomore Mike Kraus of River Vale, NJ, 29:25; and junior Garvenchy Nicolas of Brooklyn, 30:03.

Kutztown University swept the men’s and women’s White Division titles with 120 points and 69 points, respectively.

The women’s team at Dominican College finished in 28th place, led by sophomore Jessica Avila of Mount Vernon, who was 77th in 25:31. Also placing were sophomore Krystal Campbell of New Windsor, 25:46; senior Samantha Klunk of York, PA, 26:20; freshman Ashley Randin of Cliffside Park, NJ, 27:13; junior Keyla Cruz of the Bronx, 29:05; and promising freshman Renee Roncace of Valley Cottage, 29:36.

Mortarboard musings

  • Junior standout Mary Dutkowski of New City turned in another sparkling effort for the College of Mount Saint Vincent women’s cross country team. Dutkowski, a graduate of Clarkstown South, finished 18th in a field of 114 runners at the Knight Invitational, hosted by Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh. Dutkowski toured the 5k course in 23:10.
  • The women’s soccer team at Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh is outscoring the opposition at a better than 4-to-1 ratio. The Knights’ impressive 8-2-1 mark is a testament to a tough defense that includes freshman Megan Schweitzer, who played four years at North Rockland High School. Schweitzer and Co. host Polytechnic Institute of New York on Saturday at noon.
  • Evelyn Nicinski of New City, who led Clarkstown North in scoring for two years, is a freshman midfielder on the Bucknell University women’s soccer team. The Bisons (2-7-1) play their first four league games on the road, continuing tonight at 7 at Holy Cross in Worcester, MA, and on Sunday against Army with a noon game at West Point.
  • Junior Shelby Greany of Suffern was not in top form, but still finished 12th to help Providence win the Women’s Gold title at the 38th Paul Short Run, hosted by Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA. The Friars, ranked No. 3 in the nation, edged fifth-ranked Villanova by three points, 101-104. Iona College of New Rochelle won the men’s crown with 125 points. Greany clocked 20:57 on a 6k layout as the Friars outraced 44 other high-powered programs, placing four runners in the top 12 spots in a huge field of 396 runners. The Friars compete in the New England Championships on Saturday at Boston’s Franklin Park.
  • Forward Vicky Saravia of Haverstraw, a North Rockland alum, and defender Kassandra Flores, a graduate of Albertus Magnus, are among the freshmen prospects on the women’s soccer team at St. Thomas Aquinas College. The Spartans, who visit C.W. Post at noon on Saturday, also include senior forward Liz Gronwoldt of Valley Cottage, a Nyack High graduate; senior forward Michaelle Kelly of West Nyack, a Nanuet High alum; Suffern’s Kelly Moresi, a sophomore defender; and junior midfielder Becky Torres, another Nanuet graduate.
  • Senior midfielder Ashley Panepinto is the third-leading scorer with eight points on the SUNY Purchase women’s soccer team. Panepinto, an alum of North Rockland, and a two-time all-Skyline Conference pick, has three goals and two assists for the Panthers (3-4), who hope to reach .500 when they host SUNY Old Westbury on Saturday at noon.
  • The men’s soccer team at Dominican College was outshot, but salvaged a 1-1 double-overtime tie with host Wilmington University in New Castle, DE. The host Wildcats, who took 16 shots to the Chargers’ 12, and held an 8-6 edge in corner kicks, took the lead in the 29th minute. Dominican, 4-3-3 overall and 3-1-2 in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference, drew even at 51:19 when Jorge Zubillaga of Uruguay converted a feed from Pedro Franklin De Araujo of Brazil. The Chargers return to action on Saturday at Nyack College in a CACC contest set for 2:30 p.m.
  • A late goal by sophomore midfielder Felix Horn of Halle, Germany, and another superb effort by senior goaltender Adrian Ibanez led the Nyack College men’s soccer team to a 1-0 win over Felician in a CACC game at Lyndhurst, NJ. The Warriors, 5-4-1, 2-3-1, host Dominican on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. Ibanez, of Buenos Aires, Argentina,  faced 21 shots, making eight saves in the shutout.
  • On Saturday at noon, the Dominican College volleyball team will host its third Pink volleyball match, to help raise money for cancer research by accepting either a flat fee, or a pledge per dig. There will also be raffles the day of the match. All revenue is earmarked for the Side-Out Foundation. Contact stefanie.carrington@dc.edu.
  • Michael Vucinaj, a Nanuet High graduate, had two goals to lead the Rockland Community College soccer team to a 3-1 win over host Kingsborough CC. Clarkstown North alum Chung Tran also scored for the unbeaten Hawks (7-0-1), who host Suffolk County CC on Saturday.
  • Junior Drew Daniels of Suffern was voted by his peers as an assistant captain on the Northeastern University hockey team, and is set to open the season at home tonight (Oct. 7) against UMass at Matthews Arena in Boston, MA. Daniels played in all 38 games last season for the Huskies; 22 at defense, and 16 at forward. Twin brother Justin is also ready for this season debut.
  • Dominican College scored early in the second overtime to turn back host Nyack College, 3-2, in a CACC women’s soccer contest. Sophomore midfielder Danielle Romano of Plainview netted the game-wining goal 24 seconds into the second overtime. Romano also had an assist on a goal by Danielle Klecha of Jamesburg, NJ. Dominican opened the scoring when sophomore Stephanie Falzarano of Roslyn Heights had an unassisted goal early in the second half. Nyack posted back-to-back goals in the 79th and 82nd minute to tie the contest, forcing overtime. Dominican (3-6-1 overall, 2-4-1 CACC) hosts Concordia College in a conference game on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. Nyack (3-3) looks to bounce back tomorrow at noon when it hosts Georgian Court University.
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