Team history to be celebrated
Sports Information Department – 112 Dods Hall
Phone (716) 673-3100 / Fax (716) 673-3136
CONTACT: Jerry Reilly,
Sports Information Director
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Men's soccer
FREDONIA, N.Y. -- Five decades of Fredonia State men's soccer will be celebrated this weekend during Alumni Weekend activities on campus.
Alums from all past teams have been invited to return to campus for two days of activity beginning Friday. The Blue Devils will be home both days -- 6 p.m. Friday vs. Plattsburgh, 2 p.m. Saturday vs. Potsdam.
"Celebrating 50 Years of Soccer makes this weekend extra special," said P.J. Gondek, the Blue Devil head coach and coordinator of the weekend event. "This weekend's events are proof of the tradition and history of this storied program."
The weekend activitiy will begin with a pep rally at 5 p.m. in Dods Hall, followed by the game against Plattsburgh -- the pre-season pick of SUNYAC coaches currently in fourth place in the conference standings. A post-game reception will be held at Heenan's Pub, East Main Street, Fredonia, starting at 9 p.m.
Saturday's schedule of events begins at 10:30 a.m. with refreshments prior to the annual 11 a.m. Alumni Game on the University Stadium pitch. Alumni registration will begin at 1 p.m. for former players wishing to take part in ceremony at halftime of the 2 p.m. game vs. Potsdam.
The weekend will wrap up with the Fredonia State Athletics Hall of Fame dinner starting at 6 p.m. in the Cranston Hall Marché. Among the 2008 inductees is Chris Whitmore, the all-time leading scorer in men's soccer history.
One other highlight of the weekend will be the unveiling of 13 championship banners at University Stadium. Donations from several alums helped offset the cost of each banner.
"Hanging the championship banners in our new stadium," Gondek said, "will honor some of this program's best teams and further remind us of the players and coaches who have laid the groundwork for this fine venue and the further success it will bring."
As for the two games, the sophomore-laden Blue Devils will welcome a return to their home pitch, where they are 5-0-0 this fall and have outscored the opposition, 25-1. On the downside, the team had its trouble on the road. The Blue Devils are 1-5-0 in the SUNYAC (7-6-0 overall) and may need to run the table in order to qualify for the conference tournament.
"At 1-5 the outlook seems bleak," Gondek said, "but if we continue our domination at home and finish at 5-5 we have a chance. That is the best we can ask for this youthful group."