Drexel University Athletics
Photo by: Greg Carroccio
Men's Soccer Places Two on Preseason All-CAA Squad
8/18/2014 11:15:00 AM | Men's Soccer
RICHMOND, Va. - As it enters the 2014 season looking to defend its back-to-back Colonial Athletic Association regular season championships, the Drexel men's soccer team will be led by two members of the Preseason All-CAA team, seniors Robert Liberatore and Michele Pataia. The duo was recognized by the league's coaches, which voted on the preseason team and tabbed Liberatore and Pataia as among the league's top defenders and midfielders, respectively.
Liberatore is coming off a stellar junior season which saw him earn Third Team All-CAA honors at the end of the year after anchoring a strong Drexel defense. He started 20 games for the Dragons in 2013, tallying three assists on the season. In addition to leading the defense to six shutouts on the season, Liberatore netted a critical goal in the shootout period against Delaware in last season's CAA semifinal as the Dragons survived a scare and went on to win their first-ever CAA tournament championship. A standout in the classroom as well, Liberatore was named the Philadelphia Soccer Six Academic Player of the Year, and earned a spot on the Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area team.
Pataia made appearances in all 21 games for Drexel in 2013, including 19 starts. He joined Liberatore on the postseason Third Team All-CAA, netting a goal and four assists from the midfield. His goal came in a big regular season CAA match against Delaware, the first of two Drexel goals in a 2-1 victory in Newark. Pataia assisted on the game-winner in that contest. He also added an assist in each game of the CAA Tournament, including a helper on the game's lone goal in the 1-0 win over William & Mary in the championship game. Pataia's five career goals is second to John Grosh among Drexel returners for the 2014 season.
Delaware's Guillermo Delgado earned the league's Preseason Player of the Year nod.
2014 PRESEASON ALL-CAA MEN'S SOCCER TEAM
Player, School Pos. Cl. Hometown
Colin Bonner, UNCW F Jr. Fulton, Md.
Guillermo Delgado, Delaware F So. Tres Cantos, Spain
Roberto Gimenez, Delaware F Sr. Socuellamos, Spain
Maid Memic, Hofstra F Sr. Kozarac, Bosnia
Jason Waterman, Elon F Sr. Bloomington, Ind.
James Brace, Elon MF Jr. Hartlepool, England
Marcus Luster, William & Mary MF Sr. Chesapeake, Va.
Michele Pataia, Drexel MF Sr. Saint German, France
David Sizemore, UNCW MF Jr. Fuquay-Varina, N.C.
Bjarki Aðalsteinsson, James Madison D Jr. Kopavogur, Iceland
Simon Cox, Northeastern D Sr. London, England
Robert Liberatore, Drexel D Sr. Cary, N.C.
Michael Teiman, William & Mary D Sr. Liverpool, England
Jacob VanCompernolle, UNCW D Sr. Dallas, Texas
Borja Barbero, Delaware GK Sr. Valladolid, Spain
Liberatore is coming off a stellar junior season which saw him earn Third Team All-CAA honors at the end of the year after anchoring a strong Drexel defense. He started 20 games for the Dragons in 2013, tallying three assists on the season. In addition to leading the defense to six shutouts on the season, Liberatore netted a critical goal in the shootout period against Delaware in last season's CAA semifinal as the Dragons survived a scare and went on to win their first-ever CAA tournament championship. A standout in the classroom as well, Liberatore was named the Philadelphia Soccer Six Academic Player of the Year, and earned a spot on the Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area team.
Pataia made appearances in all 21 games for Drexel in 2013, including 19 starts. He joined Liberatore on the postseason Third Team All-CAA, netting a goal and four assists from the midfield. His goal came in a big regular season CAA match against Delaware, the first of two Drexel goals in a 2-1 victory in Newark. Pataia assisted on the game-winner in that contest. He also added an assist in each game of the CAA Tournament, including a helper on the game's lone goal in the 1-0 win over William & Mary in the championship game. Pataia's five career goals is second to John Grosh among Drexel returners for the 2014 season.
Delaware's Guillermo Delgado earned the league's Preseason Player of the Year nod.
2014 PRESEASON ALL-CAA MEN'S SOCCER TEAM
Player, School Pos. Cl. Hometown
Colin Bonner, UNCW F Jr. Fulton, Md.
Guillermo Delgado, Delaware F So. Tres Cantos, Spain
Roberto Gimenez, Delaware F Sr. Socuellamos, Spain
Maid Memic, Hofstra F Sr. Kozarac, Bosnia
Jason Waterman, Elon F Sr. Bloomington, Ind.
James Brace, Elon MF Jr. Hartlepool, England
Marcus Luster, William & Mary MF Sr. Chesapeake, Va.
Michele Pataia, Drexel MF Sr. Saint German, France
David Sizemore, UNCW MF Jr. Fuquay-Varina, N.C.
Bjarki Aðalsteinsson, James Madison D Jr. Kopavogur, Iceland
Simon Cox, Northeastern D Sr. London, England
Robert Liberatore, Drexel D Sr. Cary, N.C.
Michael Teiman, William & Mary D Sr. Liverpool, England
Jacob VanCompernolle, UNCW D Sr. Dallas, Texas
Borja Barbero, Delaware GK Sr. Valladolid, Spain
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