Press Releases

October 14, 2002
Southampton College Men's Soccer Team Readies for Battle Against Dowling

League Title Could Be at Stake as Undefeated Teams Clash

Contact:
Darren Johnson
(631) 287 8313
Fax: (631) 283 4081

This Saturday at 1 p.m., the Southampton College men's soccer team "riding a seven-game win streak" hosts perennial powerhouse Dowling at the Southampton College field. Both teams are undefeated in New York Collegiate Athletic Conference play and ranked among the top teams in the NCAA's Div. II Northeast Region. Dowling won the NYCAC title last year. Southampton College had won it the two previous years.

Under first-year coach and former player Andreas Lindberg, the Colonials feature a high-scoring offense while Dowling is known for its defensive stinginess. The two teams played to a 1-1 draw last year, and Dowling hasn't beaten the Colonials since 1998. However, the Lions made it to the national Final Four last season. "This series between Dowling and us has turned into a heated rivalry," Lindberg said. "We definitely are the underdog this year, but our squad is healthy and as close-knit as ever. We?ve been training hard and have a lot of depth. We have six guys who can score."

With a high-flying style of play, the Colonials have had three NYCAC Players of the Week already this season: Timo Kost, Kiriakos Michalidis and Andreas Nilsson. ?We have such a solid bench that at any given time I?m sitting a Player of the Week,? Lindberg said. ?Our team has never had that luxury before.?

In rankings released today by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, Dowling (8-1-2, 4-0 league) was ranked No. 1 in the Northeast. Southampton (7-1-2, 3-0) was ranked No. 4.