Coming
off the most successful season in the team’s history, expectations are
very high as the Sea Gulls enter the 2000 campaign...Salisbury State
finished 18-4-1 last year while winning its first Capital Athletic
Conference championship, claiming the NCAA’s South Region championship
and advancing to the final eight of the NCAA Championship
Tournament...The Sea Gulls have been tabbed 20th in
the NSCAA/adidas national preseason ranking after peaking as high as 11th
in the 1999 poll.
Salisbury has averaged over 13 wins per season during the past eight
years, including a school-record 18 victories in 1999...The Sea Gulls
established 12 team and individual records in 1999, including victories,
consecutive wins (8), most shutouts (16), and fewest goals allowed
(10)...With key returnees back throughout the lineup, Salisbury is
poised for another run at the CAC title and a return ticket to the NCAA
Tournament.
Coach Gerry DiBartolo welcomes back 19 lettermen from last
year’s record-setting team, including third team all-American goalie Mike
Svehla...Svehla, who was also the CAC’s Player of the Year in
1999, set new SSU records with a 0.44 goals against average and 16
shutouts last year...Four defensive starters from last year’s squad
have departed, leaving returning sophomores Brook Riggleman and Mike
Steinen among the top returnees on a young unit...The return of 1998
first team all-CAC fullback Darren LaRocque, who sat out last
season, should also help to bolster the unit.
Junior forward Paul Kelly (9g-5a in ‘99) and senior
midfielder Rusty Tritsch (8g-7a) are the top returning
scorers...Both earned first team all-conference honors in 1999...Other
proven scorers include sophomore midfielder Bernie Edwards
(5g-4a), senior midfielder Steven Ritchie (4g-4a) and sophomore
forwards C.R. Krauss (4g-2a) and Matt Bowman (3g-0a).
Other key returnees this season along the midfield include junior Derek
Chappell (1g-2a), junior Adam Young (0g-2a) and junior Joe
Iskow (2g-1a)...All three were key contributors in 1999 and should
be keys to the squad’s success again in 2000.
