2000 Season Yields Another Men's Soccer Championship
Gulls Capture Second CAC Crown; Earn NCAA Bid

Salisbury added another championship chapter to its soccer tradition in 2000 by winning its second straight Capital Athletic Conference championship and earning its second straight NCAA Tournament berth.  The Sea Gulls finished the year with a 17-3 overall record, while setting a new team record with a 12-match winning streak. SU also earned its highest-ever national ranking, peaking at eighth in the NSCAA poll.

After compiling a perfect 7-0 regular season conference record, the Sea Gulls posted victories over Gallaudet, Marymount and Mary Washington in the CAC Tournament to capture the league title.  SU received a bye in the opening round of the NCAA Championship Tournament before falling to Johns Hopkins in the Metro Regional semifinal in Glassboro, NJ.

For the second straight year, Head Coach Gerry DiBartolo was recognized by his peers as the CAC’s Coach of the Year.  Salisbury placed four players  - forward Paul Kelly, midfielder Rusty Tritsch, back Darren LaRocque, and goalie Mike Svehla - on the all-conference first team.  Two others, forward CR Krauss and midfielder Steve Ritchie, were named to the second team. In addition, Tritsch was named the CAC’s Player of the Year.

Svehla, LaRocque, Tritsch and Krauss were also recognized on the NSCAA/adidias All-South Atlantic team as well.

The Sea Gulls established a new team record for goals in 2000 with 89, shattering the previous record of 63.  SU’s 4.45 scoring average also established a new team mark, leading the CAC and placing the Gulls second in the nation in scoring offense.  Not to be outdone, the defense registered 12 shutouts and posted a CAC-best 0.80 goals against average.  Salisbury was ranked seventh in the nation in shutout percentage (.600) in the final national statistics.

Individually, Kelly tied the single-season SU record with 12 assists, and concluded the season ranked third on Salisbury’s career assist list and fourth on the career points list. Tritsch capped his career tied for sixth in all-time goals with 28 and fifth in career points with 76. Svehla added to his shutout record, finishing with 45 during his four-year career, and finished the year ranked 23^rd in the nation with a 0.77 goals against average.