HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. (Sept. 1, 2016)- Despite graduating a large senior class in 2015, Head Coach Keith O'Connor and the Centenary University men's soccer team returns a core group of veterans as the calendar turns toward the start of the 2016 season.

Last season, Centenary posted an 11-9 overall and a 6-3 record in the Colonial States Athletic Conference. The Cyclones had six All-CSAC and one ECAC All-Star selections. This season, Centenary returns 19 players, including 10 upperclassman and four out of the six All-CSAC selections.

Forwards
Senior and First Team selection Luis Marin (Union City, N.J. / Union Hill) will anchor the forward spot for the Cyclones. Last season, he totaled 16 points on a team leading eight assists and four goals. Junior Richy Castro (Landing, N.J. / Roxbury) will be called upon to play a bigger role upfront this season, as he totaled his nine points on four goals and one assist all in the month of October. Sophomores Roger Fernandez (Succcasunna, N.J. / Roxbury) and Mobolaji Martins (Newark, N.J. / Peoples Prep)  will both see more playing time this season. Fernandez played in 10 games and scored a goal in the CSAC Quarterfinal against Neumann last season, while Martins appeared in only two contests.

Midfield
Junior and First Team selection Justin White (Minehill, N.J. / Dover) continues to get better season after season. In 2015, he led the Cyclones in points, goals, game-winner and penalty kick goals. Sophomore Josh Weiss (Hackettstown, N.J. / Hackettstown) was named to the Honorable Mention at the forward position last season, after totaling 15 points on seven goals and one assist. Junior Daniel Lamanna (Roxbury, N.J. / Roxbury) had a stellar rookie campaign last season with 11 points on three goals and five assists.  Sophomores Chris Cameron (Waldwick, N.J. / Waldwick) and Jared Miele (Flanders, N.J. / Mount Olive) should see more time in the starting lineup, after playing major roles last season for Centenary. Senior Chris Bonilla (Newark, N.J. / St. Benedict's Prep) fully recovered from last season injury and has been training hard in the offseason to regain his spot. Senior Julian Alvarez (Dover, N.J. / Dover), along with newcomer Matt Miller (Clifton, N.J. / Clifton) will battle for time on the pitch.

Defense
Seniors Kevin Brix (Monroe Township, N.J. / Monroe Township) earned an All-CSAC second team accolade after his stellar play in 19 matches last season. Brix's will be joined by fellow classmate Ian Kirkpatrick (Audubon, N.J. / Audubon) and junior Bryan Mason (Belvidere, N.J. / Belvidere) on the defense side of the ball. Kirkpatrick made 14 starts, while Mason totaled four assists in 17 starts last season.  Junior Matthew Anderson (Monroe Township, N.J. / Monroe Township) provides depth, along with sophomores Sebastian Hernandez (Dover, N.J. / Dover) , William Squares (Burlington, N.J. / Burlington Township) and Ornette Sanchez (New York, N.Y. / Community School), will provide options for the coaching staff. Newcomer Nick Rothrock (Stewartsville, N.J. / Phillipsburg) will battle for time on the pitch.  

Goalkeeper
Sophomore Devon Warne (Belvidere, N.J. / Belvidere) looks to fill the void left by senior netminder Jesse Goleman. Goleman rewrote the record books at Centenary, but Warne will not have to look far for guidance as Goleman joined Coach O'Connor's staff in August. Warne has only a handful of collegiate games under his belt, after making seven saves for a .636 save percentage in three matches last season.  

Coach O'Connor and the Cyclones will open the 2016 campaign today against the Mules of Muhlenberg College at 4:00 p.m.