Adelphi Men’s Soccer team reclassified into Division II
The Adelphi Men’s Soccer team will be reclassified from Division I to Division II beginning this semester. The Panthers will compete in Division II play and are now eligible to contend for the Northeast-10 Championship. They were granted an NCAA waiver allowing them to be reclassified without going through the customary two-year probation period, thus enabling them to compete in NCAA postseason games.
The 2013-14 year will mark the first season the team will be playing in this division since 1975. This reclassification now puts all of Adelphi’s athletic programs at the Division II level. After a rough campaign in the 2012 season, that found it posting a 3-13 finish, the team is looking to rebound this year as they bring in 13 new players to fill the roster. Head Coach Carlo Acquista is looking forward to the challenge of meshing these young bloods with the rest of the squad. “For me, the challenge is to compete on a national level” said Acquista. “But the next challenge is to put the right team out there to compete.” The team’s head coach feels that his squad now has something to play for, which could include a trip to the postseason and an opportunity to win the NCAA National Championships in Division II play.
This season’s 16-game schedule will feature 13 Northeast 10 games and three non-conference matches. Acquista believes some of the teams to be on the lookout for as they clash against the Panthers are Southern Connecticut State, Franklin Pierce, Merrimack College and last season’s NE-10 Champions, Southern New Hampshire.
For Acquista, it’s pretty simple. The objectives remain the same every year. There are set team goals as well as some individual goals that he hopes can be achieved. “We need to compete for the top two spots in the division” Acquista said.
“We are excited to be in the NE-10 and play toward a national tournament.”
The Adelphi Men’s Soccer team’s first NE-10 game will take place Saturday, Sept. 14 at 7 p.m. against Merrimack on home turf. With these new beginnings in a new season, the Panthers are going in with hope springing anew in an attempt to get back on the winning track.
