8/28/2008 -

Sophomore Ricardo Gonzalez is the Dolphins' top returning point scorer in 2008.

RIVERDALE, NY – First year head coach Brian Dunleavy will be on the sidelines for his first career collegiate game on Saturday night when the Mount Saint Vincent Men’s Soccer team takes on Drew on day one of the Drew Fall Festival. The Dolphins have a solid core of upperclassmen returning in 2008 and will look to several newcomers to make immediate impact this season.

Dunleavy comes to the Mount and takes over a team that finished 6-11 a season ago and missed the Skyline Conference Tournament by one point with a 3-6 league record. He comes to Riverdale after a playing and coaching career at Division I Hofstra. While an assistant coach with the Pride, Dunleavy helped the squad to Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Championships and NCAA Tournament berths in 2004 and 2005. In 2004, the Pride advanced to the second round of the National Tournament after downing Seton Hall.

A young squad, the Dolphins will return only five players from last season’s team. Back for the Mount in 2008 is leading returning scorer Ricardo Gonzalez (Rockland, NY). As a freshman in 2007, Gonzalez was third on the team in goals (5), second in assists (4) and third in total points (14). Two other key contributors back for Mount Saint Vincent are sophomore Devon Catucci (Rochester, NY) and senior Marco Ferreria (Mount Vernon, NY). A season ago each played in every game on defense for the Dolphins.

Also back from last season’s team is Joe Machado (Yonkers, NY). Machado appeared in 17 games last season for the Dolphins at midfield. Rounding out the list of returnees in 2008 is senior goalkeeper Billy Raftery (Bronx, NY). In 2007, Raftery posted four wins in goal and made 72 saves. 

Drew is coming off a 2007 season that saw it finish with a 14-8 overall record and a 5-2 mark in the Landmark Conference. A season ago the Rangers claimed the first ever Landmark Conference Championship and advanced to the ECAC Metro Region Tournament Championship match. Drew has been selected the favorite to repeat as conference champs in 2008 after losing only two players from last year’s team.

After the 7:00 p.m. contest with Drew on Saturday night, the Dolphins will return to action on Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. when they will tussle with Juniata to close out the tournament.