• Season Schedule
• Team Roster
• 2008-09 Awards
• Campus Athletic Calendar

Coach Chilcoat Named “Coach of the Year” for Second Time

2009 Penn State York Men’s Soccer Season Summary

After a successful 2008 campaign, this year’s team set some very lofty goals for 2009: win the Penn State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC) regular season, win the PSUAC tournament, and win the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) National Championship. To most these goals may seem unrealistic but with nine returning starters and a talented freshmen recruiting class coming in, the team believed this was their year.

The pre-season showed promise as Penn State York lost a close non-conference friendly game against the sophomore/freshmen team from nationally ranked, Division 3 York College, beat Division 2 Valley Forge Christian, and tied reigning USCAA national champs Briarcliffe. These quality performances were followed by a dominant regular season where York went undefeated. During this run, York answered their skeptics with resounding victories against PSUAC powerhouses Hazleton (4-1) and Beaver (4-0).

The highlight of the regular season was York’s visit to rival Penn College where the match did not start as scripted. York allowed Penn to find their goal three times in the first twenty-five minutes before they settled down. Shortly after halftime, Steve Miller turned a wonderful cross from Cameron Beck past the Penn College keeper and the momentum was theirs. Over the final forty-five minutes, they controlled the pace of the game with Aldin Avdic scoring a gritty goal to tie the score and the game tying goal ninety seconds before the final whistle. As the two-ten minute overtime periods played out, York blasted away at the Penn College goal and was very unlucky to come away with a 3-3 draw. This was the first time Penn College had lost or tied a game in more than four years.

As the regular season completed, Penn State York was awarded the No. 1 seed in the PSUAC tournament. This seeding gave them the home field advantage throughout the playoffs, including the championship game. York’s undefeated home record was put to the test as Hazleton traveled south for the conference the semi-final. From the opening whistle, York came out to attack with Avdic scoring in the second minute. After giving up an eye opening tying goal, York answered Hazleton’s efforts with goals from Logan Shaffer and Nourdean Bentajar in a five minute span and a final goal from Tim Krohn to stamp their ticket to the conference final 4-1.

PSUAC Championship Game

In the conference, the top two seeds of the PSUAC advanced pitting the home team York against the reigning champs Penn College. In sloppy conditions, the teams delivered great performances with York having the better of play through the first forty-five minutes. After several great saves by the Penn College goalkeeper, this dominance resulted in close-range goal from Krohn from a pass from Avdic. In the second half, the play was more balanced with both teams having looks each other’s goal but after some tense final moments, York had won their first PSUAC championship in eleven years. After losing to Penn College in the final the past two seasons, this was a very special win for juniors Shaffer, John Suarez, Chris Jones, Joe Dizio, Tim Weikert and Matt Bieber.

USCAA National Championship Tournament

With the regular season and PSUAC tournament titles behind them, York headed north to Vermont to attend the USCAA National Championship tournament. In the opening game, #3 seeded York faced the #6 seed Concordia. The opening minutes were tense as Concordia attacked with wave after wave toward the York goal. Goalkeeper Joe Dizio and his defense stood tall holding Concordia even through the first forty-five minutes. Shortly after halftime, Concordia found the back of York’s goal. It was the wake-up call York needed as their season’s goals were in jeopardy. For the final thirty minutes, York pounded the Concordia goal hitting the woodwork and missing a few close range shots. In the final seconds, Bieber struck a volley toward goal was looked like it was the equalizer only to be blocked over the bar by the goalkeeper. York’s journey toward the national title had ended but their season was not over. In the consolation game, #2 ranked NHTI met York and after a very nice display of soccer, Bieber headed home a great pass from Krohn to equalize the score and both national ranked teams headed home with a season-ending draw.

Looking back, York finished the season with a 12-1-2 record, the regular season and tournament championship.

All-Americans Named

Krohn, Avdic and Steve Miller were recognized as first team All-Americans, Justin Shaffer was named as a second team All-American, Suarez was named as an Academic All-American and they received an All-tournament selection of Dizio. In addition, Krohn, Avdic, Miller and Dizio were also selected as All-Conference by the PSUAC.

The team achieved two of their three lofty pre-season goals and had numerous wonderful experiences they will not quickly forget. This season was a perfect storm consisting of returning juniors, experienced sophomores, and talented freshmen who look for another successful season in 2010.

2009 Roster

2008-09 Awards

First-year awards: Cameron C. Beck *, York; Kenard R. Gillett, Lancaster; Grant C. Gladfelter, York; Michael E. Thompson *, Dover; Zachary S. Lourdon, Waynesboro; Tyler F. Reisinger, York; Justin E. Shaffer, East Berlin; Timothy D. Krohn *†, Wrightsville; and Janelle C. Young, Lancaster.

Second-year awards: Suhaib M. Alqaddomi †, York; Matthew D. Bieber, York; Joseph D. Dizio, York; Christopher R. Jones *†, East Berlin;  Andrew W. Rudisill, York;  Logan D. Shaffer †, York Springs; Jonathan C. Showers *, York; John F. Suarez *, York; Luis A Victoriano, Elizabeth, New Jersey; Timothy J. Weikert, York;  and Tyson B. Wright, York.

Fourth-year awards:  Benjamin C. Suarez, York.

Broadbent Award - Cameron C. Beck

Christopher C. Miller Sportsmanship Award - John F. Suarez

USCAA Men’s Soccer All-America 1st Team - Timothy D. Krohn, Justin E. Shaffer, Alqaddomi M. Suhaib

USCAA Men's Soccer All-American Honorable Mention - Benjamin C. Suarez

USCAA Men's Soccer National All-American Team - John F. Suarez

PSUAC Coach of the Year in Soccer - Richard Chilcoat

* = Academic All-Conference

†= All-Conference PSUAC