The advent of the 2007 season ushers in a new era of Purple Knights soccer with the recent construction of Knights Field. This new pitch coupled with the talent returning and coming into the team provides great optimism and excitement for the upcoming campaign.

The Purple Knights will be led by Senior captain Randy Jean-Baptiste, a two time All-Conference performer and anchor of the midfield, and Vice-captain Senior Paulo Goncalves, All-Region performer and the team’s leading scorer from a year ago.
 

Alongside Jean-Baptiste and Goncalves, the Purple Knights return the majority of the starters and key contributors from a year ago. In attack, Graduate Student Blaise Njie, another All-Region performer, returns on the left flank and will also provide leadership and experience to an otherwise youthful core of players. Junior Romaldi Thelusma will contribute on the right flank, adding pace and energy to the Knights attack. Big-man Gilbert Bayonne, a sophomore, will serve as the team’s center forward, and dominant arial threat. Sophomore Curt Sutherland will serve as another of the team’s attacking options, a player whose versatility and skill will provide cover at any attacking position. Ljindon Vudedaj, a sophomore from NY, will also give Coach Quinn another threat up top.

The midfield will be held down by Jean-Baptiste along with juniors Habib Sylla and Nikhil Dolly. Sylla, a skillful and powerful player, will look to settle himself in this role in ’07 as he has contributed all over the park in his career. Dolly, an All-conference player 2 seasons ago, had his season ended due to injury, and will look to return to full fitness and demonstrate the durability which saw him appear in all 17 matches in ’05.

The backline boasts several returning members. Sophomores Reuel Brown, a technically proficient left-footer, and Akil Pompey, a physical ball-winner, will lead the charge at left and center backs respectively. Regulars Martin Morris, a junior, and senior Bogdan Bracea will compete for places in the center and outside back roles. Junior Sebastian Quiceno, whose performances in limited action were impressive, and second year men Adekoya Lateef and Chris Arenas will get a look as well.

The Purple Knights will welcome eight newcomers to program. Highlighting this group is Henrik Karlsson, 6’4" central defender from Sweden, and Junior Goalkeeper Ryan Brooks-Newton, who comes over to UB after a successful career at Herkimer County Community College. Coach Quinn anticipates the pair to make a key contribution in the upcoming season. In addition, freshmen Matt Gontowicz and Nick Campbell, both New York City area natives, should step in and play an immediate role. Gontowicz will hold in the midfield, and Campbell could step into each of the back four spots for the Knights. Freshmen KJ LaBarbera, George Keklik, and junior Jason Schobert will add depth to the defense as well. 6’6" Freshman GK Milos Sulgagic will compete with Brooks-Newton for the No. 1 goalkeeping place.

The Purple Knights open the season at the Southern Connecticut State University tournament on August 24th against nationally ranked Franklin Pierce College, and will play the host Owls on August 26th