August 4, 2006

New Brunswick, NJ (CSTV U-WIRE) -- With all 11 starters returning, including a pair of All Big-East team honorees in Adam Sternberger and Nick LaBrocca, the Rutgers men's soccer team (8-8-3, 5-5-2) is looking toward experience to build on an exceptionally average season.

Sternberger is coming off his first full season since redshirting as a freshman with a torn ACL. Not only did he lead the team with 19 points and eight goals, but the sophomore striker also pocketed the go-ahead goal in five of the Knights' eight wins and earned recognition as the team MVP.

Behind him will be LaBrocca, who earned that same honor two years ago despite not scoring a single goal. The midfielder found his scoring touch in 2005, as his five goals trailed only Sternberger for the team lead.

Rounding out the offensive attack were strikers Chris Moore (four goals, six assists) and Zach Simi (two goals four assists), who accounted for 22 of the team's other 55 points.

The big question for the squad will be in goal, where Lubos Ancin and Matt VanOekel split time last year. Ancin started the season in net, but allowed 12 goals in all or parts of eight games. VanOekel came on for the final 11 games, allowing 15 goals but posting three shutouts. Ancin is the veteran of the two, having started every game in goal his first two seasons on the Banks. But VanOekel propelled RU to a 5-0-1 finish and a berth in the Big East Tournament, where they fell 1-0 to West Virginia.

The Scarlet Knights are also bringing in a worldly recruiting class, featuring players from Croatia, England and Norway, as well as a couple recruits from New Jersey.

(C) 2006 Daily Targum via CSTV U-WIRE