For the past several years, the Mohawk Valley Community soccer program has seen its fair share of trials and tribulations in Region III. However, since head coach Dominic Dimaggio took over in 2017, the Hawks have become one of the region’s and nation’s top programs. This year’s team was captained by sophomore Zachary Gleasman who helped the team finish the season with an 18-3 record and number seven in the final rankings.
Season Recap
Ranked in the top five throughout the season thanks to Gleasman’s stellar play and 47 points (21 goals, 5 assists), the Hawks were rewarded in the NJCAA Division III Tournament with the number two overall seed and were placed in group B. In their first game, they were tested against Broome Community College but ended up winning 2-1. Their second game came against Genesee Community College in the group B finals where they ultimately fell 4-0. A bit of a consolation for the team came when Houssam Serhan and Romaine Watkis were named to the All-Tournament and coach DiMaggio was named Region III Coach of the Year and Mountain Valley Conference Co-Coach of the Year.
Program Outlook
With a 17-2 regular season, 16-2 in region III, and an 18-3 overall record, the Hawks return their core team and have some excellent recruits slated to take the field next season. Gleasman set the programs single-season record for goals scored with 21 which broke the previous record of 20 set by Krzysztof Mroczek (’97) and Armin Budnjo (’11) who had 20 goals. Their 18 wins ties the program record from the 2000 season. They set a new single-season goal record with 93, smashing the previous record of 79 from 2000. They averaged 4.43 goals per game which broke another record from the 2000 season when they averaged 3.9 goals per game. And finally, their record 14 shutouts beats the 2014 record of 12 shutouts in a season.
Although the season didn’t end how everyone had hoped, the program is continuing to grow and has a very bright outlook for the 20/21 season, whenever that may be. I attended MVCC from 2011-13 which means there will always be a place in my heart for my alma mater.
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