Men's Soccer | 11/15/2024 2:30:00 PM
BABSON PARK, Mass. – The St. John Fisher University men's soccer team (11-4-5) faces No. 11 Babson College at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday at Hartwell-Rogers Field in the program's second-ever appearance in the NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Championship.
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What Else To Know
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Saturday's contest will mark the first meeting between St. John Fisher and Babson, one of 16 hosts for the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament.
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Wesleyan (7-4-5) faces the University of Saint Joseph (14-4-3) at 1 p.m. on Saturday in the other first-round contest at Hatwell-Rogers Field.
Men's Soccer Claims Three Major E8 Awards, Lands Seven On All-Conference Teams
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The St. John Fisher University men's soccer team claimed three of the Empire 8 Conference's major awards and landed seven players on the all-conference teams when the E8 announced its accolades for the 2024 season on Tuesday afternoon.
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Head coach Jack Burgasser was named Doug May Coach of the Year for the third time since taking over the Fisher program in January 2020.
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Senior forward Joey Avallone won Empire 8 Offensive Player of the Year, joining Justin Bonetto (2020-21) and Luke Lennox (2007) as the third player in program history to earn the award.
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Graduate student Christian Burkhart joined Jadon Schlierf (2020-21) as the second player in St. John Fisher history to win Empire 8 Goalkeeper of the Year.
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The Cardinals had an Empire 8-high four players earn first-team honors: Avallone, Burkhart, senior midfielder Jacob McGinnis and senior defender Ryan Brown.
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Fisher also had the most total all-conference selections (7) as three other players — senior forward Riley Rease, sophomore forward Jack Tamburino and senior defender Trevor Heschke — garnered second-team honors.
Burkhart Having A Season For The History Books
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Burkhart has 13 shutouts — the most by a collegiate goalkeeper at any level this season (Division I, Division II and Division III) — and ranks first in the Empire 8 Conference in saves (73).
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Burkhart's 13 shutouts (10 regular season, three postseason) are tied for the most by an Empire 8 goalkeeper since 2018 (Aaron Henry of Stevens had 13 that year).
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Burkhart is Fisher's single-season record holder for shutouts.
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Burkhart was named MVP of the Empire 8 Men's Soccer Championship.
Fisher Notes To Know
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The Cardinals' 11 wins this season are their most Burgasser.
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The Cardinals' 11 wins are the second most by a team in program history. The 2007 team holds the program record for single-season wins (12).
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The Cardinals have won three Empire 8 Conference tournament championships: in 2016, 2020-21 (COVID-altered season) and 2024.
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The Cardinals, who haven't allowed a goal since a 3-1 win over Houghton on Oct. 16, have blanked their last six opponents.
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The Cardinals enter the NCAA Tournament on a nine-game unbeaten streak. They have outscored their opponents 18-1 since their last loss (Oct. 5 to Russell Sage).
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The Cardinals have allowed the fewest goals (11) in the Empire 8 this season.
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Avallone leads the Cardinals in points (19), goals (7) and assists (5).
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Avallone's 19 total points points are the most by a Fisher player since Rease had 22 in 2021.
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Rease has 16 points over 14 games this season, the second most on the team. He has six goals and four assists.
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Rease scored two goals and had an assist in three playoff games (five points).
With A Win, The Cardinals Would…
A Look At Babson
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Babson (14-1-6) has made the NCAA Tournament six years in a row and 32 times overall.
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The Beavers won their fourth New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) last weekend with a 2-0 victory over Salve Regina. Babson has won its last seven games.
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Graduate student Kento Abe (8-6-22) has tallied at least one point in seven of Babson's last nine games.
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Goalkeeper Walker White ranks eighth in Division III in goals against average (0.49). He has nine shutouts and a .836 save percentage.
