Men’s Soccer Begins Season With New Contributors

By Ryan Patota, Sports Reporter

The Canisius men’s soccer team added eight newcomers to the roster this offseason in an attempt to integrate younger players into a roster with 16 upperclassmen.

When asked what it has been like integrating eight new players to his program, Coach Tanke says, “It’s a product of having the consistent message now since the time I started four years ago, and having the same training environment, making it easier on the newcomers coming in to learn from the upperclassmen.”   

The early results are mixed, with the Griffs starting off just 1–3–1 in non-conference play after going 4–8–4 overall last season. 

The team opened their season with a series of non-conference matchups, starting strong with a comfortable 3–0 win over VMI, led by freshman forward Noah Baumslag’s goal and assist. The three total points earned himself MAAC Rookie of the Week honors.

Following the win, Canisius traveled to Blacksburg Virginia where they took on ACC opponent Virginia Tech. The Griffs put up a valiant effort against the Hokies, losing just 2–0, before travelling back home to take on Duquesne, where they would lose 3–0 in their first game back on the Demske turf. 

The Griffs went back on the road for their fourth game of the season at Cleveland State, a program that has beaten Canisius in the last five matchups. Tanke’s team found themselves down 2–0 just 19 minutes into the game, but clawed their way back, led by one of the newcomers, freshman Gabriel Leslie. Leslie scored both of the team’s goals, the first in the 44th minute and the second being just four minutes later. The Griffs and Vikings finished the match in a 2-2 draw.

Canisius closed out a string of away games with a 5-0 loss at Little Three rival St. Bonaventure Wednesday, Sept. 10. The team will return home to the Demske Sports Complex for their final non conference matchup against Mercyhurst Wednesday, Sept. 17, with kickoff slated for 6 p.m.

Photo courtesy of Canisius Athletics