Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Rockhurst University Athletics

Brenden Dolan

Men's Soccer

Men's Soccer kicks off season in Colorado Springs

Senior defender Brenden Dolan led the Hawks in minutes played in 2021.
Rockhurst Men's Soccer opens its 59th season tonight in Colorado Springs against the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs Mountain Lions. The Hawks will then play at Fort Hays State on Sept. 1 and host Newman on Sept. 4.

The Hawks feature experience at each position while adding several transfers and freshmen to the lineup.

"Our kids are practicing hard and they seem to be in pretty good shape. We still have a lot of work to do both offensively and defensively to be prepared for our conference schedule. Our three non-conference games are going to be critical for us to really do well in," said head coach Tony Tocco.

The top returners, in terms of minutes played last year, are senior defenders Brenden Dolan and Gianmarco Donnini, sophomore midfielder Jacopo Belardo and junior forward Tomasso Tirabassi.

Dolan is the captain of the defense, which will also feature Max Pycior, Xavier Hadley, Jeremiah Musa, Josh Lindell and Cristoforo LiCavoli. The midfield is not short of experience with seniors Parker Esparza, Chase Klusman and Missouri-Kansas City transfer Ben Andoh.

Senior Elluan Martins Gomes, freshman Kaden Cripe and Tirabassi give the Hawks' a strong trio at the forward position. Senior Jordan Andrews, who has scored 11 career goals, also returns for his fifth year.

"We need to do better offensively in getting more attempts on goal. Defensively, we need to stop making mistakes that lead to the opponents' goals," said Tocco, who has won 719 games in his 51 seasons guiding the Hawks.

Transfer Andrea Dorella will start the season as RU's goalkeeper. He played the past four seasons at MidAmerica Nazarene. Senior Fabio D'Errico returns after starting 13 games last year.

"We have enough experience at every position to do a good job," Tocco added. "If our upperclassmen step up and use their talent and experience that they have this could be a very good season for us. If not, it could be another mediocre year for us."

The Hawks (6-11-1 last year) finished 10th in the GLVC Preseason Coaches' Poll. Indianapolis and Maryville are expected to be the top two teams in the GLVC.
 
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Jordan Andrews

#11 Jordan Andrews

M
5' 10"
Senior
Fabio D

#1 Fabio D'Errico

GK
6' 3"
Senior
Brenden Dolan

#6 Brenden Dolan

D
5' 10"
Junior
Parker Esparza

#13 Parker Esparza

M
6' 0"
Junior
Xavier Hadley

#23 Xavier Hadley

D
5' 11"
Sophomore
Chase Klusman

#10 Chase Klusman

M
6' 2"
Junior
Cristoforo LiCavoli

#29 Cristoforo LiCavoli

D
5' 7"
Sophomore
Josh Lindell

#5 Josh Lindell

D
6' 3"
Redshirt Sophomore
Elluan Martins Gomes

#9 Elluan Martins Gomes

F
6' 0"
Senior
Max Pycior

#4 Max Pycior

D
6' 1"
Sophomore
Tomasso Tirabassi

#8 Tomasso Tirabassi

F
5' 9"
Sophomore
Jeremiah Musa

#36 Jeremiah Musa

D
5' 10"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Jordan Andrews

#11 Jordan Andrews

5' 10"
Senior
M
Fabio D

#1 Fabio D'Errico

6' 3"
Senior
GK
Brenden Dolan

#6 Brenden Dolan

5' 10"
Junior
D
Parker Esparza

#13 Parker Esparza

6' 0"
Junior
M
Xavier Hadley

#23 Xavier Hadley

5' 11"
Sophomore
D
Chase Klusman

#10 Chase Klusman

6' 2"
Junior
M
Cristoforo LiCavoli

#29 Cristoforo LiCavoli

5' 7"
Sophomore
D
Josh Lindell

#5 Josh Lindell

6' 3"
Redshirt Sophomore
D
Elluan Martins Gomes

#9 Elluan Martins Gomes

6' 0"
Senior
F
Max Pycior

#4 Max Pycior

6' 1"
Sophomore
D
Tomasso Tirabassi

#8 Tomasso Tirabassi

5' 9"
Sophomore
F
Jeremiah Musa

#36 Jeremiah Musa

5' 10"
Freshman
D