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Rockhurst University Athletics

Brenden Dolan

Men's Soccer

Men's Soccer shoots for improved offense in 2023

Brenden Dolan brings experience to the the Hawks' defense.
The success of the Rockhurst men's soccer team in 2023 will depend on the improved play on the offensive end. Head coach Tony Tocco believes the Hawks need to score more goals this year and avoid putting too much pressure on their defense.

"We need to get more chances on the other team's goal and possess the ball longer," said Tocco, whose Hawks host Fort Hays State on Sunday. "We have a lot of young players who can help us. I think we can become better. How much better, we will have to wait and see."

Sophomore midfielder Kaden Cripe and junior midfielder Jacopo Belardo are the top returnees for the Hawks. Cripe led the team with four goals and nine points last year. Belardo has scored six goals in his first two seasons.

"Jacopo is a good scorer in the midfield," Tocco said. "Kaden is going to play defensive center midfield. He will be dangerous on corner kicks, long throws and free kicks. He may be able to hit a shot from his position."

A pair of freshmen forwards in Blake Barrick and Baha Ibrahim will boost the offense along with senior forwards Tomasso Tirabassi and Riley Dubbs.

"I think our offense must come from four or five people," Tocco said. "We need to score 25 to 30 goals this year to be competitive."

Brenden Dolan is the most experienced returnee on defense, which will also feature Xavier Hadley, Jeremiah Musa and Noah Brende.

"I think we should have a pretty good defense," Tocco said. "We need to manage the game and get more opportunities to score. If we do that, we can do a lot better. I think we have some really good players. They need to step up and do a better job for us."

Senior Fabio D'Errico will start the season in goal for Rockhurst. Tocco hopes to develop three freshmen goalies for the future.

The Hawks, who posted a 7-4-5 record last year, finished sixth in the GLVC Preseason Coaches' Poll.

"I'd like to be picked higher, but I can't say that is the wrong pick," added Tocco, who is the second winningest coach in men's college soccer with 727 wins.
 
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Players Mentioned

Noah Brende

#15 Noah Brende

D
6' 1"
Junior
Kaden Cripe

#16 Kaden Cripe

M
6' 3"
Sophomore
Fabio D

#1 Fabio D'Errico

GK
6' 3"
Graduate Student
Brenden Dolan

#6 Brenden Dolan

D
5' 10"
Graduate Student
Tomasso Tirabassi

#8 Tomasso Tirabassi

F
5' 9"
Senior
Jacopo Belardo

#10 Jacopo Belardo

M
6' 0"
Junior
Riley Dubbs

#20 Riley Dubbs

F
5' 9"
Senior
Xavier Hadley

#23 Xavier Hadley

D
5' 11"
Senior
Jeremiah Musa

#17 Jeremiah Musa

D
5' 10"
Junior
Blake Barrick

#11 Blake Barrick

F
6' 3"
Freshman
Baha Ibrahim

#24 Baha Ibrahim

F
5' 9"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Noah Brende

#15 Noah Brende

6' 1"
Junior
D
Kaden Cripe

#16 Kaden Cripe

6' 3"
Sophomore
M
Fabio D

#1 Fabio D'Errico

6' 3"
Graduate Student
GK
Brenden Dolan

#6 Brenden Dolan

5' 10"
Graduate Student
D
Tomasso Tirabassi

#8 Tomasso Tirabassi

5' 9"
Senior
F
Jacopo Belardo

#10 Jacopo Belardo

6' 0"
Junior
M
Riley Dubbs

#20 Riley Dubbs

5' 9"
Senior
F
Xavier Hadley

#23 Xavier Hadley

5' 11"
Senior
D
Jeremiah Musa

#17 Jeremiah Musa

5' 10"
Junior
D
Blake Barrick

#11 Blake Barrick

6' 3"
Freshman
F
Baha Ibrahim

#24 Baha Ibrahim

5' 9"
Freshman
F