BOSTON – A third of Suffolk men's soccer's 36-player roster is made-up of rookies as head coach Bill Maddock recruited 13 newcomers to join the Rams ranks for the 2022 campaign.
The group is a mixture of collegiate first-years with 10 true freshmen with a trio of transfers featured in the group in junior Andrew Awada (Assumption) and sophomores Damon Smargon (University of San Francisco) and Matteo Simonini (North Carolina Wesleyan). Position wise, there are five midfielders and a quartet of defenders and forwards, respectively.
"We are very excited about our incoming class," Maddock said. "On paper it is one of the most talented groups we have had, but more importantly all these young men possess the qualities we look for in athletes who will represent our Suffolk community positively."
Suffolk looks the veterans and rookies to combine forces to compete in the CCC and get further than it did a year ago, an 8-9-1 overall record and a CCC play-in game appearance as the eighth seed.
Ram Nation will get its first chance to catch the 2022 edition of the men's soccer squad Thursday, Sept. 1 when the Rams host Mitchell at James A. Sartori Stadium at East Boston Memorial Park at 3 p.m.
ANDREW AWADA | JR. | F | 6-4 | 185 | WESTFORD, MASS. / WESTFORD ACADEMY / ASSUMPTION
BEFORE SUFFOLK – ASSUMPTION (2020)
Began his collegiate career at Assumption.
BEFORE SUFFOLK – WESTFORD ACADEMY
Letterwinner and captain at Westford Academy ... DCL All-Star ... Played for the Boston Bolts Club Team and served as captain.
MATTHEW BELLUARDO | FR. | D | 6-4 | 200 | MAHWAH, N.J. / MAHWAH
BEFORE SUFFOLK – MAHWAH
Letterwinner at Mahwah.
RYAN CHAMBERLAIN | FR. | D | 5-10 | 150 | BETHEL, CONN. / BETHEL
BEFORE SUFFOLK – BETHEL
Letterwinner and captain at Bethel ... Led Bethel to a division championship ... Notched 11 goals at Bethel ... Also lettered in basketball and served as captain ... Youth soccer referee ... Member of Wildcats are Responsible, an anti-drug/alcohol club.
JEREMY COOKE | FR. | M | 6-3 | 180 | NORWALK, CONN. / KING SCHOOL
BEFORE SUFFOLK – KING SCHOOL
Letterwinner at King School.
EMILIANO ESQUER | FR. | D | 5-11 | 180 | SAN DIEGO, CALIF. / ST. AUGUSTINE
BEFORE SUFFOLK – ST. AUGUSTINE
Letterwinner at St. Augustine ... Led St. Augustine to three division championships ... Played for Chula Vista Football Club and captained the squad.
CHARLIE GONCALVES | FR. | D | 5-11 | 160 | PEMBROKE, MASS. / PEMBROKE
TOMMY KURZ | FR. | F | 6-1 | 165 | NEW CANAAN, CONN. / NEW CANAAN
FORD LEE | FR. | M | 5-11 | 155 | ATLANTA, GA. / ATLANTA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
BEFORE SUFFOLK – ATLANTA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
Letterwinner at Atlanta International School ... Led Atlanta International School to the 2022 State Championship ... All-Conferene honoree ... International Baccalaureate Diploma recipient.
MATTHEW MORENO | FR. | M | 5-11 | 190 | HAMILTON PARISH, BERMUDA / WILLISTON NORTHAMPTON SCHOOL
DIEGO PIERANTOZZI | FR. | F | 5-9 | 160 | WESTON, FLA. / CYPRESS BAY
DAMON SMARGON | SO. | M | 5-9 | 150 | SAN DIEGO, CALIF. / DEL NORTE / UNIVERSITY OF SAN FRANCISCO
BEFORE SUFFOLK – UNIVERSITY OF SAN FRANCISCO (2021)
Began his collegiate career at the University of San Francisco.
BEFORE SUFFOLK – DEL NOTRE
Letterwinner at Del Notre ... All-conference honoree.
MATTEO SIMONINI | SO. | F | 6-1 | 165 | ROME, ITALY / ST. STEPHEN'S / NORTH CAROLINA WESLEYAN
CARTER VAN BUSKIRK | FR. | M | 5-10 | 155 | ST. LOUIS, MO. / MARQUETTE HIGH SCHOOL
BEFORE SUFFOLK – MARQUETTE HIGH SCHOOL
Letterwinner at Marquette and captained the team ... Marquette Offensive Player of the Year and MVP ... First-Team All-Region ... First-Team All-State ... Also played for the St. Louis Scott Gallagher and captained the team.