The Pitt-Johnstown men's soccer team enters 2013 with many new faces on its roster and a brand new conference. The Mountain Cats welcome 10 newcomers as they embark on their first year in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC). This year's squad has just three seniors and one junior with the remainder of the squad composed of underclassmen. Pitt-Johnstown will play 18 matches, including 11 PSAC games beginning on September 13 at home against Lock Haven.
Returning Seniors
         Head Coach Eric Kinsey will look to the three seniors to provide leadership and bring its younger players along quickly. Tyler Rothbauer will start on the backline and help to solidify the defense. Midfielder Steve Taslov will be a key piece to the Mountain Cat attack as he looks to create scoring chances for the forwards, while goalkeeper Nolan Levine will battle for time between the posts in his final season.
Team Captains
         Rothbauer will serve as this year's team captain. "Tyler has been a good leader for our team going back to last spring," Coach Kinsey said. "He has done a good job of keeping the boys organized and getting all of the young guys up to speed."
Players to Watch
         Three goalkeepers will vie for the starting job as Pitt-Johnstown looks to improve on their defensive performance from last season. Levine, sophomore Tim Ofman, and freshman Nate Kleya are all in the mix for the starting spot.
         The Cats' back line must make up for some inexperience with its strength and size. Rothbauer will play center back or outside back. Sophomore Colm Spillane returns after sitting out 2012 and will be a key part in the middle of the defense. Junior Steven Marsh will transition from the midfield to the back, while sophomore Josh Lloyd and redshirt freshman Kevin Neskie look to break into the starting line-up. Freshman Jeremy Staffen also hopes to make an immediate impact in his first collegiate season.
         Pitt-Johnstown should have a dynamic and talented midfield that can assist the back four in protecting the Mountain Cat goal as well as go forward to provide an attacking threat. Taslov will feature at outside midfield, while sophomore Jeremy Scheffel will play in the central midfield. Sophomore Matt Kinney and a host of freshmen give Coach Kinsey multiple options in a young, but athletic midfield. Ismail Ahmad, A.J. McNary, and Joey Martincic should contribute, and Colton Myers and Colin Harrison can serve in the midfield and forward positions as well.
         The Mountain Cats need quality offensive production from a handful of young, but talented forwards. Sophomores Colin Michalski and Jake Sauter gained valuable experience as freshmen and will build on that as Pitt-Johnstown strives to increase its goals tally from 2012. Freshman Bobby Colvin should make an immediate impact in the line-up this fall as well.
         "We are unbelievably young and inexperienced but, we have a lot of enthusiasm going into the season," Coach Kinsey said. "So many new faces and a new league will make for an interesting year. We need to get great senior leadership and some of the new guys to step up and make the transition to the college game. If those things happen, we will have an exciting season and turn a few heads in the PSAC."
