EAST PETERSBURG, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University men's soccer program's storied history of lifelong friendships and camaraderie was on full display earlier this month when a group of Rock alumni gathered together to compete in the 2010 Keystone State Games Indoor Soccer Tournament.
A group of 12 former Rock men's soccer players, joined together by former All-American Angelo Albanese (class of 1980), participated in the over-40 indoor tournament held in East Petersburg, Pa. March 5. The team was coached by current SRU assistant coach Chris Logan.
“It was a great experience,” said Logan. “Seeing these guys doing something like this really gives credit to the type of people we have had in our soccer program. For them to get together after all those years and do this was really amazing. Their soccer ability may have declined but their friendships have lasted."
The Rock marched through the opening rounds of the 16-team tournament and into the playoffs before bowing out in the first round of the single-elimination playoff.
"This was more about a lot of us getting together who hadn't seen each other in a long time than it was about the games themselves," said Albanese. "Some of us hadn't seen each other in 25 years."
"With the success of the program recently, we grew closer in conversations and contacted each other more,” said Jeff Quinn (class of 1986), the team's offensive star of the tournament. “Some of us made it back for the playoffs here last year and we got the itch to play again. That got the ball rolling and we started looking for a tournament or some place we could play."
The current Rock men's soccer team closed the 2009 season with the best record in school history at 18-4-1, claimed its fifth Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference title, defeated the No. 1 team in the country and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Below is the identification for the photo above.
Front Row (Left to Right): Jeff Quinn (1982-85), Tom Gazda (1980-83), Angelo Pennisi (1977-80), Jeff Buirge (1977-80), Jerry Catagnus (1975-76).
Back Row (Left to Right): Chris Logan (current assistant coach), Greg Policano (1980-83), Tony Hindley (1980-81), Thomas “Tootz” Kulik (1977-80), Rick Tongel (1978-80), Angelo Albanese (1976-79), Bill Smith (1978-81), Dave Smith (did not attend SRU), Brian Kosa (1978-81).
