Page 4 - CROSSROADS - October, 1974
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Abbey Cogers Ready
The Belmont Abbey
Crusaders enjoyed their
third consecutive .500 or
better season under
Coach Bob Hussey last
year. In 1973-74, the
squad tied the record for
most wins at the Abbey
with 17 victories and 12
losses.
With a complete squad
of returning lettermen
and the addition of good
height, the Crusaders
look to be one of the most
competitive teams in
NAIA District 26 again
this year.
Senior leadership and a
bumper crop of out
standing freshmen will
add also new dimensions
to the Belmont Abbey
attack this season.
Five seniors who were
all starters at one time or
another last year head
the list of returning
veterans. Carl Bell, a
NAIA All-American
candidate, returns after
leading the Crusaders in
scoring last season at a
20.2 point-per-game clip.
The 6-5 leaper from
Reidsville was named to
the All-District 26 team in
both his sophomore and
junior years and was
Honorable Mention All-
American in his
sophomore year.
Gary Silver, a 6-1
guard, returns for his
senior campaign after
scoring at nearly 10
points per contest last
year. Julian Miller, a 6-1
backcourt man, and Mike
Bona, a 6-6 wing man, are
also seniors this season.
Rick McClure, an
outstanding junior
college transfer from
Brevard College, was
injured for the better part
of last season and will
hopefully return at full
speed this year.
Curtis Carter, a 6-6
junior, returns after two
years in a starting role
along with Steve Delaney
(6-0), Craig Leach (6-2),
James Monroe (6-4),
Clint Bryant (6-4), Craig
Wink (6-3), and Mike
Thombs (6-1).
Considering the fact
that a lack of rebounding
was a key factor last
year. Coach Hussey went
after some of the finest
big men in the country to
add backboard strength.
The tallest of the tall is
Glen Tambon of New
York City at 6-10.
Backing Tambon will
be Gene Reed of Par-
sippany, N.J. at 6-8,
Desmond Dennis of
Washington, D.C. at 6-7
and Terry Comer of
Robbins, N.C. at 6-6.
Paul (iarver of Ar
chbishop Molloy of New
York and Bobby Moran of
Bethesda, Md. will add
depth to the Crusader
backcourt.
Coach Hussey said,
“This being my fourth
year at Belmont Abbey,
seeing our first year
recruits as seniors, gives
me great confidence. We
will be looking for more
scoring and better field
goal percentage from our
backcourt of Silver,
McClure and Miller.
Bell, Carter, and Bona
must provide more
rebounding strength.
Our overall style of play
will be basically the same
as past years. High
percentage offense,
outstanding defense and
overall team play will be
important factors.”
Coach Hussey poihts to
the possibility of fielding
an outstanding ball club
this season. ‘‘How
quickly we come together
as a team and how
quickly our freshmen
learn the system will be
key factors. Even with
an improved team, it
might be difficult to
improve on 17 wins due to
a continued upgraded
schedule which includes
Catholic University and
Mt. St. Mary’s in a trip to
Washington, D.C., plus
strong Seton Hall
University, one of the
NIT teams.”
This was one of Belgassem AI Soussi’s three goals
In the Crusaders’ 4-3 Homecoming victory.
Soccer Team Wins
Seven Straight
Senior Abbey Crusaders with Coach Bobby Hussey prepare for a strong
showing this season. Kneeling are Rick McClure, Gary Silver, and Julian Miller.
Standing are Carl Bell, Hussey, and Mike Bona.
Following an opening
loss to the University of
North Carolina, the
Belmont Abbey College
soccer team has posted
seven straight victories.
They are looking op
timistically toward their
8th consecutive district
title and a berth in the
regional playoffs to
determine positions in
the N.A.I.A. national
tournament.
After losing 5-0 at
Chapel Hill, the Abbey
squeezed by St. Andrews,
4-3, and Elon 2-1. The
team then embarked on a
hot streak, outscorlng the
next five opponents by a
combined score of 33 to 1.
Co-captain Belgassem
Al Soussi, last year’s 32-
goal scorer, is again the
standout offensively with
17 goals tallied so far.
Second in scoring is
Khalid Al Khalifa with 8
scores. Coach Stanley
Dudko describes Khalifa
as the Abbey’s “secret
weapon , ’ ’ citing
deceptive speed as his
greatest asset. Randy
Schambach, the other
Crusader co-captain, has
four goals to his credit.
Although obviously adept
at the forward scoring
positions, Soussi and
Shamback have been,
according to Coach
Dudko, “more useful at
the mid-field positions,
because of their ability to
set up plays and make
accurate passes.”
Dudko’s offense
generally relies on short
passing, and “give and
go” type plays, oc
casionally utilizing long
direct passes to set up a
quick score.
In addition to Soussi,
Schambach and Khalifa,
team leaders include
Chris Antwi, Eddie
Mancheno, and Mosadak
Al Soussi, Belgassem’s
younger brother. These
six players form the
nucleus around which the
team play revolves.
A pleasant surprise has
been the performance of
freshman Mike Lynski,
already a three goal
scorer. Dudko describes
him as “tough and
-aggressive, a' good
passer.”
Goalie Frank Mun-
chinsky and the Abbey
defense have allowed
only one goal in the last
four matches. Though
Munchinski was sidelined
by illness for the Western
Carolina game,
Schambach filled in at
the goal position,
blocking an early penalty
kick, and rc ;erve goalie
Bill Kitusk/ played well
in the UNC-Asheville
match.
As Crossroads goes to
press, the Abbey hooters
are readying to meet
High Point College at
High Point on Saturday,
October 26th. High Point
currently posts the same
overall record as the
Abbey and the Crusaders
have to win this match to
secure first seeding in the
district tourney. The
final regular season
contest pits Abbey
against Davidson
College, October 29th at
the Abbey. The Wildcats
are a powerful soccer
club and should provide
an exciting regular
season finish.
The district play-offs
will be held November 9-
12. If the Crusaders win
they will advance to the
(Continued On P. 8)