Men's Soccer Adds Five Players for 2011
BROOKVILLE, N.Y. (April 13, 2011) – C.W. Post head men's soccer coach Andreas Lindberg announced that four players have signed National Letters of Intent to attend C.W. Post, and one other player will transfer in from a community college. Conor O'Leary (Levittown, N.Y.), Danny Goldberg (Williston Park, N.Y.), Cemil Turan (Staten Island, N.Y.), Daniel Begonja (Whitestone, N.Y.) and Vincent Tavernese (Garden City, N.Y.) have all committed to suit up for the Pioneers, beginning in the 2011 season.
“This group of young men will make an immediate impact on our program,” says Lindberg. “They are local products, all hailing from New York, and they have all had outstanding prep careers in addition to high-level club experience. The coaching staff is excited about the additions of these five student athletes, and we feel they will make a positive impact on the field, in the classroom, and to the C.W. Post athletics family.”
O'Leary hails from Levittown, and played for Division Avenue, where he was an all-conference player. He plays club soccer for the Garden City Gladiators, an NERP Premier club team. Lindberg on O'Leary: “Conor is a left-footed defender with great potential. He reads the game very well and can keep the ball moving.
Goldberg transfers to C.W. Post following one season at Southern Connecticut and one season at Nassau CC. While at SCSU in 2009, he was named to the NE-10 All-Rookie Team. This past season, he earned All-Region honors at Nassau. During his high school days, he helped Herricks to a Nassau County Championship. Lindberg on Goldberg: “Danny is a skillful player with great technique. He loves to join the attack from his defensive position. He will also add experience to our team as he played collegiately at the Division II level with Southern Connecticut.
Turan comes to C.W. Post following one year at Kingsborough CC, and his awards at both the high school and JUCO level are extensive. A Staten Island native, he earned all-city, all-state and all-region honors while suiting up for St. Peter's Boys High School, and was named the NY Player of the Year in 2009 following a four-year career that saw him score 89 goals and lead the Eagles to three CHSAA Championships and one city championship. Following his freshman season at Kingsborough, he earned All-America second team as well as all-region honors, while ranking tops in the nation with 2.3 goals per game, scoring 28 times in 11 games. Lindberg on Turan: “Cemil is a pure goal scorer that can finish from all over. He is a strong and hard-working forward with a great shot. A heavily recruited player, we have high expectation for Cemil's career at C.W. Post.
Begonja is a Whitestone product who played high school soccer for St. Francis Preparatory and club soccer for the USSF Met Oval Academy. Lindberg on Begonja: “Daniel is a hard-nosed player with good speed and flair. He's played at the highest youth level in America for the past three years, and we expect him to translate that experience into a productive career here at C.W. Post.”
Tavarnese, from nearby Garden City, played for Garden City High School, earning all-conference honors following his junior season, followed by all-county honorable mention following his senior year, where he scored 12 goals and added 13 assists. An equally strong performer in the classroom, Tavernese was a four-year scholar athlete for the Trojans. He also played along with Conor O'Leary for the Garden City Gladiators, a NERP Premier club team, and was selected for the New York State team. Lindberg on Tavernese: “Vincent is a fast and skillful offensive player, and will bring a high level of performance to the Pioneers next fall.