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Men’s Cross Country Season Preview

Men’s Cross Country Season Preview

Patchogue, NY| One year removed from an agonizingly close one-point defeat in the Skyline Conference Championship, the St. Joseph's College (L.I) men's cross country team is poised to capture its sixth conference championship in 2015, having failed to do so since winning its fourth in a row in 2013.

But head coach Jim Crowley, who founded the program and is entering his 18th season at the helm, is realistic about his chances. He feels his side is as good as any, but knows that "Mt. St. Mary's is retuning its entire team from last season and are the favorites, and Maritime has had a good recruiting year and should close the gap."

If the Golden Eagles are going to push for the title they'll have to get used to life without three-time All-Skyline Conference First-Team honoree Brian Wersan, who graduated after last season after. In Wersan's absence, Crowley will look to returning junior Nick Diaz (Hauppauge, NY), who is expected to receive First-Team honors for the third-straight season after finishing sixth at last year's conference championship.

2015 Skyline Conference Coaches' Poll

1. Mount Saint Mary (7) – 95 Points
2. St. Joseph's-Long Island – 91 Points 
3. Maritime (1) – 80 Points
4. Yeshiva – 79 Points
5. Purchase – 59 Points
6. Farmingdale State – 54 Points
7. Mount Saint Vincent – 43 Points
8. Sage – 37 Points
9. Sarah Lawrence – 34 Points
10. Old Westbury – 18 Points 
11. St. Joseph's-Brooklyn – 15 Points

Senior Mike LoShiavo (Holbrook, NY) and sophomore Nick Morfesi (West Babylon) also return for the 2015 campaign. The latter placed 10th at the Skyline Championship and earned All-Conference Second-Team honors.

Seniors Shane Acosta (Medford, NY) and John Suchopar (Bohemia, NY), along with junior Tim Elgort (Mt. Sinai, NY) will also be crucial to the team's overall success.

Among the new recruits is freshman Ryan Haun (Bayport, NY), who Crowley believes "should run with the Big 3 to give the team a formidable top four." Also expected to make an instant impact is SJC track team member Brad Danielsen (Lake Ronkonkoma, NY), who is set to run cross country for the first time in his career.

The Golden Eagles begin their quest for Skyline Conference glory at home this season, with the Friends and Alumni Race at Broadway Park in Sayville, NY on Tuesday, September 1 at 7:00 PM.

After four away meets spread throughout September and into October, the Golden Eagles will host their annual St. Joseph's Invitational, which will take place on Saturday, October 17 at Sunken Meadow State Park (Kings Park, NY) at 1:00 PM.

The Skyline Conference Championships will run at Hudson Valley Sports Dome in Milton, NY on Sunday, October 25 at 1:00 PM. NCAA Regionals will take place at Letchworth State Park Park in Castile, NY on Saturday, November 14.