Scholastic Roundup: Medgar Evers soccer has a new look with an old face

September 13, 2024 Andy Furman

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Medgar Evers College men’s soccer program has a new look – with an old face.

Randy Urgiles, who played his high school soccer at Brooklyn’s Williamsburg Charter, has been named assistant soccer coach at his alma mater – Medgar Evers College.

Williamsburg Charter advanced to the semifinal round of the PSAL playoffs – twice – and once to the title match.
Urgiles spent one season with the Medgar Evers Cougars, and three more playing for borough rival, Brooklyn College. He appeared in 53 intercollegiate contests -14 for the Cougars, 39 for the Bulldogs, earning Second Team All-Star status in 2021. Brooklyn College qualified for the City University of New York Athletic Conference postseason each season Urgiles was on the squad, with the team reaching the semifinals his senior season.

The men opened its 2024 season falling to the Bears of Ursinus College, 8-0, last Friday.

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LIU running back Ludovick Choquette and defensive tackle Taveon Wheeler have been named Northeast Conference Offensive Player of the Week and Rookie of the Week, respectively after the Sharks opening game.

LIU fell to UAlbany, 27-21; and face TCU, Saturday (September 7th) 8pm, in a game to be aired on ESPN+.

Choquette, the grad transfer from Western Illinois, was explosive in his LIU debut with a career-high 128 rushing yards on 15 carries while adding four receptions for 22 yards and a touchdown. He becomes the first Shark since Owen Glascoe in November, 2023 to take home this award, and is the first LIU running back since Jonathan DeBique in March of 2021 to earn the honor.

A redshirt freshman, Wheeler picked up the lone sack of the night in the UAlbany opener and applied consistent pressure up the middle. Quarterback Chris Howell is the previous Shark to win Rookie of the Week, which he took home in November of last season.

In addition, Choquette and quarterback Luca Stanzani were both named NEC Prime Performers. Stanzani takes home his first Prime Performer recognition after throwing for three touchdowns in the UAlbany game.

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Kiki Bruning scored the season’s first goal for LIU, and Gigi Ranoldo netted the game-winner in the Sharks’ 2-1 win in their season-opener against Quinnipiac, Friday. Goaltender Fleur Hofman stopped six shots. The Lady Sharks field hockey team takes their 1-1 record to Hofstra Field Hockey Stadium, Sunday (Sept. 8th) vs. Bellarmine University.

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LIU men’s soccer undefeated streak was almost snapped with a 0-0 draw against UConn in Storrs, Conn., Sunday. The Sharks had previously won their first two matches.

The men and women’s cross-country team kicked-off their season for LIU at Stony Brook University, Saturday competing against Stony Brook, Fordham, Quinnipiac, Sacred Heart, and Wagner.

The men’s team finished fourth in the 6K event. Aidan Haughian led the Sharks with a 16th place finish (20:09.50). Robby Levy followed closely in 18th (20:16.60). Other notable finishers included: John Schwab (20:27.20), Josh Roos (21:12.50), Perry Balsamo (21:12.80), Ryan Bailor (21:17.60), Darin Cofield (21:34.50), and Tyrese Bowes (22:12.10).

For the women’s 4K race, Hasnae Goulamzi was LIU’s top performer, finishing 12th (14:51.60). Josephine Critchley (16:41.50), Ally Carillo (16:59.40), and Amira Hussein (19:23.80) also competed strongly.

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Sean Salomons got his first. The first-year women’s volleyball coach at Brooklyn’s St. Joseph’s University saw his Bears pick-up a 3-1 victory over Bryn Mawr College – the Bears later fell to the Bearcats of Baruch for a split last Friday in Brooklyn. Rachel Meltsin (James Madison High School), had 35 assists, six digs and four aces for the Bears in the Bryn Mawr win.

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The men’s soccer team at Pratt Institute returns to Brooklyn looking for their first win of the season, when they face Medgar Evers, Saturday (Sept. 7th). The Cannoneers dropped a pair of games upstate – 2-0 to SUNY Cobleskill (Sunday) and 3-0 to Bard College, at Annandale-on-the-Hudson, Friday.

The Pratt Institute women’s soccer team topped St. Joseph’s University (Brooklyn) 7-0, Friday. Rookie Katie Nolan (2), Kat Thomsen (2), Emma Pratt, Siena Sujitno and rookie Claire Hook did the scoring for Pratt. The women travel to Penn State-Abington, Saturday. They suffered their first loss of the season in a 3-0 setback to Ramapo College, Monday.

In their season opener, the Pratt Institute women’s volleyball team dropped a straight-set decision to the United States Merchant Marine Academy, Saturday. Olivia Julich led the Cannoneers with six kills, nine digs and two blocks – all team highs. The Cannoneers host Saint Elizabeth University, Friday (Sept. 6th) for their home opener at St. Joseph’s University’s Hill Center, 6 pm.

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Pratt’s men’s and women’s cross-country teams took a pair of third-place finishes at The College of New Jersey Invitational in their 2024 season opener, Friday.

Giovanna Lisa and Sarah Cawley paced the women covering the 3.2-kilometer course in 13:58.6 and 14:09.0 to finish 20th and 21st place. Finn Powell (15:09.7, 26th place), Leona Bergin (15:52.9, 29th place) and Kathleen Chen (16;45.8, 31st place) rounded out the scoring five.

Rookie Justin Cai led the men, clocking in at 18:08.5 on the 5k track to take 21st in his first collegiate race. Ian Chen crossed second for the gold-and-black in 20:07.6 in 26th place. Andrew Langpap (21:28.2, 30th place), Andrew Weiss (23:05.5, 34th place), and Henry Domst (24:13.5, 36th place) completed the scoring five. Pratt competes in the Stockton Open, Saturday, September 14th.

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Brooklyn College sophomore midfielder, George Koufos was named Men’s Soccer Player of the Week by the CUNYAC. Koufos earns the honor following his efforts in Brooklyn’s 2-1 season-opening victory over St. Joseph’s, Brooklyn, Friday.

The CUNYAC 2023 Rookie of the Year scored both goals in the win. Brooklyn was picked fourth in the Coaches’ Poll in the City of New York Athletic Conference. Baruch was voted to win the conference.

The Brooklyn College women soccer team was picked third by CUNYAC Coaches. CCNY was picked to repeat as conference champs.

Brooklyn sophomore back, Abigail Joseph, was selected as a Player to Watch in 2024. The Bulldogs open conference play at Lehman, October 12th – they fell to Maritime, 1-0, on the road in their season opener last week.

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Bishop Loughlin High School boys’ soccer team opens their season against Moore Catholic, Monday, September 9th at Randall Island Park.

Andy Furman is a Fox Sports Radio national talk show host. Previously, he was a scholastic sports columnist for the Brooklyn Eagle. He may be reached at: [email protected] ; Twitter: @AndyFurmanFSR