Marist College

Poughkeepsie, NY 12601

New York Northeast

Private Medium Developing team

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Coaches

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Nicole Pacapelli

Pacapelli comes to Marist after a successful three-year run as an assistant coach at Binghamton. In the past three seasons, the Bearcats went 14-5-3 (.705) in America East play and 23-15-8 (.587) overall. Binghamton won a share of its divisional title in the Spring of 2021, won the America East regular-season championship outright in 2022, and reached the conference's championship match in the Spring of 2021 and 2022. These championship appearances marked the first for the Bearcats since 2009.

In the 2022 season, Pacapelli was part of the America East Coaching Staff of the Year. Maya Anand was named Striker of the Year, and Olivia McKnight was honored as Midfielder of the Year. It marked the first time in program history the Bearcats won more than one conference major award. Additionally, Anand and McKnight were named All-Region.

Prior to her arrival at Binghamton, Pacapelli was an assistant coach at Richmond in the Atlantic 10 in the 2019 season. For the 2016-18 seasons, Pacapelli was head coach at Queens College, where she doubled as the department's academic coordinator.

Pacapelli earned both her Bachelor's degree (Nutrition and Dietetics, 2014) and Master's degree (MBA, concentration in Sports Management, 2016) from the University of New Haven, where she was a Dean's List honoree. She began her coaching career with the Chargers as their lead assistant from 2014-15. In her three-year playing career at New Haven, Pacapelli helped lead the program to 31 wins and was a two-year captain and an All-Northeast-10 selection. She played her freshman season at Stonehill College.

Pacapelli played in the Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL) for the Connecticut Football Club (CFC) Passion. She holds a United States Soccer "C" coaching license and United Soccer Coaches National and Advanced National Diplomas. She was selected to the 2022 United Soccer Coaches Coach Credentialing Cohort, was honored as a member of the 2021 United Soccer Coaches 30 Under 30 Class, and was chosen to the 2020 NCAA WeCoach Academy Class.

Pacapelli is a native of West Haven, Connecticut. She was an all-state soccer selection and four-year scholastic standout.

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Mackenzie Hanna

Hanna graduated from Binghamton University with her Bachelor of Science in Integrative Neuroscience in the Spring of 2021. She was a four-year member on the Binghamton women's soccer team from 2017-2021, playing as a goalkeeper for the Bearcats. During her career, Hanna made an appearance in every season recording 61 saves while accumulating a 1.08 goals against average. Off the field Hanna excelled in the classroom earning herself an America East Honor Roll honor as a sophomore in 2018 as well as two Miller Auto Team Student-Athlete of the Week honors in the 2019 and 2020 seasons.

After graduating from Binghamton, Hanna served as a graduate assistant of the women's soccer team at Fairleigh Dickinson University from 2021-2023 while pursuing her Master's in Sports Management. At Fairleigh Dickinson, she gained a great deal of experience by coaching and assisting the team with on and off field duties. She also volunteered her time to help coach the men's team goalkeepers during their preseason of 2022 while they were in search of a goalkeeper coach.

While working heavily with the goalkeepers during her time at Fairleigh Dickinson, Hanna earned credit for the success of their freshman goalie who earned NEC Goalkeeper of the Year and First Team All-NEC honors.

Besides her collegiate experience both playing and coaching, Hanna has also been named the Goalkeeping Director of Cedar Stars Academy out of Carlstadt, New Jersey where she coaches and directs sessions for young female goalkeepers ages 10-17.

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Krystine Alvear

Krystine Alvear joined the Marist women’s soccer staff as an assistant coach in July 2023.

Alvear comes to the Red Foxes with a plethora of coaching experience and is currently the head coach of the 2011 Girls Team New York City FC, the assistant Coach for the 2010 Girls Team New York City FC, and a coach for the NYC FC Youth Team.

Alvear has also earned many certifications that have helped her coaching career, including a certificate in Mindset Performance, Nutrition, Personal training, and many more. Alvear is a dedicated Doctor of Physical Therapy with four-plus years of clinical background focused on orthopedics, fitness athlete management, and strength and conditioning.

Alvear graduated from Utica College with her Bachelor of Science in Health Studies and completed her Doctor of Physical Therapy from Utica College in 2018.

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Matt Viggiano

BIOGRAPHY

Matt Viggiano, '99 enters his 16th season as the head coach of the Red Foxes. He completed his 15th season at the helm the Red Foxes in 2021. That year, the team went 12-7-3 overall and 7-2-1 in the MAAC to earn the top seed in the MAAC Championships. The Red Foxes took down Manhattan, Monmouth, and Rider to win the MAAC Championship and advance to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2005. Following their fourth MAAC Championship in school history, Marist was defeated in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament by a final score of 2-0 at Providence. The Red Foxes 12 wins tied the most wins in program's history, with the most recent coming in 1999.

MLS DRAFT CHOICES

2012: Krystian Witkowski – 2nd Round Supplemental Draft, Philadelphia Union

US NATIONAL TEAM SELECTIONS

2011: Matt Wendelken – 2011 U-20 National Team Camp

ECAC MAJOR AWARDS

2021: Huib Achterkamp - All-ECAC Team

2017: Allen Gavilanes - Honorable Mention Team

2016: Cameron Harr – Offensive Player of the Year

MAAC AWARDS AND HONORS

2021: Huib Achterkamp - Defensive Player of the Year

2021: Samuel Ilin - Goalkeeper of the Year

2021: Matt Viggiano - Coach of the Year

2019: Samuel Ilin - Goalkeeper of the Year

2017: Allen Gavilanes - Offensive Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year

2016: Cameron Harr – Offensive Player of the Year

2015: Cameron Harr – Co-Rookie of the Year

First Team All-MAAC (14): 2021: Huib Achterkamp, Samuel Ilin, Stefan Copetti, Henrique Cruz 2019 - Allen Gavilanes, Samad Bounthong, Samuel Ilin 2018 - Allen Gavilanes and Samad Bounthong 2017 - Allen Gavilanes 2016 - Cameron Harr and Simon Lund Jorgensen 2011 - Stephan Brossard and Krystian Witkowski. 2010 - Stephan Brossard and Krystian Witkowski. 2009 - Krystian Witkowski.

Second Team All-MAAC (11): 2021: Skylar Conway, Antek Sienkiel 2019 - Skylar Conway, Huib Achterkamp 2018 - Skylar Conway 2016 - Kevin Kappock 2015 - Cameron Harr, Simon Lund Jorgensen. 2012 - Stephen Brossard and Josh Faga. 2010 - Josh Faga

MAAC All-Rookie (22): 2021: Richard Morel 2019 - Stefan Copetti 2018 - Skylar Conway 2017 - Allen Gavilanes 2016 - Samad Bounthong 2015 - Cameron Harr, Simon Lund Jorgensen. 2014 - Kevin Kappock and Erik Dahl. 2012 - Cesar Ceja and Simon Laugsand. 2011 - Dylan Lee and Matt Wendelken. 2010 - Tony Carreras and Gerry Ceja. 2009 -Stephan Brossard. 2008 - Alex George, Lucas Szabo and Krystian Witkowski. 2007 - Steven Morales, Nico Mossa and Joe Touloumis.

MAAC All-Academic Team (116): 2021: Huib Achterkamp, Sam LaTorre, Evan Mason, Dylan McDermott, Matt Newfield, Jaiden Pean, Ronald Ray Jr., Liam Salmon, Justin Scharf, Michael Schimbeno, Brandon Scoffield, Bruno Servisi 2020: Jonah Conway, Christian Curti, Allen Gavilanes, Sam LaTorre, Evan Mason, Dylan McDermott, Matt Newfield, Liam Salmon, William Tevie

2019 - Alex Cancilla, Jonah Conway, Christian Curti, Allen Gavilanes, Marcus Ginman, Svyatoslav Kozak, Sam LaTorre, Michael Lorello, Evan Mason, Ryan Sinnott 2018 - Alex Cancila, allen Gavilanes, Marcus Ginman, Michael Lorello, Simon Lund Jorgensen, Evan Mason, David Nkansah-Siriboe, Ryan Sinnott 2017 - Patrick Burke, Alex Cancilla, Abby Elsayed, Maximillian Euler, Brendan Gallivan, Marcus Ginman, Simon Lund Jorgensen, Michael Lorello, Mark Rajovic, Drew Sullivan 2016 - Simon Lund Jorgensen, Mark Rajovic, Drew Sullivan, Jae Wong 2015- Steven Arraiano, Erik Dahl, Connor Flatley, Connor Preece, Mark Rajovic, Drew Sullivan, Jae Wong. 2014 - Steven Arraiano, Matty Berman, Connor Flatley, Connor Preece, MJ Stellwag and Jae Wong. 2013 - Matel Anasta, Steven Arraiano, Matty Berman, Connor Flatley, Connor Preece, and MJ Stellwag. 2012 - Josh Faga, Anthony Rozmus and Nicolas Fedus. 2011 - Josh Faga, Nicolas Fedus, Tim Garger, Alex George, Fred Osborne, Anthony Rozmus, Lucas Szabo and Krystian Witkowski. 2010 - Rob Bronski, Tim Garger, Alex George, Josh Lavorato, Michael McGowan, Jason Nacca, Fred Osborne, Joe Pilla, Anthony Rozmus, Lucas Szabo, Joe Touloumis and Krystian Witkowski. 2009 - Rob Bronski, Thomas DeBenedetto, Tim Garger, Alex George, Michael McGowan, Jason Nacca, Fred Osborne, Lucas Szabo, Joe Touloumis and Krystian Witkowski. 2008 - Rob Bronski, Marcelo del Rio, Greg Lloyd, Michael McGowan, Chris Nacca, Jason Nacca and Joe Touloumis. 2007 - Shareif Ali, Marcelo del Rio, Chris Nacca and Tyler Vinal.

NSCAA ALL-REGION SELECTIONS

2016 - Cameron Harr (First Team)

2011 - Krystian Witkowski (Second Team) and Stephan Brossard (Third Team).

2010 - Krystian Witkowski (Second Team) and Stephan Brossard (Third Team).

2009 - Krystian Witkowski (Third Team).

ACADEMIC SUCCESS

2019: Michael Lorello - First Team CoSIDA Academic All-District

2018: Michael Lorello - First Team CoSIDA Academic All-District

2016: NSCAA College Team Academic Award

2011: Krystian Witkowski – First Team CoSIDA Academic All-District, Tim Garger – First Team CoSIDA Academic All-District

2010: Joe Touloumis – Academic All-American, First Team CoSIDA Academic All-District, Krystian Witkowski – Second Team CoSIDA Academic All-District

2009: Joe Touloumis – Academic All-American, First Team CoSIDA Academic All-District

2008: Chris Nacca – First Team CoSIDA Academic All-District, Joe Touloumis – Second Team Academic All-District, NCAA Public Recognition Award

2007: NCAA Public Recognition Award

116 selections to the MAAC All-Academic Team in head coaching career

AT MARIST | 2007 - PRESENT

Led Red Foxes to a 12-7-3 overall record and 7-2-1 record in the MAAC to earn the top seed in the MAAC Championships. The Red Foxes took down Manhattan, Monmouth, and Rider to win the MAAC Championship and advance to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2005. Following their fourth MAAC Championship in school history, Marist was defeated in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament by a final score of 2-0 at Providence. The Red Foxes 12 wins tied the most wins in program's history, with the most recent coming in 1999.

Led Red Foxes to best home record in over two decades in 2019 and the #4 seed in the MAAC tournament. Advanced to the semifinals for the second-consecutive year with a win over Manhattan.

Coached team to best ever MAAC record in 2018, while also earning a win against No. 17 Pacific and a tie with No. 12 Fordham in the regular season. Team hosted MAAC Quarterfinals where they defeated Saint Peter's to move on to the semifinal round.

Led Red Foxes to #4 seed in MAAC Championship in 2016 where they hosted the first home playoff game in program history and 11-7-1 overall record, which was tied for the third highest win total in program history, the most since 2004 and tied for the second highest since the team became a Division I program in 1981.

Offensively, finished 13th in the country and first in the MAAC in scoring offense with 1.89 goals per game, 21st in the nation and first in the MAAC in goals with 36, 22nd in the nation and first in the MAAC in points per game with 5.26 and 27th in the country and second in the MAAC in total points with 100.

Defensively, ranked 34th in the nation and second in the MAAC in saves per game with 4.63.

Mentored Krystian Witkowski to becoming the program’s first MLS Draftee when he was selected by the Philadelphia Union in the 2nd Round of the 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft and mentored Matt Wendelken, the program’s first National Team selection when he was invited to the U-20 National Team Camp in 2011.

Has lead the program to numerous rankings in the NSCAA North Atlantic Region

Third head coach in program history, which spans over 50 years

PREVIOUS COACHING EXPERIENCE

Iona College, assistant coach (2006)

SUNY Purchase, head coach (2005)

Marist College, assistant coach (1999, 2003-2005). Helped the program to a MAAC Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance in 2004.

Marywood University, head coach (2001-2003)

Elmira College, assistant coach (2000)

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Rob Esposito

Rob Esposito joined the Marist men's soccer staff as an assistant coach in August 2017.

Esposito joins the Red Foxes with a plethora of playing experiencing as a student-athlete at Herkimer Community College from 2004-2006, where the team finished as national runners-up in 2004 and won a National Championship in 2005. Following his time at Herkimer, Esposito enrolled at SUNY Fredonia, playing from 2006-2008, when the team finished as SUNY Athletic Conference runners-up in 2006 and conference champions in 2007. During his time at Fredonia, Esposito was named National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-Region twice and after graduation, played for the Westchester Flames of the Premier Development League.

Esposito began coaching in 2011 at Dutchess Community College, before he was hired as an assistant at Mount St. Mary College in Newburgh from 2012-17, winning a conference championship during the 2013 season. In addition to coaching the Knights, he also coached at the National Premier League's Soccer Plus Academy as holds an NSCAA Advanced National Diploma.

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Ricky Cusano

Ricky Cusano is in his 17th season as an Assistant Coach at Marist College in 2021 after playing at Marist for four years and being a three-year starter at midfield/forward from 2001-2004.

He was a MAAC All-Academic Team Selection in 2003 and 2004 while also being named MAAC Offensive Player of the week on Sept. 14, 2003. He played in every game over his four years at Marist and finished his playing career with four goals and six assists. Cusano led Marist in assists in his junior year 2003. Cusano was a member of two Marist teams that made appearances in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship game in 2002 and 2004 as well as a MAAC semi-final appearance in 2003. He was a starting midfielder and member of the 2004 team that won the MAAC Tournament Championship and went on to play UConn in the NCAA Tournament College Cup.

After graduation in 2005, Cusano immediately joined the coaching staff. He served as an Assistant Coach to the 2005 MAAC Tournament Championship team that went on to play St. John's in the NCAA Tournament College Cup. Over the years, he has recruited and coached numerous All-MAAC First, Second, and Rookie Team selections as well as many All MAAC Academic Team recipients during his time as an assistant to head coaches Matt Viggiano (2007-present) and Bobby Herodes (2005-06).

Prior to Marist, Cusano was a five-time New York State Cup Champion with the FC Westchester 84's in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2004. He also won two Region I Championships in 2000 and 2002, as well as the U16 National Championship in 2000 with FC Westchester.

Cusano attended North Rockland High School, where he was a four-year varsity starter. In his junior and senior years, he earned All-League, All-Section, and All-County recognition. He is among the all-time leaders at North Rockland in career goals and assists despite missing his entire sophomore season due to injury. He also played and was a starter for the Eastern New York Olympic Development Program (ODP) from 1998-2001 and was selected for multiple regional pool games. In the summers of 2004 and 2005, Cusano won two more open State Cup Championships with the New York Irish Rovers.

As a Head Coach with the LaGrange Soccer club, Cusano won two state cup championships in 2010 and 2011. Currently, he trains youth teams in the LaGrange and Cornwall soccer clubs and serves as a Head Coach in the Eastern New York Olympic Development Program. He holds a USSF National Coaching license.

Cusano earned his Bachelor's Degree in History with a Minor in Business and Minor in American Studies from Marist in 2005. He also earned a Master's of Business Administration with a Concentration in Executive Leadership from Marist in 2007. He is currently the Coordinator of Tutoring and teaches at Marist.