The Hobart College soccer team will open the 2016 season with two road games on Sept. 2 and 3. Hobart will take on Elizabethtown on Friday, Sept. 2 at 7 p.m., and then travel to face No. 25 Dickinson on Saturday, Sept. 3 at 6 p.m.
 
Head Coach Shawn Griffin welcomes back 19 players from last year's team, and adds 13 new faces in his 17th year at the helm of the program. The team looks to secure its 11th straight winning season. "Every year the goal is to be in the Liberty League tournament. We've made it to the semifinals in each of the last two years. This year, we hope to reach our full potential by the end of the year going into the Liberty League tournament and hopefully the NCAA tournament," said Griffin.
 
"This group of returners was disappointed in the way last season ended, not receiving a bid to the NCAA tournament. They are using it as a motivating force. They are very committed and very hungry."
 
Here's a position by position look at the Statesmen:
 
DEFENSE
Despite graduating some key players in 2015's defensive unit, the Statesmen bring back a group of experienced and game-tested players. Two of Hobart's four captains, senior Joe Busuttil and junior Joseph Escamilla, as well as senior Carl Weiss will be the leaders in the back. Busuttil started all 17 matches he played in and notched three assists, and Escamilla started all 11 games he played in last fall, helping Hobart to its best goals against average in program history (0.59). Weiss saw time in 16 matches last year. Sophomore Alex Weisbein will build on a rookie season where he played in five games. Junior transfer, Hunter Critchlow (Fredonia), as well as first-years Sam Eaton, Binjo Emmanuel and Ben Barnes are working to break into the lineup in their first season as Statesmen.
 
 
MIDFIELD
 
The Hobart roster features a great deal of depth at the midfield position. The two other captains, TJ Kaszubski as well as junior Adrian Colmenares will lead the way. Kaszubski is back for his fifth year with the team, after losing a season due to injury. Last year, he played in 11 games, scoring a goal in a 3-0 win over Ithaca. Colmenares, an All-Liberty League second team pick, played in every game, logging a goal and two assists, including the game winner on a penalty kick in overtime to upset then No. 24 St. Lawrence.
 
Senior Clint Dunn and junior Zach Poretz bring even more experience at midfield. Dunn played in 12 games last fall, stepping up towards the end of the season scoring two goals, including the game winner in a 3-2 win over Bard. Poretz played in every game, ranking second on the team with 10 points on three goals and four assists. Sophomores Tanner and Trevor Poisson, Sam Farman and Mouhamed Diouf will look to build on solid rookie seasons. Farman saw time in 13 games, while Diouf played in 10. Tanner Poisson appeared in two games, while his twin brother Trevor played in four. First-years Nate Cary, Jack Bizub, Ben Orr, Tristan Cornell-Roberts, Mike Goulart and Cooper O'Connell are eager to make an impact in their rookie seasons.
 
 
FORWARD
 
JP White is the lone senior returner up top for Hobart. Sophomore Derrick Acheampong, a 2014 All-Region selection, also returns. White played in all 18 matches last fall, starting 15. He ranked second on the team with five goals, including the game winner in a 2-1 victory over Utica. Acheampong also garnered all-league second team honors last fall. He played in 17 games and led the team with 17 points and eight goals. Junior Nick Dosky could help the Statesmen at forward or midfield. Last year, he saw time in 17 games, posting two goals and four assists. Classmate Patrick Schulz also saw time in 17 games. He notched the game-winning goal in a 2-1 victory over Rochester. Sophomore Mitch Palmer returns after a rookie season where he played in 14 games and scored one goal. First-year Kyle Patrick, as well as Cary, Bizub and Orr, will work to contribute offensively for Hobart in their first season.
 
GOALKEEPERS
 
The Statesmen have big shoes to fill after graduating two-time all-conference selection and three-year starter Tyler Serafine '16. Hobart has four keepers on its roster who are up to the challenge. Junior Morgan Sawyer and sophomore Alec Kamier return, while first-year Brian Salazar and sophomore transfer from Holy Cross Josh Newman (Holy Cross) are the newcomers. Throughout preseason and even into the season, the four will be battling it out for the starting spot.
 
The Statesmen return to Cozzens Field for their home opener on Tuesday, Sept. 6, when they host St. John Fisher at 4:30 p.m. Hobart opens Liberty League play at St. Lawrence on Sept. 24 at 3 p.m.