PITTSBURGH, Pa. - August 29, 2023 - The 2023 season for Chatham Men's Soccer will be a bounce-back attempt as the team struggled to a 3-10-3 record in 2022, including a 2-6-2 mark in conference play.

The Cougars' attempted return to winning ways will be headlined by overwhelming youth, with head coach Keith Danley bringing 17 newcomers into the squad and looking to them to contribute right away.

"We have a large group of incoming players who have brought energy and enthusiasm to our team," shared Danley. "We expect many of them to step into on-field roles beginning on September 1, and they have significantly raised our competition for places."

While the majority of the roster are new faces, the presence and leadership of those returning is still being felt.

"Our returning players, led by our team captain Anthony Quidachay, have come back fit and have set a high standard in our practices thus far," Danley said.

The Cougars will have to look to new sources of offensive production for 2023 after graduating last season's leading goal scorer Leandro Nasso and assist leader Marco Piccolo. In fact, the upcoming season will mark the first in program history without Nasso or Piccolo. In addition, Chatham will be without defender Franco Ibanez, who earned an All-PAC First Team selection last year.

Despite these losses, Danley is pleased with the depth of the roster as it stands and is confident about the upcoming season, which will begin Sept. 1 on the road against Marietta.

"We are excited about our group this year. We feel this is the deepest team we have had in our five seasons, and we are looking forward to seeing how that translates into our play on the field."