By Ike Ejikeme –
Patrick Snyder is in his second year as the first men’s and women’s soccer head coach at New Jersey City University and expectations are definitely high.
In his first season as head coach, the men’s soccer team secured its first winning season in four seasons (11-10-1) and made a postseason berth for the first time since 2008 in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Metro Semifinals.
In just his second year as coach, there’s been a huge turnaround for the men’s soccer program. Coach Snyder and his staff ask a lot out of the players, but he knows that many of the guys grew up in the game and understands what it takes to win. He preaches to his players that they must, “respect one another, respect individuality, and respect the name on the front of the jersey.”
The philosophy of playing for the university as a team and not for the individual is what makes his teams so competitive. At 6-7-1 halfway through the season, coach feels the team is better than last year’s.
“They are more of a team, much more cohesive, and continue to play soccer to get better.” said Snyder about the 2013 men’s soccer squad.
In an impressive 6-2 win over St Joseph’s College on Columbus Day in a non-conference game, in which Sophomore midfielder Aboubacar Diawara, 19, Criminal Justice major from Bayonne, N.J., and Jon Carlos Sosa, 18, Accounting major from Hillside, N.J., both scored 2 goals, Snyder feels that momentum will boost the team towards further success, and consistency will earn them a trip to the NJAC Tournament.
All New Jersey Athletic Conference first team Defender/Midfielder Mohamed Conteh, 22, Business Management major from Trenton N.J., has been a huge reason the program has continued to excel. Conteh was recently featured on ESPN SportsCenters Top 10 plays in the home game victory against Kean in early October.. Being that they lost to Kean last year, it was a huge spark to defeat them at home this year and a dream come true for Conteh.
“Making SportsCenter was so surreal.” said Conteh. “ I’ve always had dreams of someday making it on that list amongst those great players, so the moment I saw it, I couldn’t believe it. It humbled me and reminded me that ‘nothing is impossible’”.
Conteh says he hopes to one day play professional soccer, and then possibly manage a team or soccer athletic company. Despite his dreams, he realizes the task at hand and hopes to honor the team by winning a championship this season.
This type of humility is what keeps the soccer team so driven and hungry for success. Both Coach Snyder and Conteh agree that this year’s team has a lot more depth and that there is competition at every position. It is the depth and family orientated environment that has helped them reach success under Snyder’s helm.