Sept. 1, 2005
There is little doubt that Stony Brook coach Cesar Markovic is taking his second year at the helm very seriously.
He has had his Seawolves going through four practice sessions a day during the pre-season. That's right -- four.
"This year has probably been the toughest training I've run," Markovic said earlier this week. "I've been very demanding."
How demanding? Let's take a look at the daily regimen this August:
* 6 a.m. -- Running
* 10:30 a.m. -- Technical session
* 2:30p.m. -- Tactical/game session
7 p.m. -- Strength and conditioning
Each session runs about 90 minutes.
"We got our players to buy into it," Markovic said. "It's going to put them over the top. The players have to believe in what they're doing."
"It's certainly not easy. It's not for everybody.
"I don't know if anyone else does four a day. I've been doing it a long time. You get so little time in the pre-season."
The pre-season ends on Thursday at 7:30 p.m., when the Seawolves kick off their fall season against Hofstra at home in what has been billed as "The Battle of Long Island."
For Markovic, the difference between this year and last is night and day. Inheriting a 4-13-1 team, seven players from Saint Peter's College followed him over as transfer students, helping the Seawolves finish 11-6-3 to qualify for the America East semifinals.
Last year Markovic's big concern was meshing the new players with the returnees.
This year, the stakes are much, much higher.
"The expectations are raised," he said. "We're shooting for a championship. Anything less than a championship is a failure."
A conference championship would mean an automatic berth in the NCAA Division I tournament.
"That's what it's all about," Markovic said. "That's where you get your recognition."
You only have to see what Hofstra accomplished last season. The Pride went on a six-game winning streak, reached the Colonial Athletic Association playoffs, won it and surprised Seton Hall in the first round of the Division I tourney.
Markovic is counting on the skills and leadership of three players to lead the way to the top of the America East.
When asked to name his key players, Markovic started with central defender Rob Fucci, whom he called the leader of the team.
"He's got the experience," he said. "He's won a lot of games and lost very few games."
Next were goalkeeper John Moschella and forward Chris Megaloudis. Moschella is the Seawolves iron man, a quiet leader, whose "rock solid in the back," Markovic said.
"There are guys who will go through a wall for you."
Markovic is expecting big things out of Megaloudis, who comes from that famous soccer playing family in Queens.
Megaloudis scored a team-high eight goals last season, production that Markovic wants to see exceeded.
"I've challenged him this year," Markovic said. "I'd like to see him put up some big numbers and get drafted (by MLS).
"He's fully capable of dominating a game and carrying a team on his back."
During the off-season, Markovic got one more present from Saint Peter's -- center midfielder Douglas Narvaez, who joined the Seawolves as a graduate student. He has one more year of college eligibility remaining.
"He's the most talented player I've ever coached," he said. "Every day in practice I see something from him I've never seen before.
"He basically can do whatever he wants to do with the ball."
With those veterans coming a promising freshman class. The list includes freshman defender Martin Lynch from Oceanside High School, whom Markovic expects to contribute right away and junior forward Gadiel Figueroa, a transfer.
Taking the America East crown away from perennial power Boston University certainly won't be easy. Binghamton has been to the NCAA tournament and Hartford has a new coach -- former Portuguese national team assistant coach Dan Gaspar.
But Markovic is confident in his side, noting that his team split with BU last year, winning in the regular season but losing in the conference tournament.
"We feel very good with our chances with BU," he said.
In fact, Markovic feels very confident with this team.
"We have some guys who have played some beautiful (soccer) together," he said. "Not only are we going to be entertaining, but we will have success as well.
"We know how to win. We have a survival instinct. They work hard and play together. That's all I ask as a coach."
Well, that and the America East title.
Michael Lewis can be reached at SoccerWriter516@aol.com. He will only answer e-mails and letters that are signed or have names.
