 |  |
Men's soccer alums and "Montreal Connection"return to Keene State
KEENE, N.H. 10/3/11 – A steady sprinkle didn’t dampen the spirits of over 40 former Owl men’s soccer players who returned to Keene State College for the program’s annual alumni game on Saturday.
Longtime coach Ron Butcher was touched by the turnout. “Watching the guys play brought tears to my eyes because they made Keene State soccer,” he said. “They were all hard-nosed guys who’d do anything to win and would sell their souls on the soccer field.”
When you coach at one place for 41 years, you build up a large alumni base. Players for every single of Butcher’s era were in attendance. “It’s like a trip down memory lane,” said Justin Hickman’04, who also starred on the baseball field at KSC. “You not only see players from the years you played, but all different decades. “It says a lot about the program when you have this type of turnout.”
“I figured it’s been 10 years, so I’d better come back to see Butchy and the boys,” said Gerry Boggis ‘01, now living in Springfield, Mass. “It’s like I never left. The place is like one big family.”
“You see some familiar faces and a few dinosaurs like myself,” said Keith Clark ’78, who came up for the game from Cape Cod. It’s always great to come back. It feels like home.”
The alumni game also gave the “Montreal Connection” a good excuse to return to the campus. Initiated with the arrival of Montreal native Bert Poirier ‘83 in1980 and concluding with the departure of Nabyl Bekraoui in 1994, the Montreal connection brought several talented Canadian players to Keene State. “We used to go up to Montreal because there were so many players who wanted to come to the States and get an education and play soccer,” said Butcher, who had scholarships to offer at the time. “They were not only great players, but also great students in the classroom.”
“We weren’t going to miss it. We wanted to be here for Butch” said Martin Poirier ’89, now working as an account executive for CTV. “It was also a good time to reunite and recall all the good memories.”
“This is culture shock for me,” said Nick Fiorentino ’93, returning to Keene State for the first time since graduating. ““Back in Montreal we were still living with our parents. I came here and became a man. You gain a lot of confidence and it sets you up for life.”
“Coming back brings back so many special memories,” said Philippe Moreau, who played for the Owls from 1993-96 and is currently directing and producing promos for French ESPN. “It makes you remember what’s essential in life like friends and education.”
“Returning to the campus after so many years makes me realize that I made the right decision when I decided to come to Keene State,” said Osvaldo Molina ‘93, a former All-American now working as a mutual fund investor.
Many of the alums are still involved with soccer including Rudy Doliscat ’90, who works with the Quebec Soccer Federation, coaching and developing players for the national team. “Anytime I can be on the field it’s a plus,” he said. “I love working with the kids and watching them develop their skills.”
Meanwhile, Brandon Beck '05 lives in Terrytown, N.Y. where he teaches fifth grade and also directs and coaches in the Eastern Football Club in Westchester Country. “I do something with soccer every day, so it’s like having two full-time jobs,” Beck said.
Every alum had a special Keene State soccer memory to share. Clark recalled the team’s second-place finish in the 1977 NAIA national championship game in Huntsville, Alabama while Doliscat remembered shoveling off Joyce Field for the ECAC finals in 1987. Moreau’s memories centered on the rivalry between Keene State and Franklin Pierce. “You could feel the anger on the field,” he said.
Pointing toward the turf field, Boggis readily recalled the Owls first Little East Championship and Division III NCAA tournament berth in 1999 while Hickman and Beck fondly remembered upset wins over Williams (2002) and Wheaton College (2004) respectively. “I went to clear the ball in the final minute against Williams and the ball went the wrong way and drilled the cross bar,” said Hickman. “Everyone on the team looked at me with a stunned look on their face.”
While the players have their memories, Butcher has the pride, knowing what his players have done and accomplished since leaving Keene State. “Every one of them is doing great,” said Butcher. It’s great to listen to them tell how far they’ve come since they’ve graduated.”
