NEW PALTZ, NY — Several members of the first men’s soccer team from 1958 returned to campus Friday afternoon to reunite with each other and meet current Head Coach Stuart Robinson and the 2006 team.
In 1958, Athletic Director and men’s basketball Head Coach Chuck Wolbers decided to start soccer at New Paltz. He approached some of the guys on his basketball team to see if they were interested in playing soccer. They agreed and started to recruit others to join in. Most of the players had never seen a soccer game, except for the goalie Marty Wilde and midfielder Tony Potts. Wilde and Potts were the experts on the game and did most of the coaching. For the others, the first soccer game they ever saw was the first one they played in.
Most of the team had been football players in high school, so they were pretty aggressive and defense for the most part was solid. Offense was a struggle as it required much more skill. They finished the season with a 2-4 record.
Members of the 1958 soccer team join the current 2006 team.
Lou Mosconi noted that soccer was confusing at times not being able to use your hands. He remembers when he thought the ball was fumbled and picked it up to gain possession, but was called for a hand ball. Unfortunately for Mosconi it occurred in the goalie box, so the opposing team was awarded a penalty kick and scored on Wilde.
“Do you want to know about dedication,” Sam Mungo, Ph.D. questioned? “I got married the day before the C.W. Post game. And instead of taking a honeymoon I returned to play in the game. That’s dedication.” Mungo’s wife stated that she couldn’t believe she got married only to stand in the rain and watch her husband run around on the field.
Senior Joe Fabian listens to Sam Mungo, Ph.D. reminisce about being a player.
The team is planning to reconvene in 2008 to celebrate 50 years of men’s soccer at New Paltz. They will be having a larger reunion with folks coming in from Texas, Washington, North Carolina and Virginia for the event.
