CollegeSoccerTalk.com

This school of approximately 6,500 students, located in Long Island, NY, has had a long stretch of success in NCAA DII soccer. A small school founded in 1955, Dowling has drawn international appeal for its diversity in student-body and the increased exposure its received from the soccer program’s success.

The Golden Lions advanced to the Championship game again in 2008, after winning it all in 2006 and finishing as semi-finalists in 2001, 2003 and 2004. Winning at Dowling is tradition.

Coach: John DiRico, headed into his 18th season, has compiled a stellar record of 225-74-35. Not only does DiRico’s win/loss record impress, but he has also achieved 11 ECC Championships, 11 NCAA Tournament appearances, 1 National Championship, and multiple Coach of the Year awards as recognized by several governing bodies.

Players: In 2008 the most notable players were the African born Lamine Traore and Moussa Keita, both of which were named NSCAA All-Americans. All-in-all the Golden Lions are an extremely diverse squad with players from Africa, Serbia, England, Costa Rica, Sweden, Israel and of course the local NY talent. This is another testament to the quality of coaching at Dowling, proving that a Division 2 school can recruit players globally and win with the best of them.

Looking Ahead: 2009 promises to be another year full of high expectations. They are losing 6 seniors, but are returning a load of underclassmen talent including the aformentioned Traore and Keita, along with Steven Schneider and Michael Nicolini. Prognosticators will surely be predicting a return to the postseason for the Lions of Long Island.