4/24/2009 2009 — Q2

Lasell College Men‟s Soccer Alumni Newsletter

Letter From the Men‟s Soccer Alumni Association

Dear Lasell Men‟s Soccer Alumni:

I hope this letter finds everyone well. I wanted to bring to everyone‟s
attention a great story that was recently forwarded to me. Kuol‟s story is
very inspirational. It makes me realize how much many of us take for
granted the freedom and security we had when we were growing up.

Coach Pacini comments. “He (Kuol) has been a four year starting player
here and is an outstanding young man. His story is gripping. If we can
help him secure funds for his quest to return to the Sudan; it would mean
so much to him.”
Kuol Acuek
It would be great if we could help support Kuol‟s dream. Below is how you
can help.*
As always, you are welcome to email me at bsmith1@babson.edu. I look
forward to hearing from you!
Sincerely,

-B Smith
Brian E. Smith „02 Inside this issue:

New Logo & Mascot 2

http://www.wickedlocal.com/lincoln/homepage/x1362397110/An-impossible-dream?popular=true Alumni News 3

4th Annual Alumni 3

Game

Team Updates 4

Coach Pacini Earns 5

Master Coach Diploma

*Tax-deductible contributions can be made by writing a check to “Friends of the Sudanese”

and sending it to: Friends of the Sudanese, P.O. Box 177, Lincoln, MA 01773, attn: “Send
Kuol to Africa.”
Page 2 Lasell College Men‟s Soccer Alumni Newsletter

New Logo and Mascot Revealed

On Wednesday March 25th the college debuted “Boomer the Torchbearer” as the Laser
mascot.

The name Boomer is derived from the pioneers who came to this part of the state to
purchase parcels of land; they were called "Boomers". Apparently these Boomers bought
the land that Lasell College was eventually built on. The mascot holds a torch as the
beacon of light which leads the way for all to follow.
Page 3 Lasell College Men‟s Soccer Alumni Newsletter

Alumni Notes

Lasell Players Earn Coaching Licences

T he f o l l o w i ng f o r m e r L a s e l l C o l l e g e M e n‟ s S o c c e r p l a ye r s ha ve e a r ne d
N a t i o n a l S o c c e r C o a c h e s A s s o c i a t i o n o f A m e r i c a c o a c hi ng d i p l o m a s . R ya n
M i c he l a ng e l o ( c ur r e nt m e n‟ s a s s i s t a nt c o a c h) r e c e nt l y e a r ne d hi s N S C A A
N a t i o n a l D i p l o m a , H a y d e n B a r b o s a h a s e a r n e d t he N S C A A A d v a n c e d R e g i o na l
D i p l o m a , a nd B o l A n y o un ha s e a r ne d hi s N S C A A S t a t e a nd R e g i o na l
Diplomas.

4th Annual Alumni game –We need your help!!

W e ha v e b e g u n t he p l a n ni ng p r o c e s s fo r t h e 4 t h A nn u a l A l u m ni G a m e t o b e
he l d t hi s O c t o b e r . B ut w e ne e d y o ur he l p . W e a r e l o o ki ng fo r w a ys t o
i m p r o v e t hi s e v e nt .
I n a d d i t i o n t o o ur g a m e a nd ni g ht o ut , M i k e P e t r u c c e l l i a nd M i ke D e w i r e a r e
b e g i n ni ng t o p l a n a g o l f t o ur na m e nt . D e t a i l s w i l l fo l l o w i n t he c o m i ng
m o nt hs .
T hi s h a s b e c a m e a g r e a t t r a d i t i o n fo r o ur p r o g r a m . W i t h t ha t b e i ng s a i d , t he
w e e k e nd b e l o ng s t o o ur p r o g r a m . W e a r e a l w a ys l o o ki ng fo r he l p a nd fo r
s ug g e s t i o n s a nd c o m m e nt s .
P l e a s e c o nt a c t M i k e P e t r uc c e l l i a t m i ke p e t r uc c e l l i @ ho t m a i l . c o m r e g a r d i ng
t he A l um ni G a m e a n d g o l f t o ur na m e nt .
Page 4 Lasell College Men‟s Soccer Alumni Newsletter

Team Updates

Gagne selected for All-Star Game

By Janice Coppolino, Director of Sports Information, Lasell College

Lasell's Zach Gagne (Somerset, Mass.) of the men's soccer team was selected
to play in the New England Intercollegiate Soccer League All-Star Game on May
9th at Clark University. Gagne is one of 35 NCAA Division III players selected to
play in the All-Star competition.

Gagne has been an All-Conference selection for all four years as a Lasell athlete.
Gagne was named to the NAC All Conference 2nd team as a freshman in 2005,
and then the 1st team in 2006, along with being the Player of the Week twice.
Gagne was once again recognized in 2007 and 2008 as a first team
All-Conference player in the GNAC, and has also been selected as Player of the
Week twice in the 2008 season.

This season, Gagne led the team in points with 31, and was second on the team
in goals scored (12). His presence on the field is immense as he can not only
create his own offense, but he is a great distributer of the ball, leading the
Lasers with 7 assists this season. He finished ranked 4th in the GNAC in total
points and 5th in points per game (1.72). He is 5th in goals and goals per game
(.67), and is fourth overall in assists (7).

Gagne is the men's soccer team's all time leading scorer at Lasell College with
121 total points. He has a career 8 game winning goals and a .573 shots on goal
percentage. Gagne has been a four year starter for the Lasers, and a three year
captain, beginning his sophomore year. During his time at Lasell, the Lasers
have made appearances in the NCAA tournament and ECAC post season
tournament. Gagne was also selected to the All-Tournament team in 2008 and
was honored as the Lasell candidate for the All-Sportsmanship team.

2009 Captains Selected

Lasell College Men‟s Soccer is proud to announce its Captain selections for the
2009 season. Seniors Paul Meucci (Vernon, CT), Robby Gonzales (Palmdale, CA),
and Junior Brandon Hanss (Halifax, MA) will represent the team as its three
Captains.

2008 Team Achievements

The Lasell College Men‟s Soccer Team has not only earned success on the field,
but off as well. The team was ranked first overall in the college‟s strength and
conditionaing program. Men soccer led all other Lasell sports teams. Academically,
the team finished first amongst male sports teams with an overall GPA of 3.0.
Page 5 Lasell College Men‟s Soccer Alumni Newsletter

Pacini Earns NSCAA Master Coach Diploma

Giovanni Pacini, Head Men's Soccer Coach at Lasell College, NSCAA

Massachusetts State Technical Coordinator, member of the Goalkeeper
Academy staff, as well as College Task Force Chairman for the Soccer
Ambassadors Program has recently earned the prestigious NSCAA
Master Coach Diploma.

The Master Coach Diploma is the highest level of coaching license

the organization offers and each participant must first meet stringent
requirements before being selected to participate. The year long study
includes extensive research in the areas of player development and
coaching education from the youth to professional level. Coach Pacini,
as part of his research traveled to the UK to do an international tour to
study not only these areas, but those in strength and conditioning and
sports psychology as well. Unprecedented access to many of the top
EPL clubs provided great opportunities to do the extraordinary
research.

"Despite having a fairly successful career as a coach and clinician, I

felt that there was much more that I could learn and experience. The
Master Coach endeavor provided me that opportunity; it was a great
learning experience. I feel that I can now offer even more to players
and coaches in my work as a coach and clinician."

Pacini, in addition to his work with the NSCAA is the very successful
soccer coach at Lasell College in Newton, MA and owns both Make The
Save Goalkeeper Training and Direct Field Player Academy.
Information regarding the NSCAA, Lasell College, and Make The Save /
Direct Kick can be found at www.nscaa.com, www.lasell.edu, and
www.makethesave.net.

Article courtesy of NSCAA.

Visit our website at http://lasellsoccer.wik.is/