The College of Staten Island Swimming & Diving squad is kicking off their 2018-19 season today, traveling to face Mount Saint Mary College as part of non-conference action.

CSI vs. MT. ST. MARY COLLEGE
Matchup: College of Staten Island M (0-0), W (0-0) vs. Mt. St. Mary M (2-0), W (1-1)
Where: Kaplan Center Pool – 330 Powell Avenue, Newburgh, NY
All-Time Series: CSI-M lead 4-3, MSM-W lead 6-1
Last Meeting:  October 28, 2018 – MSM-M won 114-103, MSM-W won 150-54
Players to Watch (CSI): Pete Carle is CSI’s most accomplished returning swimmer and is looking to put up a big year is what will be his third season with the team.  Leo Litovsky and Michael Blacharski will be back for what is expected to be bigger sophomore campaigns, while Ibrahem Hassan is rejoining the team this season after missing most of his freshman year after a very promising start.  On the women’s side, look for returners like Alicia Defonte, Lisnette Solano, and Gabriella Bartley to lead the way, while diver Alyssa Dunn will look to pick up where she left off after a gold medal performance at last year’s CUNYAC Championships.  Cecelia Mauro is also a great distance swimmer who will look to add on to a great freshman season last year.
Players to Watch (MSM):  Seniors Alberto Gilman and Philippe Noisy return looking to make a major impact during the 2018-19 season.  Juniors Sam Kenney, Athar Khan, Michael Neugebauer, and Davonte Woodton also return for the Knights for their third season.  The women are led by the senior class of Lauren Schroeder, Sarah Quade, Alexis Mullin, Kyra McNamee), Breanne Greves, Brigit Gardner, and Stephanie Adams.
News & Notes:  Although CSI owns a slim edge in the series on the men’s side, the Knights have won the last pair of meetings, including a slim 11-point win last year at CSI.  MSM already has two meets under their belt, having also beaten CUNYAC team Lehman College by almost 100 points, so the Dolphins know they will have a tough competitor in the pool today.  CSI’s last win over MSM came way back in 2007 in a meet at Newburgh where CSI is 3-2 all-time.  On the women’s side, MSM has an all-time record of 6-1 over the Dolphins.  CSI’s only win in the series also came in 2007, but MSM has won the last two-meetings, including a lop-sided affair last year.  The Dolphins are 1-3 all-time when swimming at Newburgh.