Butler's Bernardi will get his kicks at Siena
BUTLER TWP — Butler senior Sean Bernardi might be joining the Siena College men’s soccer program at just the right time.
In fact, he’s banking on it.
“I want to jump in and be on the first Siena team that reaches the NCAA Tournament,” Bernardi said. “Then I want to play a role on the team that turns the program around.”
He signed a letter of intent with the Saints Wednesday.
Bernardi, a versatile defensive player for the Golden Tornado, is joining a Siena program that has posted just five winning seasons in its 37-year history.
Two of those winning seasons have come in the past three years, including a 10-8-1 mark last fall that marked Siena’s second-best record ever.
The Saints scored a school-record 49 goals last season and sophomore Emery Welshman was named Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year.
Fourth-year coach Gareth Elliott has never had a losing season as a coach or a player.
Bernardi chose Siena, located in Loudonville, N.Y., over Division III Allegheny College.
“My dream has always been to play Division I soccer,” Bernardi said. “I wanted to go far from home to get away a little bit and I like the small campus setting.”
Bernardi carries a 3.7 grade point average and will major in business.
He is joining a Siena team that lost 2-1 in the MAAC semifinals to rival Iona. The Saints had only five seniors on their 25-player roster.
“They barely missed making the NCAA Tournament last year,” Bernardi said. “Next year figures to be the breakthrough year.”
Bernardi was a two-year captain for Butler boys soccer and is a four-year letterwinner. He was nominated for the 2010 WPIAL All-Star Game and was an all-section player.
He scored one goal and added an assist for the Golden Tornado, who were 5-9-4 last fall.
“I didn’t play forward or an attack position,” Bernardi said. “I played outside midfield, outside back, center back, a number of positions.
“The Siena coaches have told me I’ll likely play right back or defensive midfield.”
Bernardi played for Northern Steel the past two years and has been with the Beadling Soccer Club of Pittsburgh for seven years.
“I’ve been playing soccer year round for a long time now,” he said. “I’ve put a lot of time into it and it’s nice to see it pay off like this.”
