Josh Wagenaar will have a good excuse for missing the first Hartwick’s first two men’s soccer games this fall.

Junior goalie Wagenaar has been called up to the Canadian national team for its friendly against Spain on Sept. 3.

He’ll miss the Hawks’ opening games at the UConn Classic on Sept. 2 and Sept. 4. Wagenaar is expected back for the Mayor’s Cup on Sept. 10, when Hartwick takes on Columbia.

"We are very proud of Josh," Hartwick coach Ian McIntyre said. "He has worked extremely hard, developed a lot an[an error occurred while processing this directive]d is coming off a great U-20 World Cup appearance this summer. Everyone associated with the Hartwick soccer program is extremely excited for Josh."

Wagenaar, a native of Grimsby, Ontario, was a regional All-America selection and a first-team All-Atlantic Soccer Conference selection last season for Hartwick. He had a 0.87 goals-against average with six shutouts to help the Hawks go 13-3-3.

"It’s such a great honor," Wagenaar said of the call-up. "It’s something I have been dreaming about since I was young, so in a way it’s a dream come true."

The only other goalie on Team Canada’s roster is Kenny Stamatopoulos, a professional with Sweden’s FC Boden. Stamatopoulos, 26, has one cap.

Canada failed to reach the qualifying round for the 2006 World Cup, so the team is using the friendlies to give experience to many of the younger players in the program.

Wagenaar, 20, was the only collegiate player called up. The squad will train for a week in Spain before its game. Spain is the ninth-ranked team in the world.

"I think I am probably the backup keeper heading into the trip," Wagenaar said, "but we’ll have a week of training over there, and there are only two keepers on the roster, so I may get a chance to get into the match."

Wagenaar joins a long list of Hartwick players that have competed internationally, including 1992 graduate Mike Burns, a member of the U.S. World Cup Team in 1994 and ’98. Hartwick alumni Dominick Kinnear, Dave D’Errico, Eddie Hawkins, Glenn "Mooch" Myernick and Doug Wark also have played for the U.S. National team.

In Wagenaar’s absence, sophomore Ryan Cruise is the likely option to start for the Hawks. Cruise did not allow a goal in the three matches he appeared in last year.

Freshmen goalies Joseph Gibson and Anthony Militana (Cobleskill-Richmondville) are also on the roster.

"With Josh earning the call-up to the national team, it is going to give other players in our program a chance to step up and establish themselves," said McIntyre. "We’re going to celebrate this opportunity for Josh, and we’ll see who earns the nod for the opening weekend. We’re fortunate to have some depth at the goalkeeper position."

The Hawks won a scrimmage against Club Roma, 4-1, in Niagara Falls, Ontario, on Tuesday night.

Junior midfielder Kenny Rodriguez had two goals, and freshman midfielder Sean Buruschkin and freshman forward Davide Lelli also scored.

Hartwick plays an exhibition match against Marist College on Aug. 28 before its Sept. 2 opener. The Hawks were selected as a "Team to Keep an Eye On" by College Soccer News website.