Men’s soccer preview

A start of a new year brings new promise to sports teams, none more so then the Shepherd University Men's Soccer team. 

With the team finishing last year with an overall record of 6-11-1 and conference record of 3-6-1, head coach Jonathan Thayil is looking forward to a good season, even with a fairly young team.

With a team of 26, ten of which of freshman, the optimism for the team is high.

"As a team we relate better to one another than we have in previous seasons" Thayil commented. Thayil puts this down to having not only a good mix of people on the team but also to the work ethic that they (the players) bring to the field.

With new blood on the team and five returning seniors the stakes for starter positions are high.

"Competition is much higher this year" Thayil observed, and with this high stakes competition it is hard to say who will be starters in the September 2^nd starting game against Lock Haven.

Two returning faces will be Senior midfielder Jeffers Frazier and junior defender David Medina, who were named to the 2009 All-WVIAC second team. Thayil hopes that, as a year older and a year wiser, they will continue to contribute to the team.

With a strong back-line of defenders, two new center backs, and a very strong midfield. It's hard to say where the strong and weak points of the team will be in the upcoming season. The coaching staff is working the team hard so that, unlike last season, the team will give their all for the full 90 minutes.

Along with this new team, there are two new assistant coaches, Quinn Miller from Hood College and Ryan Quinn from Shepherd University.

"The players are responding well to their direction" Thayil mentioned. The addition of two coaches should also help improve the back up players, as the three coach staff can delegate duties in stead of being a one man show.

With all the new blood on the Shepherd's men's soccer team, there is an optimistic feeling about the start of the season. Coach Thayil hopes having a full Catch the start of the season with the team's first home game on September 2^nd.