The Southwestern University men's soccer team shot out of the gate in conference action last season with their best start ever, 6-0 and fell just outside of an at large bid to the NCAA National Tournament. This season, with the first-ever SCAC Conference Tournament the Pirates will have an automatic bid ripe for the taking.
Head Coach Don Gregory welcomed back 39 players this fall, 37 underclassmen, so the future is bright for the Pirates. The two seniors anchoring this year's squad are goalkeeper Nick Pierce and defender Dishon Isaac (pictured). Pierce was a third team All-SCAC selection last season after ending the year seventh in the conference in saves with 56 and was third in save percentage at .767%. Isaac has been a solid performer on the defensive line for Southwestern. He played in 19 contests last season, starting seven times and took nine shots, four on goal, from the back line. His calm presence and quick bursts of speed will aid the Pirate on counter-attacks.
"The senior class may be small in numbers," states Coach Gregory, "but they will provide a powerful voice of leadership for the younger players."
Twenty-two athletes return from the exciting 2010 team including junior Evan Perkins who was second on the team in goals, assists and points and earned an SCAC Third Team selection for his play.
"The players did a tremendous job of taking care of their fitness this summer," says Coach Gregory. "The team displayed outstanding mental toughness in the August dog days. They performed as well as any SU team before them in the fitness exercises and sessions with the soccer ball."
Joining Pierce in goal in sophomore Daniel Poole who had strong outings in his first season for Southwestern, making 10 appearances and starting one contest. He had a .737 save percentage and posted a 1.19 goals against average on the season. "Our quality goal keeping in Nick and Daniel will keep us in games," continues Coach Gregory.
The Pirates open in the season at home on September 1st at 5pm against a scrappy Texas Lutheran team before hosting the University of Texas Tyler on September 3rd. UTT was selected to win the American Southwest Conference in preseason polling.
"The competitive fierceness will be needed due to the very tough schedule we have put together. Many of the players will be looking at gaining experience on the fly in the early matches, but they have shown the ability to "step up" and replace the players lost," says Coach Gregory. "The Pirates boast a large junior and sophomore class and many of those younger guys will be asked to play at a high level from the outset."
Southwestern opens Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference action on September 30th at Sewanee. The top four teams in the conference will advance to the first-ever SCAC Conference Tournament on November 4th, hosted by Birmingham Southern.
"All the players are focused on performing well to earn a spot in the first ever SCAC tournament at the end of the season. It will indeed be a great season for all the SCAC teams shooting for the post-season."
In addition to the new faces on the field the Pirates have one new face and new duties on the sidelines. Assistant Coach Zack Pope returns for his second season with more significant coaching duties this fall including drawing off his vast playing experience on the flank for Duke. Allen Fincher returns to the Pirate sidelines as an assistant this fall. Fincher was the very first recipient of the Pirate leadership award in 1999. His energy and passion for Pirate soccer will be a great addition to the team.
Perkins, Matt Nickell, Steven Resnik, Timothy Eamma, Charlie Schreck, Matt Landon, Forrest Baker, Tom Davis, JP Pimienta, Pierce and Isaac will represent the starting eleven in the scrimmages. Evan Javors, first-year Ryan Jones, first-year Colin Croschere, first-year Paden Williams, Kyle Allen, Ryan Jensen, Colin Berr, Taylor Martin and Wil Thorne will put in a strong bid for a spot in the top 11.
"We will be extremely competitive, and with some kind bounces, great defending and timely goals, we have a chance to be a good team. "