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After
one of the more successful men’s soccer seasons in recent
years, sixth-year head coach Lee Johnson will work with 9 of 11
returning starters in addition to eight newcomers in hopes of taking
another step forward in the conference standings.
A 5-12 overall
record and 3-7 mark (t-seventh) in SCAC play was Millsaps’ best
finish since 2005, while the three wins in league play were a
first since 1999. Over the course of the season,
the Majors landed their first SCAC Player of the Week selection
(Milner, twice) since the 1994 season and were four, 1-goal losses
away from a .500 season.
Millsaps lost
four seniors from last year’s squad, two of
which made significant contributions over their four years. Goalkeeper
Jake Milner, who started nearly every game in net for the Majors
since his freshman season, is gone after ranking in the top of
the SCAC in saves the past two seasons and racking up a total of
325 for his career. Heath Smith, a two-time all-conference selection
on defense, earned the start in 64 games during his time at Millsaps
and was team captain his final two years.
Returning for
the Majors in 2008 are four seniors in Todd
Schneck,
Luke Campbell, Anthony Amaya and Domenick
DiPaolo, on top of 13
letterwinners. Schneck and Amaya combined for 16 points (five goals,
six assists) on the offensive attack, while Campbell held serve
on the defensive backline. DiPaolo will be fighting for a starting
spot between the posts with a pair of incoming freshmen after a
1-year hiatus serving the country.
Millsaps also
welcomes back its top four scorers in juniors Brandon
Mong, Aaron Hyatt, Andres Colocho and Colin
Thompson in addition
to 3 of 4 returners on the defensive backline. The speedy Corey
Beaumont, Drew Dews Jr., Phil Guillot, Justin Burns, Riley
Manning and Kalenda Kubukala are also back on the roster.
The Majors
ranked near the bottom of the conference in a handful of statistical
categories,
including ranking 10th in goals scored
with 25 while giving up 58. “We must improve getting quality
shots on target,” Johnson said. “And we must also become
more organized on the defensive third.”
The 2008 slate
features 10 home games and 10 away contests, with the season
kicking off
on Aug. 30 at the Rhodes College Classic
with Fontbonne University. The SCAC schedule kicks off on Sept.
26 with Austin College on the road – one of seven road conference
games – and ends on Nov. 9 at Rhodes College. The home schedule
is highlighted by a four-game homestand from Sept. 5-14, including
three games in four days.
The team will
report to Harper Davis Field on Saturday, August 16. |
