Men’s soccer has winning season

With a 9-5-2 record, Saints look to strong showing in post-season

By Matthew Boyle | mboyle@flagler.edu
Photo by Matthew Boyle

PHOTO CAPTION: The Saints are winning again, and as the season ends, they’re aiming for a a playoff spot.

The Flagler College men’s soccer team is fighting for a playoff spot at the end of this season, but no spot is guaranteed regardless of their positive results this season.

Flagler College Athletics have no conference affiliation as of now, which makes reaching the playoffs difficult even with a winning season. Teams that are affiliated with a conference have a much more probable chance of reaching the playoffs as each conference guarantees one spot in the playoffs to a member.

“If we were in the Sunshine State conference, we would be in joint second place right now and guaranteed at least a number two or number three seed,” head men’s soccer coach John Lynch said.

A selection committee will determine which teams not affiliated with a conference make the playoffs.

“Right now, depending on which poll you look at, we’re fourth or fifth. So, We’re right there with a chance. But, really, it’s the selection committee,” Lynch said.

Following the game at Eckerd, the Saints’ record stood at 9-5-2.

“Other than winning the games, we have no control over it,” Lynch said. “We’ll try to win the games and keep our fingers crossed that they pick us.”

The Saints will be going through some big changes over the off-season as well. Seniors Neil Patrickson, defender, David Iafrate, forward, and Fredrik Ericsson, midfielder, will graduate leaving Lynch with some key spots to fill on the roster.

“All three are big losses. All three are good people, not just in terms of their play, but the quality they bring to the program, on and off the field,” Lynch said.

The Saints will need to turn to their underclassmen to find rising leaders to lift the program and keep men’s soccer rolling.

“We start as many as six freshmen at the moment and it has turned out to be a rather good season. So, I think this class is going to turn out to be a very, very strong class,” Lynch said.

The wealth of freshmen on the team will be where Lynch turns to for leadership in seasons down the road, but a more immediate emerging leader may be found in junior midfielder and co-captain Eoin Cassin.

“He’s definitely very vocal,” Lynch said of Cassin.

Even with the possibility of a playoff appearance still looming in the distance, this season produced many successes for the Saints and some positives to look for down the road into the future.

“I think we have a very good nucleus. The group is going through a good experience now and that good experience will hopefully lead to an even better one next year,” Lynch said.