By Jaycob Ammerman | gargoyle@flagler.edu
After being the preseason favorites and having an impressive 14-win season last year, the Flagler College men’s soccer team experienced a devastating loss in the Peach Belt Conference Championship game to the Falcons of Montevallo and a season ending loss to Clayton State in the NCAA D2 Tournament.
This season the Saints are ranked No. 22 according to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America’s (NSCAA) Preseason Division II Top 25 poll. Also, the Saints are picked to finish in second place in the 2011 Peach Belt Conference Coaches Poll.
With four seniors graduating from last season’s team, Coach John Lynch knew it was detrimental to rebuild his team, which includes nine seniors this season.
“I brought in eleven new freshmen who are very talented”, said Lynch.
The Saints return eight starters from last year’s team, including four starters who were voted to the 2011All-Peach Belt Conference Men’s Soccer Team. Flagler’s honorees are Johan Bergfeld, Will Frandsen, Mack Hough, and Kevin Keenan.
With all this talent the Saints know that they will have a legitimate chance at a championship run.
“Our expectations are to win the PBC conference title, the Southeast Regional, advance to the final four, and hopefully win the NCAA D2 National Championship,” said Lynch.
The Saints open their 2011 campaign at the Michael Shope Memorial Tournament, Sept. 2-3, in Banner Elk, North Carolina, against King College. The home opener is September 9th, against the University of Montevallo at 7:30 p.m.
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