The Madison College men’s soccer team kicks off a new season on Aug. 23 at Hawkeye Community College, in Waterloo, Iowa.
The WolfPack went 10-5-2 last season, losing, 2-1, in overtime to Moraine Valley Community College in the NJCAA Region 4 Tournament quarterfinals.
The WolfPack has returning players in Geo Prado, JJ Espinosa, Tristan Steinhoff, Cole Rogers, Junior Guerrero, Rodrigo Lasso, Jacob Unger, Lukas Dogru, Riaan Amini and Hudson Nielsen with freshmen competing for starting roles and filling gaps in the lineup.
Nielsen scored 10 goals and had three assists last year and leads the returnees in scoring. Amini had six goals and two assists last season, while Lasso had a goal and a team-high nine assists.
After the early season practices and scrimmages Coach Logan Fye said, he’s learned that this is by far the deepest team that he has had in his three seasons here.
“We’ve been able to rotate nearly an entire lineup of substitutions and not see any change in style or drop-off in talent. We’ve been able to keep everyone fresh and have been able to try a lot of different lineup combinations,” Fye said of his team’s performance in pre-season scrimmages.
When asked about the role the sophomores are to play this season, Fye responded, “I expect to see a strong group of experienced players who remember how last season finished and play like they have a point to prove every time out.”
After the disappointing loss to end the season last year, Fye feels his team is motivated to challenge for a regional title.
“I think our team last year was very young and nearly achieved a major upset victory in the Region quarterfinal,” said Fye.
“Returning many key players from that team, the expectation will be that we finish in the top 4 of the region in the regular season to clinch a 1st round bye and a quarterfinal home game.”
With expectations of a deep playoff run with a the hope of moving on to the National Tournament, expectations are high for this year’s mens soccer team.
Madison College opened the season against Hawkeye Community College on Aug. 23, winning, 2-1. Gio Diaz and Rodrigo Lasso both scored goals in the win. On Aug. 30, the WolfPack host Carl Sandburg, “who is always a top team in our region and will likely test our resolve,” Fye said.
Finally, the Moraine Valley game is one that the team has had circled since last season’s heartbreaking ending to the season, said Fye.