Men's Soccer sets sights on conference tournament for 2017 season.
2017 Men's Soccer Preview
August 14, 2017 | Men's Soccer
BOILING SPRINGS, NC – The Gardner-Webb University men's soccer team welcomes 26 newcomers to the program for their 2017 campaign, as Tony Setzer enters his 30th year as head coach of the program.
"We needed to add competition to the mix," claimed Coach Setzer. "Having a reserve team and first team gives players an incentive to be sharp."
Following a disappointing 2016 season, the Runnin' Bulldogs have their eyes set on qualifying for the Big South Conference tournament. "Our goal is to earn 12 points in the conference this season. That would give us a great opportunity to safely qualify for the conference tournament," said Setzer.
The team appears to be much deeper than they have been in the past. The coaching staff noted that the players have responded positively to the challenge of having both a first-team and reserve squad.
The Runnin' Bulldogs open their season August 15, as they take on UNC Wilmington. Lees-Mcrae will make their way to Boiling Springs on August 19, to square off with Gardner-Webb. Both are home matches.
Their regular season schedule features 19 matches, including seven home games that will be played at Greene-Harbison Stadium on the campus of Gardner-Webb University.
On October 10, the Runnin' Bulldogs will travel to Clemson University for a 7:00 p.m. match. The Tigers made a postseason run last year in the NCAA tournament, eventually falling to Denver in the Elite Eight.
As the team welcomes its newcomers, they also return 8 starters. Of those returning, David Koloko, Marvin Mendy, and Severin Soerlie each scored three times in their 2016 campaign, while Koloko recorded seven assists. Coach Setzer expects Alain Delgado, Isak Reinhardsen, David Kowprowski and Simen Olsen to serve as some of the team's key contributors. While the preseason is still young, Coach Setzer claims there is still time for the newcomers to make a plea for the open spots.
Delgado will be the team captain for the 2017 season.
The team will begin conference play with a match against Liberty on September 26, at 6:00 pm.
"We needed to add competition to the mix," claimed Coach Setzer. "Having a reserve team and first team gives players an incentive to be sharp."
Following a disappointing 2016 season, the Runnin' Bulldogs have their eyes set on qualifying for the Big South Conference tournament. "Our goal is to earn 12 points in the conference this season. That would give us a great opportunity to safely qualify for the conference tournament," said Setzer.
The team appears to be much deeper than they have been in the past. The coaching staff noted that the players have responded positively to the challenge of having both a first-team and reserve squad.
The Runnin' Bulldogs open their season August 15, as they take on UNC Wilmington. Lees-Mcrae will make their way to Boiling Springs on August 19, to square off with Gardner-Webb. Both are home matches.
Their regular season schedule features 19 matches, including seven home games that will be played at Greene-Harbison Stadium on the campus of Gardner-Webb University.
On October 10, the Runnin' Bulldogs will travel to Clemson University for a 7:00 p.m. match. The Tigers made a postseason run last year in the NCAA tournament, eventually falling to Denver in the Elite Eight.
As the team welcomes its newcomers, they also return 8 starters. Of those returning, David Koloko, Marvin Mendy, and Severin Soerlie each scored three times in their 2016 campaign, while Koloko recorded seven assists. Coach Setzer expects Alain Delgado, Isak Reinhardsen, David Kowprowski and Simen Olsen to serve as some of the team's key contributors. While the preseason is still young, Coach Setzer claims there is still time for the newcomers to make a plea for the open spots.
Delgado will be the team captain for the 2017 season.
The team will begin conference play with a match against Liberty on September 26, at 6:00 pm.
Players Mentioned
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