Photo by: © Tim Cowie | GWUPhotos.com
Men's Soccer Looks to Build on Momentum from 2017 as New Season Begins
August 15, 2018 | Men's Soccer
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Following a 8-7-2 campaign in 2017 with an appearance in the Big South Conference tournament, head coach Tony Setzer and the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs men's soccer team are looking to build on the momentum from last season.
"We had a solid 2017 season and are looking to continue to make positive strides from last year," said Setzer, who enters his 31st season with the program. "We've had a good camp. Our guys have worked hard and are excited to get the season underway and compete."
The good news for the 'Dogs is that the squad returns six of its top eight goal scorers, including Magnus Moldjord (Drammen, Norway / Drammen VGS), who was tied for first on the team with 11 goals last season. Moldjord appeared in all 17 contests with 16 starts and recorded 26 points.
Moldjord scored a pair of goals in three matches – vs. Wofford, USC Upstate and Winthrop – all of which were victories for Gardner-Webb. He capped off his 2017 campaign by being named Second-Team All-Big South Conference and also earning on a spot on the conference's All-Academic Team.
Junior forward Jack Hoey (Budmouth, UK / Burlington County CC) and senior midfielder Roman Eddleman (Richlands, N.C. / Richlands HS) will also help the offensive attack. The duo combined to score nine goals for the Runnin' Bulldogs last season, while each recording 12 points.
"Having Magnus, Jack and Roman return this year is certainly a comforting feeling," Setzer said. "All three played a big role in our offensive attack last year and having a trio of veterans to lead the attack again is certainly beneficial."
Defensively, Simen Olsen (Oslo, Norway / Bjerke VGS) will lead the charge for Gardner-Webb. Olsen was a Second-Team All-BSC selection last season, playing a season-high 1,571 minutes. The junior contributed to three shutouts on defense, including two in Big South Conference play.
"Simen had an outstanding season last year, and we're really looking for him to continue to take strides as a player and a leader," said Setzer. "Anytime you can have someone like Simen on the team, a guy who can be counted on to play quality minutes at a high-level, it is certainly a wonderful feeling from a coaching standpoint."
Returners David Koprowski (Columbia, S.C. / Spartanburg Methodist CC), Petter Johansen (Toensberg Norway / Wang Toppidrett Toensberg), Jonas Olsaker (Bergen, Norway / Nordahl Grieg VGS), Oskar Wang (Neshollen, Norway / Vormsund NTG Kongsvinger) and Alain Delgado (Kristiansand, Norway / Kristiansand Katedralskole Gimle) all saw significant action last season. Each of the five played over 840 minutes, led by Kowproski who logged 1,049 in 14 games.
This season, over 20 newcomers have joined the Gardner-Webb roster, giving the 'Dogs a blend of both youth and experience. The team will also field a reserve team, allowing players the chance to see more game action and challenge their teammates and amp up the intensity in practice.
"When you can field a reserve team, it adds competition to our practices and provides an incentive for the first team players to step up," said Setzer. "We're excited to get the season started. I can't thank assistant coaches Bradley Morrison, Ali Al-Gashamy and Dennis Puckerin enough for their hard work."
The Runnin' Bulldogs will begin the 2018 season with pair of exhibition matches, first hosting Elon on August 16 for a 5:00 p.m. kickoff. The 'Dogs' final tune-up will take place in Columbia, SC against the South Carolina Gamecocks, on Saturday, August 18 at 7:00 p.m.
Gardner-Webb will open its 16-game regular season with a pair of games against James Madison (Aug. 24, 7:00 p.m.) and Virginia Tech (Aug. 26, 4:00 p.m.) in the Fairfield Inn by Mariott JMU Invitational.
The Runnin' Bulldogs' home opener will take place when the Wofford Terriers visit Boiling Springs on Friday, August 31 at 7:00 p.m., and the team will begin conference just 12 days later (September 12 at 7:00 p.m.) when it hosts USC-Upstate.
For the latest Gardner-Webb men's soccer news, visit www.gwusports.com and follow @GWUSoccer on Twitter.
"We had a solid 2017 season and are looking to continue to make positive strides from last year," said Setzer, who enters his 31st season with the program. "We've had a good camp. Our guys have worked hard and are excited to get the season underway and compete."
The good news for the 'Dogs is that the squad returns six of its top eight goal scorers, including Magnus Moldjord (Drammen, Norway / Drammen VGS), who was tied for first on the team with 11 goals last season. Moldjord appeared in all 17 contests with 16 starts and recorded 26 points.
Moldjord scored a pair of goals in three matches – vs. Wofford, USC Upstate and Winthrop – all of which were victories for Gardner-Webb. He capped off his 2017 campaign by being named Second-Team All-Big South Conference and also earning on a spot on the conference's All-Academic Team.
Junior forward Jack Hoey (Budmouth, UK / Burlington County CC) and senior midfielder Roman Eddleman (Richlands, N.C. / Richlands HS) will also help the offensive attack. The duo combined to score nine goals for the Runnin' Bulldogs last season, while each recording 12 points.
"Having Magnus, Jack and Roman return this year is certainly a comforting feeling," Setzer said. "All three played a big role in our offensive attack last year and having a trio of veterans to lead the attack again is certainly beneficial."
Defensively, Simen Olsen (Oslo, Norway / Bjerke VGS) will lead the charge for Gardner-Webb. Olsen was a Second-Team All-BSC selection last season, playing a season-high 1,571 minutes. The junior contributed to three shutouts on defense, including two in Big South Conference play.
"Simen had an outstanding season last year, and we're really looking for him to continue to take strides as a player and a leader," said Setzer. "Anytime you can have someone like Simen on the team, a guy who can be counted on to play quality minutes at a high-level, it is certainly a wonderful feeling from a coaching standpoint."
Returners David Koprowski (Columbia, S.C. / Spartanburg Methodist CC), Petter Johansen (Toensberg Norway / Wang Toppidrett Toensberg), Jonas Olsaker (Bergen, Norway / Nordahl Grieg VGS), Oskar Wang (Neshollen, Norway / Vormsund NTG Kongsvinger) and Alain Delgado (Kristiansand, Norway / Kristiansand Katedralskole Gimle) all saw significant action last season. Each of the five played over 840 minutes, led by Kowproski who logged 1,049 in 14 games.
This season, over 20 newcomers have joined the Gardner-Webb roster, giving the 'Dogs a blend of both youth and experience. The team will also field a reserve team, allowing players the chance to see more game action and challenge their teammates and amp up the intensity in practice.
"When you can field a reserve team, it adds competition to our practices and provides an incentive for the first team players to step up," said Setzer. "We're excited to get the season started. I can't thank assistant coaches Bradley Morrison, Ali Al-Gashamy and Dennis Puckerin enough for their hard work."
The Runnin' Bulldogs will begin the 2018 season with pair of exhibition matches, first hosting Elon on August 16 for a 5:00 p.m. kickoff. The 'Dogs' final tune-up will take place in Columbia, SC against the South Carolina Gamecocks, on Saturday, August 18 at 7:00 p.m.
Gardner-Webb will open its 16-game regular season with a pair of games against James Madison (Aug. 24, 7:00 p.m.) and Virginia Tech (Aug. 26, 4:00 p.m.) in the Fairfield Inn by Mariott JMU Invitational.
The Runnin' Bulldogs' home opener will take place when the Wofford Terriers visit Boiling Springs on Friday, August 31 at 7:00 p.m., and the team will begin conference just 12 days later (September 12 at 7:00 p.m.) when it hosts USC-Upstate.
For the latest Gardner-Webb men's soccer news, visit www.gwusports.com and follow @GWUSoccer on Twitter.
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