Playing its second game in two spring seasons against a Major League Soccer team, Eastern Florida’s men gave a good accounting of themselves on Thursday. (EFSC Image)
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Playing its second game in two spring seasons against a Major League Soccer team, Eastern Florida’s men gave a good accounting of themselves on Thursday.
Playing at Champion’s Gate outside Orlando the Titans challenged at times in dropping a 1-0 decision in their scrimmage against Toronto FC.
The Titans played then-MLS champion Sporting Kansas City at Disney in 2014, losing 2-0.
Oliver Twelvetrees
“I’ll tell them well done,” Eastern Florida head coach Oliver Twelvetrees said of his team.
“Everybody played, everybody acquitted themselves really well. They worked hard and made it difficult for them to play.
“We had a few chances. We had a few counterattacks. To keep it one-nil against a top professional team I think it’s a remarkable achievement.”
MLS teams are wrapping up their pre-season training in advance of their season that begins in March.
NJCAA Division I teams are allowed off-season practices and games — in soccer’s case it’s four play dates.
And Eastern Florida made the most of their opportunity.
“It’s a wonderful experience for the lads to play against some top class professional players,” Twelvetrees said.
“They competed. We started the game with seven freshmen. Those guys will have that great experience moving into the fall season.”
Kyle Carr
Sophomore Kyle Carr, who also played against Kansas City, spoke to the differences between the pros and the college kids.
“A lot of them played at the highest level, they played college and overseas so they’ve had coaching their whole life,” said Carr who is bound for NCAA Division I Liberty University.
