Eastern Florida’s men’s soccer team received some good news as it headed out for its first 2015 fall season practice on Monday evening. (Eastern Florida image)
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Eastern Florida’s men’s soccer team received some good news as it headed out for its first 2015 fall season practice on Monday evening.
The Titans, despite losing a core of talented, experienced players, were ranked fourth in the NJCAA Division I pre-season poll.
But with the good news came a dose of reality. The Titans first two regular season opponents – CCBC Essex and Monroe College – were ranked 11th and third respectively.
The Titans open the season in Rosedale, Maryland against 2014 NJCAA Division I national tournament participant Essex on Aug. 29 and 2014 NJCAA Division I national runner-up Monroe on Aug. 30.
In between are scrimmages against NAIA Webber International University on Aug. 13 at the Titan Soccer Complex on the Melbourne Campus (which includes a special Spirit Night for local high school students), NCAA Division I Stetson University on Aug. 16 in DeLand, 2014 NCAA Division II national champion Lynn University on Aug. 19 in Boca Raton and defending NCAA Division I Atlantic Sun champion Florida Gulf Coast University on Aug. 22 in Fort Myers.
Given those challenges Eastern Florida head coach Oliver Twelvetrees, his staff and his team got right down to business.
Oliver Twelvetrees
“Everyone was excited to get back on the pitch,” Twelvetrees said.
“We have a young, talented, hard-working team. I am hopeful that we can continue to progress and get better every day.”
Sophomore defender Wilfred Williams, a transfer from the University of Memphis, concurred.
“The first practice was good,” Williams said “We have a lot of new guys coming in. We have seven players who are returning so pretty much it’s a new team.
“Our attacking lines were really good. Now we’re just trying to put little pieces together defensively and trying to work on our shape. It was good to see where a lot the guys stand fitness wise.”
The Titans finished 13-3-1 in their second season in 2014 missing their second consecutive national tournament appearance by one game, losing in the district final.
