The Madison College men’s soccer team had a little extra motivation this past off season. Despite winning three of its last four matches to finish the year 6-5-4, the WolfPack missed the NJCAA Region 4 Division II playoffs.
It’s a fate the team plans to avoid this season.
“We narrowly missed out last year after a bit of a crazy finish to the season with a forfeit technicality coming into play which knocked us out,” Coach Logan Fye said. “That feeling is something that fueled the coaching staff and the returning group to work our tails off this offseason so that we don’t have to suffer that same fate again.”
“We have high expectations for this season, but we will take things day by day and look to get better each time out together. We have the talent to do some special things if we can come together as a group this fall.”
The team has nine returnees this year, including several with extensive playing experience. Forward Carter Uhlmann is the top returning scorer with three goals and three assists last season. Midfielder Felipe Dewes had one goal and an assist last year, while defender Damo Lovell added three assists.
Other returnees include forward John Soberon-Chehade, midfielders Bryan Garcia and Adair Tlatoa, defender Tomas Garcia and goalkeepers Ayden White and Enzo Guimaraes.
Three of the team’s top scorers from last season have graduated including career scoring leader Gabe Voung, who had 10 goals and five assists last year and finished his career with 34 total goals. Also gone are Jamie Le Comte and Jaoa Mendonca, both of whom scored four goals last season.
“So far, it’s evident that we have a more talented team this year from top to bottom compared to last year,” Fye said. “However, we do miss some of the star power and leadership that moved on from last year’s second year group. My hope is that we continue to bond closer together and players step up into their roles so that we can reach our potential as a team.”
Based on what he’s seen in practice, Fye believes he has a technically gifted team and thinks his team will match up well with any opponent.
“In defense, we have some tough one-one-one defenders, but those players are also great passers of the ball to kickstart our attack out of the back. We should also have quality goalkeeping which I’m thankful to have in the back,” he said.
“In midfield, we have players who complement one another in their play styles and can connect the play from back to front. Lastly in attack, we have dynamic playmakers and goalscorers which will make for a difficult time for our opponents.”
Fye believes a number of the incoming freshmen will be in the starting lineup this season, and several others will serve in key roles as substitutes during games.
“I think we will consistently have five to six freshmen in the starting lineup with a handful of others pushing to get in the lineup as well and being impact subs,” Fye said.
“Time will tell on how big of a role that each of them have, but we do expect big things from several of them and hope that all of them are able to develop over the course of the season and into next year.”
Madison College’s season starts with an Aug. 24 home match against Oakton College followed by an Aug. 28 matchup against Riverland Community College.
“In Region 4, almost every team can steal a game from one another. Therefore, Oakton is the biggest game on our schedule, and we take it one at a time from there,” Fye said. “We did play against Oakton this spring and that was a close 1-0 result for us but they are talented and well coached so I imagine we will be in for a dogfight.”