ANDERSON, S.C. – The Anderson University men's soccer team is getting set to open the 2022 season on Thursday (Aug. 25) in a match-up against the third nationally ranked Nova Southeastern Sharks at Spero Financial Field.
The Trojans finished the 2021 season with a 12-4-2 record and a trip to the South Atlantic Conference semifinals, losing 1-0 to the eventual champions in Coker.
"This year we want to lift a trophy," said head coach Michael Zion. "The SAC is incredibly challenging and the margin for error is very small when it comes to finishing at the top. We will have to be at our best to obtain our goals and consistency will be key. This team has a lot of talent and with the right mentality, it is our hope that we can do something special this season. With a strong core of the team returning and a talented recruiting class joining us, we are looking forward to the challenges ahead and getting this season started!"
In the SAC preseason poll, the Trojans were picked to finish fifth while Martin Carpena, Joao Martinho, Andres Osorio, and Mariano Carpena earned All-SAC honors.
"I think we would have liked to at least be in the position that we finished last season (4th) but with 13 guys from last year's team exhausting eligibility/graduating and 14 incoming players joining us, we understand that we must prove ourselves," said Zion. "I know this team will embrace that challenge head on. We are excited for another competitive season in the SAC and look forward taking on some of the strongest teams in the Southeast Super Region once again."
Coach Zion's squad is coming off a great preseason which included two exhibitions, defeating Queens on the road, and finishing in a draw against Young Harris last Saturday (Aug. 20).
"The team is working hard and pushing each other every day. Our mindset and focus are simply on ourselves right now," said Zion. "We know how important it is for us to get the team chemistry right and the guys have really been focused on understanding and trying to perfect the game model."
Anderson begins the season against a tough Nova Southeastern team, who comes in ranked third in the United Soccer Coaches National Poll after an historic run to the Final Four a season ago. On Saturday (Aug. 27), the Trojans will welcome another Florida team to Spero Financial Field as they will take on the Barry University Bucs.
Nova returns two key members from last year's team in Tobias Pellio and Farid Sar-Sar, who were both named to the All-Sunshine State Conference preseason teams. Pellio controls the pace in the midfield as he finished the season with two assists, while Sar-Sar was an anchor on the backline as he helped lead the Sharks to six shutouts last year.
The Sharks were picked first in the SSC preseason poll, while the Barry Bucs were tabbed sixth after a 7-10-1 season a year ago. Barry returns 19 players and eight starters as they begin their first year under head coach Petsa Ivanovic.
"While we don't know a whole lot about either opponent at this stage of the season, these are two strong teams that play in one of the strongest DII conferences in the country," said Zion. "Nova was in the final four last year and Barry won a national championship in 2018. These are teams who always have ambitious goals and we are excited compete against them this weekend. We are excited to see how we match up with some top opposition in the early stages of the season and before conference play gets underway."
The action on Thursday begins at 7:30 p.m., with video available via Flo Sports and live stats on autrojans.com.
