August 30, 2012
Hendrix Men's Soccer Preview
CONWAY, Ark. – The Hendrix College men's soccer team opens the 2012 season on Friday at 4 p.m. at Maryville College in Tennessee. The Warriors will follow on Saturday with a game against Piedmont College in Maryville, before returning home to take on in-state rival University of the Ozarks on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Fifth-year head coach Doug Mello, who has coached more games
than anyone else in collegiate soccer history, returns 10
letterwinners, including six starters, from last year's squad that
won seven games. However, Mello has added 14 talented freshmen and
a sophomore transfer for the 2012 campaign.
Senior forward/midfielder Connor Silvestri of Conway, a
two-time All-Conference selection in the Southern Collegiate
Athletic Conference, is the Warriors' leading returning scorer with
11 goals and four assists last year. Silvestri is one goal from
tying the Hendrix career record of 36 held by Duncan Keegan, who
was a senior a year ago. Sophomore Alex Cummings appeared in all 18
games last season as reserve forward. A pair of freshmen should
provide an added scoring punch up top for the Warriors. Pedro
Sagone, who gained valuable international experience while playing
for clubs from his home town of Guatemala City, Guatemala, and San
Antonio's Will Dunaway who netted 22 goals as a senior for his high
school that won 21 games.
Tresor Mukiza, of Kigali, Rwanada, returns at midfielder after
starting 10 games there last season. The senior scored a goal and
recorded an assist last season and scored the Warriors' only goal
on a free kick in their exhibition game against Lyon last week.
Also returning is sophomore Greg Gandy, who started all 18 games as
a freshman and was tied for second on the team with four assists to
go with two goals. Senior Rob Weingold returns for his fourth year
in the program after playing in 11 games last year. Sophomore Joe
Esrock moves from goalkeeper to the midfield as well. Five freshmen
will battle for playing time at midfielder – Steve Cochrun,
C.J. Thompson, Max Getler, Jacob Pierce and Will Embry.
Three seniors will anchor the backfield for Hendrix. Grant
Womack and Kevin Gregory started all 18 games a year ago and Dylan
Reed, who started 17 games in the midfield, will move to defender
for his senior season. Also returning is sophomore Kyle Wicks, who
appeared in seven games last year. Freshmen John McGrath, Levi
Jabben, Drew Plant and Larry Brignard will vie for time at defender
as well.
Hendrix will have to replace four-year starter and career
goals against average record holder Adam Legg in goal. Fighting for
the starting position are freshman Marco Luna, also from Guatemala
City, and sophomore Eric Bracy, who transferred from SCAC champion
Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. Esrock and Plant along
with freshmen Vincent Sabourin and Jerry Thomaczek could see time
in goal.
Starting with the Ozarks game on Tuesday, the Warriors will
have a six-game home stand. East Texas Baptist, LeTourneau and
Howard Payne will all come to Conway in the following week, then
Hendrix will host the Warrior Classic against Simpson and UT Tyler
on Sept. 14 & 16. Hendrix will also host NCAA Division II
member Ouachita Baptist on Oct. 2
After non-conference road trips to Centenary and Lyon in late
September, the Warriors will open Southern Athletic Association
play at Millsaps on Sept. 29. Hendrix will not host an SAA team
until the final three games of the regular season, starting with
Centre on Oct. 19.
The inaugural SAA Tournament will be held in Birmingham, Ala. Nov. 2-4.
