By Jacob Horton
The 2014 AUM men’s soccer team looks poised and ready to settle some unfinished business this season.After finishing as national runner-up in 2013, the Warhawks are hoping they can build on last year’s success. According to head coach Wulf Koch, however, 2014 is a new season and this team is not dwelling on the past.
“It played some motivation coming into the season, but we are a new team this year,” Koch said regarding last season’s result. “Our goal is to continue to improve and take it one game at a time.”
2013 marked the fourth time in the program’s history that the Warhawk men’s soccer team finished as the national runner up. After ending the regular season of 13-5, the Warhawks fought their way through the SSAC and NAIA national tournament. It was there that they fell one victory short of their national championship hopes to the Martin Methodist Redhawks.
The Warhawks have shown they are all in this season, posting an 8-2-1 record through 11 games thus far. Statistically, they are averaging over two points per game on 19 shots, while only allowing an average of one goal per game on just ten shots. The success of this team so far has earned it the number four overall ranking in the National NAIA rankings.
“I think we are deeper and more athletic than we were last year,” Coach Koch said. “We had some injuries that hurt our depth last season and now those guys are healthy and back playing. We also did a solid job of recruiting. I am really excited about the freshman class we brought in.”
This 2014 Warhawks team features ten freshman, three sophomores, nine juniors, and only one senior. That statement alone should give supporters of the men’s soccer team a lot to be excited about now and in the near future.
As for the present, the upcoming slate of games will determine if the Warhawks can keep building on this momentum and accomplish their goal of being crowned national champs.
“We need to continue to play well,” Coach Koch said. “Playing a complete season is the key. We are about to start conference play, and that will really show us where we are at. We just have to focus on the small goals of winning each game and the rest will take care of itself.”
In their latest contest on Saturday, the Warhawks took down conference foe Belhaven University 1-0. The win improved their conference record to 1-0-1. Their next game will be a key conference matchup at home against Brewton-Parker University on October 9. Kickoff is set for 3:30 pm. The season began in late August and they are about midway through the season.
Contact the writer: jhorton4@aum.edu