Emory & Henry Men's Soccer Season Preview

Emory & Henry Men's Soccer Season Preview

EMORY, Va. - The Emory & Henry College Men's Soccer Team will look to continue their steady year on year improvement once again this season. Last year the team recorded their best season in conference play since 2001. The season represented the fourth-best in league matches in program history including a three-match unbeaten streak in ODAC competition for the first time since 1996 and just the fourth time in program history. 

E&H also earned its first All-ODAC recognitions since P.J. Henson in 2008 with junior Jordan Couch (Abingdon, Va.) and sophomore Tyequis Stallins (Chesapeake, Va.) named to the all-league second and third teams, respectively.

The team will be led this year by junior captain, Chandler Copeland (Newport News, Va.) and vice captains, senior Zach Quest (Charlotte, N.C.) and junior David Jackson (Newport News, Va.). Copeland has played in 25 matches, starting 22. Quest has played in 42 matches, starting 34 from his attacking midfield position. He has scored five career goals including the second-fastest goal in school history (28 seconds - at Anderson University in 2014). Jackson has played in 30 matches with 17 starts over the past two seasons. 

Senior, goalkeeper Didier Grillet (Charlotte, N.C.) and midfielder Ian Smith (Waynesville, N.C.) will also provide leadership in their final campaigns. Grillet led the ODAC in saves this past season and is currently ranked fourth all-time in program career saves behind Josh Hale, Daniel Mills, and Robert Andrews. Smith played in 15 matches this past year taking his career total appearances for the Wasps to 50.

The junior class includes local Marion, Virginia native Keith Norris as well as Cody Carruth (Powhatan, Va.), Randall Colquitt (Las Vegas, Nev.), Edgar Rivas (Brentwood, N.Y.), Daniel Scharsich (Newport News, Va.) and the All-ODAC honoree Couch. The group has played a combined 133 games in their past two seasons and will be called upon to provide guidance and stability in the season ahead.

In the sophomore class, last season's minutes played leaders Joel Tidman (Milford, Va.) and Craig Cook (Palmyra, Va.) are joined by All-ODAC player Stallins, Trey Tumblin (Moneta, Va.) Nickolas Taylor (Portsmouth, Va.), Nathan Neisius (Powhatan, Va.), and Colin Foley (Chesapeake, Va.). This class combined for a total of 10 goals and five assists this past fall.

The team will be joined by 15 newcomers for the 2016 campaign. The class is drawn from four different states and includes Mason Carroll (Bristol, Tenn.), Peyton Williams (Christiansburg, Va.), Jonathan Baca (Chesapeake, Va.), Josh Ralston (Suffolk, Va.), Cole Schreiner (Atlanta, Ga.), Mike Williams (Fredericksburg, Va.), T.J. Richardson (Gate City, Va.), Massimo Tager (Asheville, N.C.), Andrew Kincaid (Fredericksburg, Va.), Chase Hollowell (Spotsylvania, Va.), Austin Hylton (Chester, Va.), Wil Rimer (Mill Spring, N.C.), Roosevelt Joway (Roanoke, Va.), Eric Torres (Moneta, Va.) and Kevin Boeren (Roanoke, Va.).

This blend of leadership, experience and youth should provide wasp soccer fans with an intriguing season. The men's soccer team kicks off their season on Thursday at Ferrum College and plays its first home match vs. Earlham on Sunday, September 11 at 11:00 a.m.

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