2006 Centre men's soccer preview

RELEASED: September 7, 2006

DANVILLE, KY—The Centre College men's soccer team enters the 2006 season with tremendous optimism. The Colonels did not lose a match in their final seven outings in 2005 as they finished with a 13-3-2 record. In Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) play, the Colonels finished second in total points, goals scored, goals per game, and assists. Defensively, the Colonels were tops in the SCAC with the best goals-against- average in the league. With a second place finish in the SCAC for 2005 that included the defeat of national quarterfinalist Trinity University, the Colonels appear to be heading in a positive direction for the upcoming fall.   

The returning squad remains mostly intact for the 2006 campaign. The graduation of right and left backs Todd Davis (Millstadt, Ill.) and Cliff Wright (Greensboro, N.C.) was a concern, but 2006 starting center back John Templeton (Chattanooga, Tenn.) has been moved to the right back spot and division I transfer, Joseph Fisher (Cullman, Ala.), has claimed the left back spot. The best goalkeeper statistically in the SCAC for the 2005 season, Chris Creger (Charleston, S.C.), returns for his junior season in top form after a successful stint in the Player Development League this summer.

Sophomore captain Adam Boyer (Louisville, Ky.) has claimed the central defender spot and along with sophomore playmaker Chris Baumann (Louisville, Ky.), returns to Centre College after winning the U-19 national championship this past summer. The backbone of the Colonels defense and midfield is senior captain David Horne (Louisville, Ky.). Horne was runner up in 2005 SCAC voting for defensive player of the year.

The Colonels feature a potent attack out of midfield with senior Kevin Brown (Memphis, Tenn.), junior Matt Corbett (Louisville, Ky.) and Division I transfer Ed Ohin (Louisville, Ky.). This group will highlight what Coach Burch believes are the two best strikers in the SCAC. Senior Derek Roberts (Knoxville, Tenn.) and junior Nick Judah (Louisville, Ky.) combined for 10 goals and five assists over the final nine games of the 2005 campaign.

"We're not naïve about the value in an impressive bench," Head Coach Jeb Burch commented. "I feel senior Scott Daughtridge (Atlanta, Ga.) can help us anywhere on the field along with freshmen Patrick Hall (Indianapolis, Ind.). James Kusak (freshmen, Louisville, Ky.) is ready for the college game and will compliment our defense. Junior Matt Hoskins (Lexington, Ky.) is fast and dangerous one v. one and he'll surprise every team we face this fall," Burch finished.

Can the Colonels find a rhythm and leadership necessary to win like last year's team? "I'm confident at this point in the process. We understand that our first three weeks feature excellent opponents. Our pre-season has been quite short (Centre began school a week earlier this year), so we have that hurtle to overcome, and each game will require something different to succeed but, I'm confident this group has that special element to pull it together," Burch concluded.

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Founded in 1819, Centre College is ranked among the U.S. News top 50 national liberal arts colleges. Centre alumni, known for their nation-leading loyalty in annual financial support, include two U.S. vice presidents and two Supreme Court justices. For more, visit http://www.centre.edu/web/elevatorspeech/

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