The Northland International University men’s soccer program
started off its year with a somewhat unusual “preseason.” A team comprised of
returners and incoming freshmen were led by Head Coach Andrew Scott on a
seventeen day missions trip to the country of Uruguay. The trip included
several competitive games, children clinics, and training sessions all centered
on spreading the Gospel of Christ. The team returned to the States just three
days before the start of the official preseason on August 22.
The men’s team returns a solid core of veteran leaders
headed up by its three senior captains: Bryce Pegram, Daniel Doran, and
All-American sweeper Paul Reece. Accompanying them are four other returning
starters from the 2009 squad in Matt Patz, Jason Lorch, Ben Cummins, and Dave
Bartholomew. Northland has also seen a strong influx of talented freshmen and
transfer students. Assistant Coach Nathan Chatfield had this to say, “This is
the strongest freshman class that I have seen at Northland in the last five
years. I am very excited to get to work with them.”
The team will undergo an intense week of three-a-day
practices this week, culminating in their first game of the year on Saturday, August
28, against Lincoln Christian College.