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Saints, new soccer coach ready to kick start season
By David Beall
Sacrifice is the word that Pat Parris used to describe the North Georgia men's soccer team on the brink of starting the 2007 season.
New faces are all around the soccer program as first year head coach Pat Parris looks to guide the team to a successful first year as full NCAA members.
“One of the positives is team cohesion is beginning,” Parris said. “Attitudes are great and leaders are starting to appear.”
14 new players will wear the Saints jersey this week as the season kicks off against Nova Southeastern. The 22-man squad will look for leadership from the senior class that includes four returning starters.
Brandon Kirksey will assume the goalkeeper responsibilities after starting 16 games a year ago and recording 82 saves. He logged over 1400 minutes on his way to a 2.83 goals against average.
The midfielder position will also be in good hands as Joey Rector brings talent and experience after starting 17 games last fall. He netted two goals in 2006 including the game-winning goal in overtime to upset sixth-ranked USC Upstate for the highlight of the season.
Champ Young and Phillip Chittaro round out the seniors, as they will anchor the defense for Parris. Both players started eight games in 2006 and will look to play significant minutes for the coaching staff.
Wil Maxwell will also look to take on a leadership role after being named captain during the spring season upon the arrival of Parris. Maxwell tallied an assist a year ago from the defender position.
“You wait all year to see all the pieces,” Parris said. “We didn't have the luxury of having a full quad in the spring, and now we have that and can train. I think they are ready.”
The Saints will have their work cutout for them in a tough Peach Belt conference as the team was picked to finish sixth in the preseason coach's poll released last week.
National powerhouse Lander University will visit the North Georgia Soccer complex in September and UNC Pembroke and Georgia Southwestern will make their way to battle the Saints in October to finish off the home portion of the conference schedule.
The first round of the Peach Belt Tournament will take place on October 27, and hopefully this new group of men will come together for the first year head coach and give North Georgia it's second ever NCAA post-season tournament victory.
New faces are all around the soccer program as first year head coach Pat Parris looks to guide the team to a successful first year as full NCAA members.
“One of the positives is team cohesion is beginning,” Parris said. “Attitudes are great and leaders are starting to appear.”
14 new players will wear the Saints jersey this week as the season kicks off against Nova Southeastern. The 22-man squad will look for leadership from the senior class that includes four returning starters.
Brandon Kirksey will assume the goalkeeper responsibilities after starting 16 games a year ago and recording 82 saves. He logged over 1400 minutes on his way to a 2.83 goals against average.
The midfielder position will also be in good hands as Joey Rector brings talent and experience after starting 17 games last fall. He netted two goals in 2006 including the game-winning goal in overtime to upset sixth-ranked USC Upstate for the highlight of the season.
Champ Young and Phillip Chittaro round out the seniors, as they will anchor the defense for Parris. Both players started eight games in 2006 and will look to play significant minutes for the coaching staff.
Wil Maxwell will also look to take on a leadership role after being named captain during the spring season upon the arrival of Parris. Maxwell tallied an assist a year ago from the defender position.
“You wait all year to see all the pieces,” Parris said. “We didn't have the luxury of having a full quad in the spring, and now we have that and can train. I think they are ready.”
The Saints will have their work cutout for them in a tough Peach Belt conference as the team was picked to finish sixth in the preseason coach's poll released last week.
National powerhouse Lander University will visit the North Georgia Soccer complex in September and UNC Pembroke and Georgia Southwestern will make their way to battle the Saints in October to finish off the home portion of the conference schedule.
The first round of the Peach Belt Tournament will take place on October 27, and hopefully this new group of men will come together for the first year head coach and give North Georgia it's second ever NCAA post-season tournament victory.
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