Head Coach Mike Middleton addresses a group of players at the team's first practice on Friday morning.
The Gustavus Adolphus men’s soccer was back on campus Thursday, August 18, reporting for fall camp in preparation for the 2011 season. Head Coach Mike Middle begins his second season at the helm of the men’s soccer program, as his Gusties will look to return to the MIAC Playoffs after finishing one point shy of a berth last season. Middleton brings 43 players to campus for pre-season training, 15 of which are returning letterwinners.
“The players came onto campus yesterday. They are a great bunch of lads, and are raring to go. Its certainly a fun time of year,” commented Middleton. “With some tough non-conference competition added to our schedule, and the addition to strong MIAC competition, it should be a very exciting year.”
Coach Middleton’s 2011 squad features two returning All-Conference performers in senior midfielder Ben Ceder and junior defender Lucas Thompson. The list of other returning letterwinners includes defenders Justin Eglseder (Sr.), Evan Odean (Jr.), and Zach Schmith (So.), midfielders Doug Frey (Sr.), Kyle Sadler (Sr.), Bryan Bjork (Jr.), Grant Steine (Jr.), Jackson Zoellner (Jr.), Gabriel Steinborn (Jr.), Sean Sendlebach (So.), Brian Simons (So.), and Fasil Adinew (So.), and forward Mark Adams (Sr.).
The Gusties will open the season on Thursday, Sept. 1 with a match against Wartburg College at 4:00 p.m. on the Gustie Soccer Field in St. Peter, Minn. The match will be broadcast live on Stretch Internet through the Gustavus Athletics website.
“We open with Wartburg, another strong team added to our schedule. The first four games should be absolute crackers against top competition. It’ll be a tough challenge, but we’re looking forward to it immensely,” said Middleton.
Gustavus finished fifth in the conference last season with an overall record of 10-5-3 and a MIAC mark of 5-2-3.