Post by hokesmyth on Aug 21, 2019 15:02:50 GMT -5
Furman’s Rocky Guerra, Ben Hale, Emery May and Jack Shiels were selected to the Preseason All-Southern Conference Team and the Paladins were picked to finish second in voting by the league’s seven head coaches, it was announced on Wednesday.
Guerra, a senior midfielder from Lawrenceville, Ga., scored a goal and led the Paladins with seven assists a year ago while starting in all 22 matches. He helped setup the overtime winner in the SoCon semifinals versus ETSU and earned SoCon All-Tournament honors.
Hale, a product of Frisco, Texas, posted a 1.01 goals against average and totaled eight solo shutouts as a redshirt-sophomore en route to earning first team All-SoCon and SoCon Goalkeeper of the Year honors. He registered a shutout in the SoCon finals versus UNCG before making a save and converting from the spot in a penalty kick shootout triumph over UNCW in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.
A senior from Wichita, Kan., May led the Paladins with nine goals in 22 matches last season. The forward scored twice, including the match-winning tally, in a 3-0 victory over UNCG in the SoCon championship match. A second team All-SoCon choice, May finished the season with three game-winning scores.
Shiels started in 20 matches at center back for the Paladins and helped anchor a defense that allowed just 22 goals in 22 matches. The senior from Manchester, England, garnered SoCon All-Tournament honors after Furman blanked UNCG to claim its third SoCon title in the last five seasons.
Furman was tabbed to finish second in the 2019 SoCon standings with Mercer picked to repeat as regular season champions. The Bears received five first place votes with the Paladins picking up two. ETSU, UNCG, Belmont, Wofford and VMI rounded out the preseason poll.
The Paladins travel to for North Florida in an exhibition contest at 7:30 p.m. on Friday in Jacksonville, Fla., before opening the regular season on August 30, at Duke. The home opener is set for September 11, versus UNC Asheville.
Season tickets, available for $30, can be purchased at FurmanPaladins.com and include admission to all Furman men’s soccer and women’s soccer regular season home matches.
2019 Men’s Soccer Preseason Coaches’ Poll
1. Mercer (5) 35
2. Furman (2) 31
3. ETSU 27
4. UNCG 20
5. Belmont 15
6. Wofford 13
7. VMI 6
() denotes first-place votes
2019 Men’s Soccer Preseason All-Conference Team
F Bruno Andrade, ETSU
F Emery May, Furman
F Trevor Martineau, Mercer
MF Niccolo Dagnoni, Belmont
MF Rocky Guerra, Furman
MF Roberto Arteaga, Mercer
D Merveil Bilomba, ETSU
D John Lucchesi, ETSU
D Jack Shiels, Furman
D Joshua Harrison, Mercer
GK Ben Hale, Furman
Guerra, a senior midfielder from Lawrenceville, Ga., scored a goal and led the Paladins with seven assists a year ago while starting in all 22 matches. He helped setup the overtime winner in the SoCon semifinals versus ETSU and earned SoCon All-Tournament honors.
Hale, a product of Frisco, Texas, posted a 1.01 goals against average and totaled eight solo shutouts as a redshirt-sophomore en route to earning first team All-SoCon and SoCon Goalkeeper of the Year honors. He registered a shutout in the SoCon finals versus UNCG before making a save and converting from the spot in a penalty kick shootout triumph over UNCW in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.
A senior from Wichita, Kan., May led the Paladins with nine goals in 22 matches last season. The forward scored twice, including the match-winning tally, in a 3-0 victory over UNCG in the SoCon championship match. A second team All-SoCon choice, May finished the season with three game-winning scores.
Shiels started in 20 matches at center back for the Paladins and helped anchor a defense that allowed just 22 goals in 22 matches. The senior from Manchester, England, garnered SoCon All-Tournament honors after Furman blanked UNCG to claim its third SoCon title in the last five seasons.
Furman was tabbed to finish second in the 2019 SoCon standings with Mercer picked to repeat as regular season champions. The Bears received five first place votes with the Paladins picking up two. ETSU, UNCG, Belmont, Wofford and VMI rounded out the preseason poll.
The Paladins travel to for North Florida in an exhibition contest at 7:30 p.m. on Friday in Jacksonville, Fla., before opening the regular season on August 30, at Duke. The home opener is set for September 11, versus UNC Asheville.
Season tickets, available for $30, can be purchased at FurmanPaladins.com and include admission to all Furman men’s soccer and women’s soccer regular season home matches.
2019 Men’s Soccer Preseason Coaches’ Poll
1. Mercer (5) 35
2. Furman (2) 31
3. ETSU 27
4. UNCG 20
5. Belmont 15
6. Wofford 13
7. VMI 6
() denotes first-place votes
2019 Men’s Soccer Preseason All-Conference Team
F Bruno Andrade, ETSU
F Emery May, Furman
F Trevor Martineau, Mercer
MF Niccolo Dagnoni, Belmont
MF Rocky Guerra, Furman
MF Roberto Arteaga, Mercer
D Merveil Bilomba, ETSU
D John Lucchesi, ETSU
D Jack Shiels, Furman
D Joshua Harrison, Mercer
GK Ben Hale, Furman
