Click HERE to watch the 13 seniors preview the 2015 season
CLAREMORE, Okla. – The Rogers State men's soccer team is poised for a breakout season in 2015 as the largest senior class in program history takes the field bringing a wealth of experience to the Hill.
"The exciting thing about this season is that we had a very good team last year and we've got nearly everyone returning," Head Coach
Derek Larkin said as he begins his ninth season behind the bench of the Hillcats. "We've got thirteen seniors, of which two redshirted last year and coming back for their fifth year in
Kevin Howard and
Niall Masterson. The leadership is fantastic, so everything is in place to have a really good season, but it's up to the boys; they've got to get out there and play."
The seniors have categorized themselves as a tight-knit group, going through everything together during their time at RSU, and that has carried onto the field as they are ready to make the most of their final season in the navy and red.
"It is important on the field because they know what each other are going to do. They are all so comfortable with each other in how they interact on the field. The standard that they set over the last four years, I mean it's invaluable. If you're ever around that big group you just know it says what the Hillcat Family is all about," Larkin added.
A positional battle between the posts has carried over from a season ago where
Mitchell Penton and
Cody Gammill continue to push each other for playing time.
"We've got a young goalkeeper in Cody, who played as a freshman last year, and we have big expectations for him. He and Mitchell, a fifth-year senior, have been battling throughout the preseason for the starting role."
With so much attention on the seniors, the rest of the roster is not one to overlook as there are key components returning to the program while several new additions will be asked to fill in throughout the lineup.
"We have freshman
Kevin Kwarteng that came over from England and will play up front. We hope he can replace
Necas Collins in producing some points for us this year and score a lot of goals," Larkin mentioned. "Another freshman,
Abe Young, is coming in on the right wing and we think he's got a lot of potential. Then you add
Tyler Fielder,
Josh Howard,
Tyler Hall,
Saul Gutierrez, and
Daniel Sanchez into the mix and they are all players that give us depth. Not only do we have leadership, but we've got a lot of depth that we haven't had in the past couple years."
RSU has 18 games on the docket for 2015, including 10 on its home field, and will again take on some of the best from NCAA Division II and the Heartland Conference.
"We put together the toughest schedule we can; not one weak team on our schedule," Larkin stated. "Every game is going to be a dogfight. A lot of teams would shy away from that, but if you ask our players, they can't wait for the next game, that's just how they look at it. We open with Colorado State-Pueblo and Roy Stanley, a legendary coach, coming to our place. What a great way to start the season."
The Hillcats open the season under the lights at Soldier Field Sept. 4 hosting CSU-Pueblo at 7 p.m.
