by LINDSEY HUNTSINGER
Intern Sports Reporter

April 4 marked the beginning of the spring season for Appalachian State University’s men’s soccer team.

It’s a season that has been full of change for the men’s program. 

In March, assistant coach and goalkeeper coach of six years, Liam Farrell, left Boone and took a job as head men’s soccer coach at Catawba College.

Matt Nelson has been promoted to full time assistant coach from his previous job of part-time assistant.

Nelson brings a wealth of experience to the Appalachian program both as a player and a coach. 

He played professionally for five years, and coached for three years in the Virginia Wesleyan College men’s program and two years in William and Mary’s women’s program.

As a coach, he boasts a record of 77-13-19, and two conference championship titles.

“Coach Nelson is very intense,” junior defender Kenny Orelaja said. “He knows what he is talking about and knows the game.”

Changes in the coaching staff have not been the only alterations to the men’s soccer team during the offseason.

The team has signed 11 incoming freshman to national letters of intent for the 2009-10 season.

Pendleton has high hopes for this year’s recruiting class.

“Recruiting has been our main priority and it has gone really well,” Pendleton said. “We hope all the new players will make an immediate impact at ASU. 

All 11 are expected to start right away. Their background and soccer experience prior to ASU will give them what they need to succeed.”

With only two rising seniors and two rising juniors, the team will have to depend on the leadership of 24 underclassmen. 

“The good thing is that next year’s sophomores have had a lot of game time and experience,” freshman goalkeeper Collin Taylor said. “And the caliber of freshmen that he has brought in will really be able to step in and play.”

The team has already set goals for their upcoming season, Pendleton said.

“Our number one goal is to win the [Southern Conference], and number two is to make it into the NCAA tournament via the SoCon tournament,” Pendleton said. “These two goals would obviously be a huge step forward.”

Team members agree those goals would help to promote the men’s program, which last won a regular season conference championship in 1989.

“It would mean a lot to the program,” Orelaja said. “We haven’t won anything in a long time and winning SoCon would do a lot to grow the program.”

Pendleton is hopeful the assortment of players from all over the country will help to get a larger fan base for the men’s soccer program.

“It’s such a diverse group from all over the world,” Pendleton said. “This should be an exciting time for ASU men’s soccer, and should create a buzz with the general students.”

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