Wednesday, August 31st, 2005

Piedmont Men's Soccer Team Set To Defend GSAC Title

The Piedmont College men’s soccer team enters the 2005 campaign looking to defend their Great South Athletic Conference championship and return to the NCAA Division-III postseason for a second time in three years of eligibility.

At the helm for the Lions is first-year head coach Jimmy Stephens who will be leading a core of nine returning players. Diego Montoya (pictured), a three-year starter for Piedmont, will be the lone senior and carries with him three previous Great South athletic Conference championships. Alongside the senior captain will be three returning starters Rob Nix, Drew Griffin and Brian Preston. Patrick Ratigan and George Sandi enter the team as transfers and will join the freshman class consisting of Austin Reeves, Jake Kreiger, Blake Newton, and Patrick Kaminski.

The 2005 schedule features trips to five different states in the Southeast and includes both NCAA Division-III and NAIA teams. Piedmont will compete in the 15th Annual Dominoes Classic Soccer Tournament in Salem, Virginia and the Maryville College Diadora Invitational in Maryville, Tennessee. The men’s soccer team will compete against South Region teams twelve times including eight contests against members of the Great South Athletic Conference. The Lions will look to continue their winning ways at home as the previous season produced a perfect 8-0 record.

Piedmont opens the 2005 season on Thursday when the Lions host Southern Wesleyan University at 7:00.