Elon placed four players on the all-conference teams including forward Kiki Willis (Youngstown, Ohio), who was named the league’s Freshman of the Year. For his efforts, Powell claimed SoCon Coach of the Year accolades. After losing only three seniors from last year’s squad, Powell and the Phoenix look forward to a challenging 2006 season in which the team’s top seven scorers from a year ago return.
Forwards
The Phoenix attack promises to be one that will cause opposing defenses problems and will be led by Willis (right), also a 2006 First Team All-Conference selection, who led the team with 10 goals and 23 points as a freshman. He will be relied on to contribute the similar numbers again this season.
Joining Willis up top will be seniors Eric Sass (Dallas, Texas) and John Romano (Diego Martin, Trinidad & Tobago) while the only other returning forward is junior Douglas Boateng (Woodbridge, Va.). Boateng emerged as the team’s third-leading scorer in 2005, netting three goals and assisting on three others. Sass was tied as the fourth-leading scorer on the squad a year ago after scoring twice and grabbing one assist.
With its experience at the forward position, Elon aims to increase its 1.5 goals per game average from 2005.
Freshman Justin Wyatt (Raleigh, N.C.) highlights an incoming class that could go down in history as one of the best to ever don an Elon uniform. A 2005 NSCAA adidas High School All-American, Wyatt scored two goals in this year’s North Carolina East-West All-Star Game. The coaching staff envisions him making a major impact in 2006.
Midfielders
Elon’s midfield is projected to be another strong point for the team in 2006. Leading the way there is junior Brett Paschall (Summerfield, N.C.). Paschall (left) claimed Second Team All-Southern Conference accolades after posting a 20-point season with seven goals and six assists. His three game-winners were second only to Willis’ five in 2005.
The depth at midfield will be an asset for the team this season as Powell also returns six other midfielders and added five in its freshman class. Returning will be sophomore Will Mason (Russell, Ohio) as well as juniors Alex Barake (Chesterfield, Mo.), Andrew Johnson (Medina, Ohio) and Jon Juchno (Langhorne, Pa.) and seniors Matt Bengston (Andover, Mass.) and Blake Wertz (Worthington, Ohio). Mason finished his freshman campaign with three assists. Johnson scored one goal before going down with a leg injury early in the season and Bengston finished the year with a goal and two assists. All will be counted on to provide depth and aid the Phoenix attack this fall.
New to the team in the midfield this year will be Clint Collins (Marietta, Ga.), Erfan Imeni (Burlington, N.C.), Hunter Miller (Roanoke, Va.), Stephen Miller (Waxhaw, N.C.) and Daniel Street (Charlotte, N.C.). All five of these players should contribute in 2006.
Defenders
The defense, where Powell lost two starters in captain Fabyan Saxe and and SoCon All-Tournament selection Anthony Catalano, will be anchored by First Team All-Southern Conference pick senior Junior Nombre (Vero Beach, Fla. - right). Seniors Brennan Farrell (Raleigh, N.C.) and Corey Wertz (Worthington, Ohio), along with junior Alex Douyon (Columbia, Md.) and sophomore Aaron Parker (Buckner, Ky.) will be heavily relied on to hold the back line for the Phoenix this year. Elon received some offensive output from its defenders last year as Farrell scored twice and added an assist while Parker netted one goal and assisted on three others.
Goalkeepers
In goal for Elon this year will be Second Team All-Southern Conference choice Taylor Saxe (Charlotte, N.C.). Saxe (left) enters his senior season ranked fifth in school history with 243 career saves and second with 12 career shutouts. Playing behind Saxe will be sophomore Kyle Boerner (Land O’ Lakes, Fla.) who is a solid backup and earned some experience as a true freshman.
Schedule
The Phoenix will tackle another challenging schedule in 2006, facing six 2005 NCAA Men’s Soccer Tournament participants – North Carolina, UNC Greensboro, Old Dominion, Stetson, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest. Of those, three – North Carolina (#4), Old Dominion (#9) and Virginia Tech (#13) – finished the year ranked among the nation’s top-25 by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. The first game of the season will take place on August 25 at 2:00 p.m. against Stetson from Rudd Field.
“We want to test our team early and get them ready for SoCon play,” said Powell. With the mix of returning players and incoming freshmen that we have, our staff is looking forward to the season.”
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