Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Men's Soccer Preseason Underway
8/15/2013 11:38:00 AM | Men's Soccer
LEWISBURG, Pa. --The Bucknell men's soccer team returned to the training grounds on Thursday, and 15th-year head coach Brendan Nash was excited to get going with a squad that will have a bit of a new look in 2013. The Bison graduated six key players last season, including highly decorated forward Brendan Burgdorf, but there is still plenty of talent in the program as the new year gets underway.
The busy opening day of camp featured fitness testing in the morning, a light workout in the afternoon, and an intrasquad scrimmage in the evening at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium.
"On the very first day we are trying to gauge our level of fitness and then get the nerves out by getting a lot of touches on the ball," said Nash. "The scrimmage will be a good chance to integrate everyone into the system and watch them play together."
Athletic senior defender Mayowa Alli is the lone captain this season, and he will be joined by fellow seniorsJosh Butzke, Orman Kimbrough and Joe Meyer in a leadership role.
With Alli anchoring the back line and a key group of sophomores in goalkeeper Mike Lansing, center midfielder Chris Thorsheim and striker Jesse Klug, Nash feels that the Bison will be very strong up the middle of the field this season. Butzke, Meyer and junior Brian Ward are also returning starters, and there will be plenty of competition for the remaining spots in the month of August.
"We will be presenting them with plenty of challenges in practice, and I am excited to get those answers early in preseason," said Nash. "This is Mayowa's team. He is a great leader and will have plenty of support around him."
The Bison will have a pair of preseason scrimmages at Emmitt Field, coming on Aug. 19 against Binghamton and Aug. 22 against Franklin & Marshall. Then they open the regular season with a four-game homestand, starting Aug. 30 against Canisius.
