ROME, GA – The Berry College men’s soccer team (2-0) has opened the season with perfection.
In their first two wins over Louisiana College and Piedmont, the Vikings scored eight goals by six different players (four goals in each match), notched 11 assists, out-shot their opponents 48-18 and have 19 more shots on goal than their opponents.
Last season, the Vikings went 14-3-2 and won the Southern Athletic Association Conference Championship over Centre College on penalty kicks. Due to the recent switch to NCAA D-III, they were not eligible for NCAA post season last year.
But this year brings the possibility of competing on the national level as the Vikings are now eligible for the post season.
With the possibility of a national title on their radar, the Vikings already look to be in mid-season form. Junior midfielder Zak Wallingford has already scored two goals and sees the first two wins as a foundation to build upon.
“I think this is going to be a huge motivator for us to keep it up and keep going because we don’t want to get that first loss, we just want to keep on rolling. If we can do that then we will go off. I think we have a great chance at going 15-0 this season,” Wallingford said.
Wallingford also said that they did not lose many seniors this year. In addition to their fourth-year veterans, the squad will also be getting some help from seven energetic freshmen players.
Senior midfielder Samer Hajmurad noticed how the new additions are already contributing to the well-rounded team.
“We have one of the strongest freshmen [classes] in years. Our seniors are veterans, and our defense is stout. The only way I think we can lose is if we beat ourselves to be honest,” Hajmurad said.
We will have to wait and see if that day comes, but if last season serves as any indication, we will be waiting a while as the Vikings opened the 2012 season 7-0. Berry’s first conference match is on October 8; a rematch against Centre College.
