Reinhardt Men’s Soccer
Team Record: 2-0 (0-0)
Head Coach: Joey Johnson
By: Lauren Mullinax
With it only being Head Coach Joey Johnson’s first season at Reinhardt, the Men’s Soccer team (2-0) is already off to an excellent start defeating both Brewton-Parker College, 4-0, and Florida Memorial University, 1-0. Coach Johnson comes into the job having experience both as a player and as a coach. Previously coaching at Bryan College and also playing both professionally and collegiately he hopes to help this Reinhardt team rise to the top this season.
In Reinhardt’s season opener the Eagles, who were picked second in the preseason poll, traveled to Mount Vernon, Ga to Brewton-Parker College where they defeated the Barons 4-0. During the game between the two teams sophomore Jose Rubio scored three of the four goals to earn a hat trick, while Phillip Abrahamsen kicked in the fourth goal capping the first victory under the Eagles new coach.
In their second game of the season the Eagles took on Florida Memorial University in what would be an intense game between the two squads. The games first and only goal came in the thirtieth minute whenever Samson Nyamunda set up for a penalty kick and was able to shoot one pass Florida Memorial’s goal keeper Pablo Terminiello. The outstanding effort between the pipes by Eagles goal keeper, Matt Amis, would prove to be the biggest reason for the Eagles success. On the night he saved eight shots at the goal while also not allow a single goal from the Lion’s offense all night. The game was cut short in the seventy first minute whenever one of the Lion’s player was handed a red card, meaning he was out of the game. After this happened the Florida Memorial Coach began protesting the call with the referees and he was handed a yellow card and then seconds later a red card. After no longer than a minute had passed the referees had declared the game over. Coach Johnson said he was very pleased with the effort from his team and was proud of the way his players faced pressured situations and also how they stepped up to compete with such a competitive team.
Some key players to watch for the remainder of the season are Sophomore Forward Jose Rubio and Senior Goal Keeper Matt Amis. With the season just beginning Rubio has already earned himself a hat trick in only the second game of the season and also looks to continue to be a huge offensive boost for the Eagles. The senior Amis has already proven to be a wall in the net when he saved eight in a game where only one goal was scored. Amis has also already earned the honor of being named AAC Defensive Player of the Week.
The Eagles game this past Saturday, September 13, 2014, was cancelled due to weather and so therefore their next game will be Wednesday September 17, 2014 against rival and AAC opponent Bryan College. The game will start at 3:00pm and will be held at Ken White Field in Waleska, Ga.
As for the rest of the Eagles season and schedule you can visit http://www.reinhardteagles.com/schedule/0/1.php to learn more and also learn more about the players and coaching staff.
