The FSC Men’s Soccer team capped off their best season since 2006 with a trip to the Conference Tournament this past weekend.
Despite a first round 1-0 loss to Barry University, this season was a start of something significant for an up and coming Moc’s soccer program.
Senior Captain Luke Jenner from Preston, England, was the first player in two years to receive all-SSC Conference honors after a season in which he tallied five goals and 11 points, all coming in conference play.
Jenner sat down and reflected on the season, and where the team was headed for the next one.
“I think that on the whole, it has been a success,” Jenner said. “Last year of course, we finished bottom of the conference, and we were picked to finish bottom of the conference again this year.”
Despite the gloomy forecast, the team came together.
“Coaches came in here and made a huge difference, turning this program around,” Jenner said. “The finish this year was definitely difficult, heart breaking, but it’s definitely good to see the program going in the right direction.”
Much time has passed since the soccer team had accomplished what they did this year: getting to the conference tournament. Jenner feels like this team can only get better.
“If you look at the last time that this team made the conference tournament, which was back in 2006, it’s a huge accomplishment for this team,” Jenner said. “There have been some good teams the past couple years that haven’t made the tournament, so that should say enough by itself.”
In the end, the team lost a close game.
“It’s definitely disappointing to end the year the way we did, losing on PK’s [penalty kicks],” Jenner said. “But if you look at the way that some of the teams in the conference have built their teams, with the right recruits and good coaches, which we have, it is definitely possible to continue to improve.”
This season for Jenner was something that he will not soon forget.
A three-time team captain, Jenner felt like this year meant the most to him, because of the team’s success.
“It was huge. I think that next week, I will really realize how much this has meant to me.” Jenner said. “I am so proud to have taken this team this far. It is still sinking in that it’s the end of the season. I know that I will look back in the next couple weeks, or even years, to know that I was a part of this.”
Photo courtesy of fscmocs.com
