Moccasin goal keeper Benny Yusufoglu blocks a shot attempt against the Nova Southeastern Sharks. The German native is allowing 0.83 goals per game through his first 12 games of the season. His eight shoutouts this season are the second most in school history.

Mikaela Queen

Florida Southern’s men’s soccer team breaks the schools best season start record.

A season opening 6-0 win over Trinity Baptist propelled the team into their season. Since then, the team is 10-2 and ranked fifth in the Sunshine State Conference.

The team won their first nine straight games in a row, only conceding 2 goals. That record landed them the number eight spot in the United Soccer Coaches Top-25 Poll.

“I love to see all the family members, students, and staff at the soccer games supporting the team; win or lose its cool that we’re all there for them,” senior Adrianna Quintero said.

Statistics reflects the Mocs offensive force. Out of 12 games, 187 shots have been made and 27 of those were points on the board. The teams 9-0 season start record has been the best in their 62-year history, passing the 1997 team who went 8-0.

James Meehan, forward, leads the Mocs this season with his seven goals scored, three of them being in conference play. Christoph Gums, middle, has taken 16 shots at the goal landing five of them in the net.

Before his injury, Jacob Ling-Vannerus had scored four goals in the FSC vs. Montevallo game in the span of  nine minutes. Both Pablo Gallo Arias and Ian Mclntosh made two during this season. Julian Jordan-Canosa, Foster Appiah, Taylor Vincent, Will Draper, Eneko Lasheras, Daniel Moore and Luis Bautista have recorded a goal during those 12 games.

According to Arias, the team has struggled with versatility among players in the past. This year there is more depth than the past teams.

“We can constantly make changes to our line up during the game without losing the same intensity and quality that comes from the starters,” Arias said.

However, their winning streak ended as the Mocs fell to both Florida Tech and Nova Southeastern with a final score of 0-4 in each game. The loss of those two conference games will take a toll on the team’s standing.

“The past two games have definitely been a sucker punch to the gut,” Arias said.

Arias added that those games are in the past and the team has a mindset to stick together to get the results they want in the next few games. The team will be fighting to get their top spot back in the conference standing.

The team picked up a 1-0 victory against the University of Mary after the two serious losses. This gave the Mocs their 10th win and the first season in the double digits since 2011.

Jake Starling, defender, said that the rest of the season is going to be important for the team. The team is more motivated and excited for the rest of the season after their two loses.

“After these tough losses in conference play, we’re playing with some fire under us,” Starling said.

The Mocs wrap up their season with four conference matches versus; Embry Riddle (10/13), Eckerd (10/17), Palm Beach Atlantic (10/20, Barry (10/23).

 

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