2003 Sewanee Men's Soccer Preview

Seven returning starters, including three All-SCAC selections, and a solid freshman class gives second-year coach Qasim Sheikh a strong foundation to make a run at the 2003 SCAC championship.

The Tigers face a demanding and entertaining schedule which includes 2001 NCAA Division III champion Richard Stockton (NJ) in the opener of the Kyle Rote Jr. Invitational (Aug 30), as well as defending SCAC champion and 2002 NCAA tournament semifinalist Trinity University on Sept 28.

The Tigers closed the 2002 season strong --seven wins (six shutouts) in the final nine matches -- for an overall 12-4-1 win-loss mark. The Tigers placed third overal (7-2-0) in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference, one of the nation's premier NCAA Division III soccer conferences.

A strong defense is let by senior defenders Keith Davis (2nd team All-SCAC), Kyle Johnston (3rd team All-SCAC), junior defender Ian Davis (3rd team All-SCAC) and sophomore defender Patrick Burke and with sophomore goalkeeper Tyler Blackwell (1.20 GAA; 7 shutouts) in the nets.

Offensively, the top three returning scorers are junior forward Andy Mantini (6 goals, 2 assists), sophomore Trey Moore (5 goals, 1 assist) and Ian Davis (5 goals). Returning starters in the midfield are Jake Cail and Jake Thomas who combined for two goals and six assists in 2002. Will Packard (1 goal), Frank Todd (1 goal, 1 assist) and Harrison Wagenseil (3 goals) saw playing time in the midfield las season.

Among the new players battling for starting spots are freshmen Jason Chen (Nashville, TN) and Alex Ratliff (Norman, OK) and sophomore transfer Alex Marsden (Atlanta, GA/Pace Academy). Ratliff at Norman High School and Chen at Father Ryan were All-State, while Marsden earned 2002 All-SCAC honors as a freshman at Centre College.