Soccer Cats Open Season Thursday at Wildcat Stadium
MCKENZIE, Tenn. – The No. 10 Bethel Wildcats open their season at home Thursday night hosting LSU-Shreveport with action beginning at 7 p.m. at Wildcat Stadium.
The Wildcats are coming off a 13-3 mark while the Pilots were 12-6-1 last year. It will be the third meeting between the two programs. The Cats won 2-0 in Shreveport in February. Second period goals by Pascal Mohungsi and Sergio Baquena propelled Bethel to the victory. The only other meeting between the two was in 2019 when the teams battled to a scoreless tie in McKenzie.
Live stats:
https://www.bethelathletics.com/sports/msoc/2021-22/boxscores/20210826_xlbg.xml
Live video:
https://www.bethelathletics.com/WildcatVision
Season Preview
Coming off a great season this past spring, the returning Wildcats on the men's soccer team are super hungry for another successful season this fall.
Coach Jarju Malang is excited about those returners. "Almost all of my players that made history last season will be returning but we will definitely rely on several key players."
Senior Pascal Mohungsi and junior Alioune Diop were NAIA Honorable-Mention All-Americans. Diop was the MSC Defensive Player of the Year. Junior Alphonso Gooden, the leading goal scorer (10) on the year is back. Junior Goalie Norberto Lima Vieira and senior defender GianLuca Schunke are also returning. Vieira was named Defensive Player of the Week twice this past season. Schunke was Bethel's most consistent defender on the season.
Coach Malang feels good about some new faces on the roster as well. "There will be lots of new faces in the team this year and some big shoes to fill, how quickly our young players are able to adapt to the college games will certainly determine how quickly we find the team on the good side of the results. I will be adding several players that will help us."
Bethel has added Serbian Striker Luka Perendija, freshman midfielder Jamie Hope from England, Mladen Djukic a freshman from Serbia, and Jordan Dacey a sophomore from England.
Coach Malang spoke about the schedule." We will have a good schedule this year where we will face ranked teams as well two teams that ended up in the final site. Most of the tough games will be at home and we will need our supporters to come and cheer for us."
Coach summed up his thoughts on his squad and the season. "I am looking forward to seeing this group of talented players strive towards reaching each of their team and individual goals both on and off the field. I am so excited about the squad and the season."
The Wildcats won the MSC regular season title and finished 10th in the NAIA Final Poll. Coach Malang was the MSC Coach of the Year.