University of Memphis Athletics
Photo by: Matthew Smith
Men’s Soccer Preseason Camp Underway
Aug 11, 2016 | Men's Soccer
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Memphis men's soccer team reported for preseason camp this week with a youthful squad full of excitement about starting a new season.
"We are all excited but at the same time we have to turn that excitement into focus," Memphis head coach Richard Mulrooney said. "We don't want to go waste any practice sessions and our first game is on August 26th so that's our focus. We can't afford to waste any time trying to get the guys prepared."
Despite having a youthful team, there are three seniors on the roster who have each played in more than 40 games – Raul Gonzalez, Kenneth Kauker and Jordan Klipsch.
Gonzelez leads the Tigers' attack, having scored a team-high seven goals last season and leading the team with 16 points. As a sophomore in 2014 he was the team's leading creator with six assists. The Ocean Springs, Miss. product, has played in 53 career games with 44 starts and has scored 10 goals with 11 assists.
Kauker has been a regular starter in the midfield since his sophomore season and has played in a career total of 45 games. Klipsch started 13 games as a true freshman in 2013 and has been a key contributor on defense ever since.
The team also has four juniors, including starting goalkeeper Jake Leeker who posted a 1.35 goals against average in 11 starts last season.
Six sophomores and nine freshmen provide the youth on the squad, though four of the sophomores were regular starters in their first year in the program in 2015.
"I am very excited about this group, from a coaching perspective. We have recruited these players for a while and we also have three very good seniors coming back. From the backbone that was already here and what we're adding to it we are going in the right direction," said Mulrooney.
The Tigers first test of preseason will be when they host Louisville Saturday at 7 p.m. on the campus of Christian Brothers University. Memphis will host one other exhibition match before starting the season, against Union on August 19 at 9 a.m. on the Memphis Park Avenue Campus.
The regular season opens on the road at UAB on Aug. 26 and then at Georgia State on Aug. 28. The home opener at Mike Rose Soccer Complex will be September 2 at 5 p.m.
"We are all excited but at the same time we have to turn that excitement into focus," Memphis head coach Richard Mulrooney said. "We don't want to go waste any practice sessions and our first game is on August 26th so that's our focus. We can't afford to waste any time trying to get the guys prepared."
Despite having a youthful team, there are three seniors on the roster who have each played in more than 40 games – Raul Gonzalez, Kenneth Kauker and Jordan Klipsch.
Gonzelez leads the Tigers' attack, having scored a team-high seven goals last season and leading the team with 16 points. As a sophomore in 2014 he was the team's leading creator with six assists. The Ocean Springs, Miss. product, has played in 53 career games with 44 starts and has scored 10 goals with 11 assists.
Kauker has been a regular starter in the midfield since his sophomore season and has played in a career total of 45 games. Klipsch started 13 games as a true freshman in 2013 and has been a key contributor on defense ever since.
The team also has four juniors, including starting goalkeeper Jake Leeker who posted a 1.35 goals against average in 11 starts last season.
Six sophomores and nine freshmen provide the youth on the squad, though four of the sophomores were regular starters in their first year in the program in 2015.
"I am very excited about this group, from a coaching perspective. We have recruited these players for a while and we also have three very good seniors coming back. From the backbone that was already here and what we're adding to it we are going in the right direction," said Mulrooney.
The Tigers first test of preseason will be when they host Louisville Saturday at 7 p.m. on the campus of Christian Brothers University. Memphis will host one other exhibition match before starting the season, against Union on August 19 at 9 a.m. on the Memphis Park Avenue Campus.
The regular season opens on the road at UAB on Aug. 26 and then at Georgia State on Aug. 28. The home opener at Mike Rose Soccer Complex will be September 2 at 5 p.m.
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