Our Lady of the Lake University News

OLLU News

Head Coach Shane Hurley and Assistant Coach Arthur Salazar evaluate the team during pre-season practice.

New season for men's soccer begins in Brownwood on Aug. 24

Tue, Aug 24, 2010 - [Men's Soccer] - by

SAN ANTONIO (Aug. 24, 2010) -- The Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) men's soccer team is looking for one more win. Last year, the Saints fell to the University of Texas at Brownsville 1-2 in overtime, in the final of the Red River Athletic Conference tournament. This year, head coach Shane Hurley hopes to expand on last year's tournament run and bring a conference title home to OLLU.

The Saints open their season Aug. 24 at Howard Payne University in Brownwood. The Saints first home game is scheduled for Aug. 27 at 5 p.m. against the University of Mary-Hardin Baylor.

Hurley and assistant coach, Arthur Salazar bring back an experienced team that ended last season winning nine of its last 12 matches. Both coaches are optimistic about mixing that experience with new additions to the team.

Javier Azar should be instrumental in the team's offense, Hurley said. Newcomer Nick Garza is expected to give last year's starting goalkeeper, junior Marco Herrera, a battle for the rights to mind the Saints' net.

The goalkeeping position could be vitally important as the Saints look to solidify a defense that boasted seven clean sheets last year. Key losses to the defense were Heriberto Salinas and Ricky Guerra, an all-conference second team award winner.

The Saints will once again look to senior midfielder Esteban Rocha to captain them on the field. Hurley is looking for another captain, but will wait for his pre-season workouts to conclude before making a decision.

"Our first week was a period of assessment," Hurley said. "We're looking to see who is going to provide the right level of leadership and direction on the field."

Hurley's squad will face tough tests this season in the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor and the University of St. Thomas. Hurley expects both schools to provide a stiff pre-season test for the Saints. One key date on this year's schedule will be an Oct. 2 visit to the University of Texas at Brownsville (UTB). In addition to a chance to avenge two losses to the Scorpions last year, this matchup will be the Saints' first conference match of the season.

Both Hurley and Salazar hope a win against UTB will springboard them toward their goal of winning their conference and conference tournament. They hope support from OLLU's student body, faculty and staff will assist them in that effort.

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