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Men's Soccer 8/27/2015 9:00:00 AM

MEN’S SOCCER OPENS WITH DAYTON, IONA

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TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

Friday, Aug. 28 (at University Park | Harrisonburg, Va.)
Radford vs. Dayton, 5 p.m. (Live Stats)
Iona at James Madison, 7:30 p.m. (Live Stats)

Sunday, Aug. 30 (at University Park | Harrisonburg, Va.)
Radford vs. Iona, 12 p.m. (Live Stats)
Dayton at James Madison, 2:30 p.m. (Live Stats)

RADFORD, Va. – Coming off one of its best seasons in program history, the Radford men's soccer team hopes the 2015 campaign will be even more successful, and a strong preseason did nothing to lower expectations.

In three exhibitions, the Highlanders played to a draw with defending national champion Virginia and posted a pair of wins by a combined 8-0 score.

However, as head coach Marc Reeves is quick to admit, results in those games don't matter. The ones that count begin on Friday as Radford travels to Harrisonburg to play in the Fairfield Inn by Marriott JMU Invitational. The Highlanders will take on Dayton in the season opener at 5 p.m., before facing Iona on Sunday at noon.

The defending Big South regular-season champions return eight starters and five all-conference honorees, led by first-team picks Jo Vetle Rimstad on defense, Krzysztof Nalborski in the midfield and Aitor Pouseu Blanco in goal.

Second-team defender Fraser Colmer played every minute of his freshman season while midfielder Felix Steinhauser also earned rookie honors from the league. Along with them, senior co-captain Jamie Summers, senior Daniel O'Keefe, junior Bismark Amofah add to a strong group of veterans who provide both leadership and production.

The Highlanders led the conference in goals allowed last year, surrendering just 17 in the 20 games, and defense should be their strength again. On the attacking side, goal scoring came from a number of different spots, and Reeves says the depth and balance is there for that same type of team offense this season.

Sophomores Kieran Roberts (five goals, 13 points), Neil Martorana and Evan Szklennik each contributed in limited minutes and will play a bigger role in 2015, along with senior Sergio Arzubiaga. Freshmen Sivert Daehlie and Jakob Strandsäter each scored twice in the exhibitions.

Overall, Reeves says the key for the Highlanders repeating and building on last year's success will be maintaining their focus on the program philosophies and daily intensity.

Along with kicking off a new season, both matchups in this weekend's tournament will be the first-ever meetings between the programs.

SCOUTING DAYTON

The Flyers return nine starters from a team that went 7-7-5 and finished sixth in the Atlantic 10 last year. Senior forward Amass Amankona scored five goals and led the team in assists (eight) and points (18) while earning all-conference first team honors. Sophomore forward James Haupt netted a team-high six goals. As a team, Dayton scored 31 goals and allowed 18.

SCOUTING IONA

The Gaels posted a 9-7-3 overall record last year, including 6-3-1 in MAAC play. They will be trying to replace MAAC Offensive Player of the Year Ignacio Maganto. Junior goalkeeper Julian Petrello recorded 81 saves and six shutouts last season and will be joined in the back by three defenders who earned conference all-freshman honors. Sophomore Marcus Nunez is the top returning attacker with three goals and nine points.

UP NEXT

Radford returns to the New River Valley for its home opener, Sept. 5, when the Highlanders host East Tennessee State for a 6 p.m. kickoff at Cupp Stadium.

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Players Mentioned

#6 Bismark Amofah: D; 5' 9"; Junior

#19 Sergio Arzubiaga: MF/F; 6' 2"; Senior

#3 Fraser Colmer: D; 6' 0"; Sophomore; Brookfield Community

#11 Neil Martorana: F; 5' 10"; Sophomore

#24 Daniel O'Keefe: D; 6' 2"; Redshirt Senior

#1 Aitor Pouseu Blanco: GK; 6' 2"; Redshirt Sophomore

#7 Kieran Roberts: F; 6' 0"; Sophomore

#8 Felix Steinhauser: D; 5' 9"; Redshirt Sophomore

#5 Jamie Summers: D; 5' 11"; Senior

#18 Evan Szklennik: F; 6' 1"; Sophomore

#4 Jo Vetle Rimstad: D; 6' 2"; Junior

#10 Krzysztof Nalborski: MF; 5' 10"; Graduate Student

Players Mentioned

#6 Bismark Amofah
: 5' 9"; Junior
: D

#19 Sergio Arzubiaga
: 6' 2"; Senior
: MF/F

#3 Fraser Colmer
: 6' 0"; Sophomore; Brookfield Community
: D

#11 Neil Martorana
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: F

#24 Daniel O'Keefe
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Senior
: D

#1 Aitor Pouseu Blanco
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Sophomore
: GK

#7 Kieran Roberts
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: F

#8 Felix Steinhauser
: 5' 9"; Redshirt Sophomore
: D

#5 Jamie Summers
: 5' 11"; Senior
: D

#18 Evan Szklennik
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: F

#4 Jo Vetle Rimstad
: 6' 2"; Junior
: D

#10 Krzysztof Nalborski
: 5' 10"; Graduate Student
: MF