HIGHLANDERS SET TO OPEN SEASON UNDER HANCOCK REGIME

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RADFORD, Va. – A new era of Radford men's soccer officially begins on Friday as the reigning Big South champions open play under first-year head coach Bryheem Hancock as the Highlanders take a weekend trip through the Palmetto State.

The Big South's preseason favorites return 21 players from the 2016 squad, which include seven starters from last year's 14-4-2 squad that swept the Big South Championships, making its second straight NCAA Tournament. Finishing with 10 clean sheets a season ago, Radford's defense will look to be once again one of the best in the country.

Having arrived in Radford midway through spring practice, preseason training and exhibition matches were Hancock's opportunity to set a new standard for the program.

"It was great to get a look at the new guys, but at the same time, get a look at the same guys from the spring. We had meetings in the spring and to see those guys improve upon their feedback from those meetings is a great thing." Hancock noted. "Our team came into preseason really fit. We were able to go over more in preseason than I thought we would be able to go over."

Radford will be battle tested early, playing its first five matches away from the friendly confines of Cupp Stadium as the slate contains 11 road contests and only six home matches.

"This is very important early in the season as you want to have your team tested," Hancock noted. "It's not just for what we want to do in the first five games. This sets us up at the end of the day for a tough conference schedule. That's what it is really about, playing meaningful games."

A season ago, Radford scored 31 goals, averaging 1.55 per contest, putting 103 shots on goal for a .402 percentage. The Highlanders were a strong second half squad, scoring 16 second half goals. Three returners tallied five goals apiece, while four finished with double-digits points.

The trio of Kieran Roberts, Sivert Daehlie and Evan Szklennik will be counted on heavily at the forward position with 13 combined goals in 2016.

"Evan, Kieran and Sivert are dangerous players. They are very different players. Evan creates things on his own, Sivert has a nose for the goal and Kieran holds the ball very well," Hancock added. "The trio brings different traits to our offensive scheme."

Michael Walsh and Neil Martorana will add more depth for the Highlanders in the forward position.

"Neil has tremendous pace and can get behind defenses," Hancock said. "Mike's work rate is second to none on the team, which helps him become a more effective player as the match goes on."

Of the 31 goals scored, 29 were assisted on as the Radford offensive front is set up by a strong midfield presence and talkative Jakob Strandsäter assisted on seven goals to pace the squad.

"If you talk from a defensive standpoint, our midfield has to organize us. Whether that be through an approach to be more aggressive and press or be a team that drops back to make teams vulnerable to transition," Hancock noted. "Jakob is a dangerous guy when he links up with the front group. He's very comfortable coming back to help defensively. He is the link between the backs and the forwards."

In addition to Strandsäter's presence on the pitch; sophomores Victor Valls, Wyatt Erzen and Ulrik Koren provide Hancock with a plentiful amount of skill in the midfield.

"I think those guys, mixed in with a few of the newcomers, we will have several pieces that we can rotate throughout the game," Hancock added. "The college game never slows down, so you need guys that can be calm when they have the ball and know when to change the tempo."

As a team, Radford yielded only two Big South goals, while ranking ninth in the country with a 0.63 goals against average, returns as one of the conference's most unforgiving defenses. The Highlanders will have to replace three starters on defense in NSCAA All-American and Big South Defensive Player of the Year Jo Vetle Rimstad as well as All-Big South performers Aitor Pouseu Blanco and Bismark Amofah.

Fraser Colmer returns as the leader of the Highlanders, even picking up Big South Co-Preseason Defensive Player of the Year honors at the beginning of the month. In addition to being an All-Big South First Team selection, Colmer was an NSCAA All-South Region member.

"Fraser is like having another coach on the field. If you watch him during warmups, he's the guy running the guys through the drills," Hancock noted. "During matches, he is continuously talking as much as the centre-backs. To me that is invaluable. He does anything he can to help the group."

Joining Colmer on the backline with experience, Myles Yorke started the final 12 games of the season and Leon Birke saw action in 10 matches with five starts.

"I look at it as we have three starters returning and we only lost one piece on the backline. Obviously, I feel good about that one spot. This preseason we have seen a number of guys who have done well in the spot that we need to fill," Hancock said. "This backline has been in a lot of big games and has had a lot of success. That experience will help keep this group organized."

Replacing over 5,300 minutes played between the pipes by Pouseu Blanco will be Nicolas Mertzokat. Appearing in five matches with one start, Mertzokat has played 148:54 on the pith, serving as the backup for three seasons.

"Niko has done a great job with the time that he has not been on the field of absorbing as much information possible on different situations that will come up in games," Hancock stated. "He has done the extra work needed to prepare him for the upcoming season. He was voted vice-captain by the players, which shows how much confidence they have in him from what he has shown."

Sporting a roster of 12 newcomers, Hancock will have a nice mixture of experience and youth on his side as the Highlanders will look to once again claim its place at the men's soccer mountain top of the Big South.

"We have a lot of players on our roster that can contribute," Hancock noted. "In preseason, we used everyone on the roster. There are several incoming players than can add a spark to the lineup, whether it be for 10 to 15 minutes or pushing starting time."

Collecting three straight regular season championships and two straight NCAA Tournament appearances, Radford will look to join Campbell and Coastal Carolina as the only three schools to win back-to-back tournament championships on multiple occasions in Big South history.

"I feel that with the group we have and what we saw this preseason, our guys will take it one game at a time. This will help us become tighter as a group," Hancock added. "I feel confident that our group will show up for every competition. We need to value our time on the field and put our best foot forward."

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Players Mentioned

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

#1 Aitor Pouseu Blanco: GK; 6' 3"; Redshirt Junior

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

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

#10 Sivert Daehlie: F; 6' 0"; Junior

#15 Wyatt Erzen: MF; 5' 10"; Sophomore

#22 Ulrik Koren: MF; 6' 4"; Sophomore

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

#1 Nicolas Mertzokat: GK; 6' 3"; Senior

#7 Kieran Roberts: F; 6' 0"; Redshirt Junior

#14 Jakob Strandsäter: MF; 5' 10"; Junior

#8 Evan Szklennik: F; 6' 1"; Senior

Players Mentioned

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

#1 Aitor Pouseu Blanco
: 6' 3"; Redshirt Junior
: GK

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

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

#10 Sivert Daehlie
: 6' 0"; Junior
: F

#15 Wyatt Erzen
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: MF

#22 Ulrik Koren
: 6' 4"; Sophomore
: MF

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

#1 Nicolas Mertzokat
: 6' 3"; Senior
: GK

#7 Kieran Roberts
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Junior
: F

#14 Jakob Strandsäter
: 5' 10"; Junior
: MF

#8 Evan Szklennik
: 6' 1"; Senior
: F