Men’s soccer returns deep lineup for 2019

Lynette Files

Sophomore midfielder Alex Hernandez in action in App State’s opening scrimmage of the season on August 16. Hernandez scored three goals for the Mountaineers a season ago.

Zack Antrum, Senior Reporter
August 20, 2019

After a strong 2018 campaign, the App State men’s soccer team has no plans of slowing down and wants to use last season as a stepping stone to greater success.

The team finished the season 8-6-3, a record amount of wins for the program under head coach Jason O’Keefe and its first winning record since 2012.

“This will be by far the deepest team we’ve had since I’ve been here,” O’Keefe said. “I think this group can be very adaptable and flexible to whatever they’re dealing with on the night.”

Last season, a record-tying seven players were named to All-Sun Belt teams, including a trio of first-team members: goalkeeper and co-Sun Belt Player of the Year Jake Chasteen and defenders Felix Kollmanthaler and Zieko Harris. Midfielders Ian Bennett, Alex McGrath, Austin Hill and forward Camden Holbrook all made the second-team.

Despite Bennett, Kollmanthaler and Chasteen’s graduations, the Mountaineers still return multiple starters and several reserves this season.

Junior center back Harris, who led all outfield players in minutes last season, was named preseason All-Sun Belt and will play a big role in the Mountaineer defense. Defenders Brady Gunter, junior, and Mason Robicheaux, sophomore, also played quality minutes for the Mountaineers last season and are expected to take on larger roles.

“We have a pretty tough schedule, so we’re looking to compete and achieve our goals,” Harris told App State Sports.

Sophomore Camden Holbrook also returns after leading the team in goals last season. Holbrook hit the ground running and scored five goals in his first two college games, finishing the season with six.

The Mountaineers will welcome eight newcomers to the High Country, as O’Keefe brought in another diverse class of players with different backgrounds and abilities.

This recruiting class includes several international players. Diogenes Mayola and Kelvin Mulinya, come to Boone from Kenya, and Kelan Swales is an English sophomore transfer from Marshall.

The Mountaineers kick off their season against Saint John’s on Friday, Aug. 30 at the Ted Mackorell Soccer Complex.

Leave a Comment

Donate to The Appalachian

$1371

$5000

Contributed

Our Goal

We hope you appreciate this article! Before you move on, our student staff wanted to ask if you would consider supporting The Appalachian's award-winning journalism. We are celebrating our 90th anniversary of The Appalachian in 2024!

We receive funding from the university, which helps us to compensate our students for the work they do for The Appalachian. However, the bulk of our operational expenses — from printing and website hosting to training and entering our work into competitions — is dependent upon advertising revenue and donations. We cannot exist without the financial and educational support of our fellow departments on campus, our local and regional businesses, and donations of money and time from alumni, parents, subscribers and friends.

Our journalism is produced to serve the public interest, both on campus and within the community. From anywhere in the world, readers can access our paywall-free journalism, through our website, through our email newsletter, and through our social media channels. Our supporters help to keep us editorially independent, user-friendly, and accessible to everyone.

If you can, please consider supporting us with a financial gift from $10. We appreciate your consideration and support of student journalism at Appalachian State University. If you prefer to make a tax-deductible donation, or if you would prefer to make a recurring monthly gift, please give to The Appalachian Student News Fund through the university here: https://securelb.imodules.com/s/1727/cg20/form.aspx?sid=1727&gid=2&pgid=392&cid=1011&dids=418.15&bledit=1&sort=1.

About the Writer

Zack Antrum, Senior Reporter