UMO men's soccer outlook --2015

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on September 3, 2015 1:48 PM

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Coach: Godfrey Miller, 5th season

Career record: 20-47-7

2014 record: 5-13-1 overall, 3-6-1 Conference Carolinas

Starters back: 9

Key returners: F Cooper Gaypia, MF Kevin Williams-Lopez. Gaypia earned all-Conference Carolinas honors and was selected to play for the Liberian National Team last spring

2014 review: UMO finished seventh in regular-season conference play, but also upset two nationally-ranked teams -- No. 21 Queens University (3-1) and No. 21 Barton (3-1)

2015 opener: Today at in-state rival Chowan University

Outlook: Trojans experienced "Jekyll and Hyde" season with disappointing losses. Miller feels team needs a stronger mental toughness this season. Inexperienced players join the team this fall and are a considered a "very talented group" by Miller. During the spring, Miller scheduled the team to play every match away from the friendly confines of Amon Field. He hopes that helped the team develop a stronger bond.

Notable: UMO is 9-8-0 in season-opening games since 1998. ... The Trojans' last winning campaign was 2009 when the logged a 10-6-1 worksheet with seven wins occurring against non-conference opposition. ... UMO emerged as the 2004 Carolinas-Virginia Athletic Conference tournament champion.