Spartans Men’s Soccer Team Will Begin The Season Sept. 1
Spartans Men’s Soccer Team Will Begin The Season Sept. 1
Posted
Dillon Bender-
Spartans Men’s Soccer Team Will Begin The Season Sept. 1CARMEL – With the 2021 fall men’s soccer season set to begin on the first day of September, the Manchester University Spartans will look to make another run towards the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament
The HCAC announced its preseason poll this morning, in which the Spartans found themselves once again picked to finish within the top four of the league.
In a vote amongst league coaches, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology was slated to win the conference, earning 76 points and five first place votes. Not far behind in second was Hanover College, who earned 73 points and five first place votes. Transylvania was predicted to finish third in Wednesday’s poll, picking up 66 points.
The Black & Gold were slated to finish fourth after earning 55 points. Manchester has finished in fourth place of the league standings in each of the past four seasons, following 6-3 marks in HCAC play.
Head Coach Chad Brooks will enter his first season at the helm of the men’s soccer program. Brooks served as an assistant at Manchester for the past three years and was elevated to head coach earlier this month.
Four Spartans were tabbed as “Players to Watch” by the league office on Wednesday morning.
Reigning HCAC Newcomer of the Year Harley Kruschwitz, a Manchester High School alum, will look to once again power the Manchester offense. Kruschwitz scored eight goals in 10 games this spring. He fired 25 total shots, placing 13 of them on goal. Kruschwitz also tallied three game-winning goals.
Fellow sophomores Julian Keough and Cory Mitchell were also named to the HCAC “Players to Watch” listing on Wednesday. Both Spartans were Second Team All-HCAC selections this past spring.
The final Spartan tabbed as a “Player to Watch” was senior Keegan Wondergem. Wondergem brings a veteran and physical presence to the Manchester lineup. He has started all but one game during his time in a Black & Gold uniform and was a Second Team All-HCAC selection this past spring.
The 2021 season kicks off on Wednesday September 1 with a home match against regional rival Trine University. The Spartans and Thunder will clash in Spartan Stadium beginning at 3:30 p.m.
Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference play will begin on Wednesday September 29 with a home match against Franklin College.
