WESSON – The Copiah-Lincoln Community College men’s soccer team looks to make a statement in the MACJC South Division in 2013 under the direction of second year head coach David Strother. Nine returning sophomores from the 2012 team give Strother an experienced group to build from

The nine sophomores for the Wolfpack squad include starting goalkeeper Wesley Varner of Magee; midfielder/forward Garrett Holden of Brookhaven; midfieler/forward Chance Holden of Brookhaven; defensive midfielder Mason Peterson of D’Iberville; defensive centerback Daniel Bird of D’Iberville; midfielder Dylan Sandidge of Natchez; outside defender Chrishun Smith of Jackson; forward and third leading scorer DaShone Lampley of Laurel; and second leading scorer Austin Graham of Wesson.

All nine of these players saw significant minutes last year and are expected to make even stronger impacts on the program than what they did a year ago.

Strother worked hard on the recruiting trail to sign 16 freshmen to the 2013 squad. “We lost some key positions to graduation, but I have been very pleased with the way my recruiting went this year,” said Strother.

Strother hopes those gains in recruiting will lead to a more dynamic offense and a deeper defense in 2013.

Strother states, “I knew that we were going to have to bring in players this season that had an offensive attitude toward the game, and I feel like we have been able to do that. We’ve also been able to get deeper in some of our defensive positions, and that will help give us some much needed substitutions whenever we begin playing 90 minute games in the humidity and heat of our season.”

Strother, himself an alumnus of Co-Lin and former soccer player, is eager to take his program to new heights

“Our goal for this upcoming season will be to put ourselves in situations to win games and be competitive in each match that we play,” he said.

Strother expects the south division of the MACJC will be grueling as always. The MACJC state title has been won by a South Division team in each of the past six years.

The Wolfpack open their 2013 schedule at home against East Central Community College with a 6:30 p.m. kickoff.