Aug. 12, 2008

BOCA RATON, FL -The Florida Atlantic University men's soccer team will kickoff its 2008 season under the guidance of Head Coach Kos Donev with an exhibition game against Nova Southeastern University on Wednesday, August 20 at 7 p.m. at FAU Field, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton campus.

The Owls won the 2007 Atlantic Soccer Conference championship and will make the transition into the Mid-American Conference (MAC) in 2008. "Going into the MAC as a new member will be a challenge," said Donev, who has coached the team for 22 years. "It is a strong conference, as they usually have schools in the Top 20, and the teams are unfamiliar to FAU."

The 2008 team will resemble the 2007 squad, with eight of 11 starters returning. Starters lost from last year were defender Franz Chevannes, and midfielders Igor Santos and Diego Monsalve.

After a record-breaking season, junior goalkeeper Phillip Lamarre is back for a third season in the net. Lamarre and the rest of the Owls' defense only allowed 25 goals in 20 matches, or 1.17 goals per game.

Key returners from last year's defense include juniors Trey McEntee, Jordan Kelly, Thorstein Georgsson and senior Guilherme Ribeiro. Senior Liam Ogle, who started 19 games for the Owls after transferring from Cayuga Community College, anchors the midfield along with sophomore Andre McCreath, the 2007 FAU "Rookie of the Year."

"We expect the defense to be the backbone at the beginning of the season," said Donev. "Although we did well last year, we must still expect a lot out of them."

The offensive charge will likely be led by three-year starter Shire Standnes. Standnes and senior teammate Ribeiro have combined for 82 starts in their career. Fellow senior Jesse Kehoe also will be leaned upon for his skills on offense. Sophomore Gianni Piccoletti scored four goals last season and may play a more prominent role this year.

The Owls will look for added depth from a recruiting class that includes seven freshmen and five college transfers. Evan Kluge, Calvin Crooks, Darnell King and Ben Ward will look to contribute at forward, while Andrew Soares, Cristian Madalengoitia, Rocco Pecora, Chris Lamarre and Vincent DiBullo will compete at midfield. Marko Urlic, Carlos Bernall and Sean Hart will strengthen the defense.

FAU is scheduled against every conference opponent, including the University of Buffalo, Akron University, Northern Illinois University, Western Michigan University, Hartwick College and Bowling Green University. The conference tournament will be played Thursday, November 13 through Sunday, November 16 at a site yet to be determined. The Owls non-conference schedule includes two road trips to the Raleigh-Durham area to face Duke University and North Carolina State University.

Games at FAU Field against the University of Missouri-Kansas City and Seattle University, as well as against conference opponents Hartwick College and Bowling Green State University, comprise the home schedule.

For more information on tickets, call 1-866-FAU-Owls or visit the FAU Ticket Office at FAU's Tom Oxley Center, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton campus. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.