Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Owls Set to Soar in Atlantic Soccer Conference
8/22/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Aug. 22, 2006
Boca Raton, FL - The Florida Atlantic University men's soccer team lead by head coach Kos Donev, will start play in the Atlantic Soccer Conference this season after 14 seasons in the Atlantic Sun Conference. FAU left the Atlantic Sun for the Sun Belt Conference, however, the Sun Belt does not sponsor men's soccer. This left the team temporarily without a conference, however Donev soon found a home for his program in the Atlantic Soccer Conference. The conference, which includes schools such as Longwood and Howard will award an automatic bid to its tournament champion.
"I have seen a lot of changes in my time here, from being in Division II, to going to the Atlantic Sun, and now going to the Atlantic Soccer Conference.", said coach Donev. "It will be more competitive, but we have just as good a chance as anybody of winning the conference, and making the NCAA Tournament."
Florida Atlantic will be looking to rebound from last year's 8-10-0 mark and will have to overcome the loss of two of its top three scorers and All-Atlantic Sun goalkeeper Anders Granstad . While Coach Donev admits that the competition in the new conference is "the same level, if not a little better" than it was in the Atlantic Sun, he has reason to be confident. The reasons include Javier Carillo who is the Owls' leading returning scorer from last season and Ryan Kinsley who was the only non-senior to start every game last season.
However, the biggest question mark of all may be at goalkeeper where freshman Phillip Lamarre is the leading candidate to replace Granstad, Granstad was a four year starter and holds school records for career shutouts, saves, average goals against and keeper minutes played. Of his freshman keeper Donev says, "He's big, but for his size he has good reflexes for those lower and side balls."
The Owls kick off their season this weekend when they travel to Lexington to play in the Kentucky Nike Tournament. They take on the host Wildcats at 7:00 p.m. Friday night and will take on IUPUI Saturday evening at 5:00 p.m.
