2018 Spartan Men's Soccer Preview
The Cayuga Community College men's soccer team is again expected to be one of the top clubs in Region III and the Mid-State Athletic Conference in 2018, and new Coach Chris Davison is hoping the team can reach the national tournament for the first time since 2014. The Spartans are looking to improve on the 2017 season, which saw them climb to the Regional Finals before falling 3-0 to eventual National Junior College Athletic Association Champion Genesee Community College. Davison, a Cayuga alum who was an assistant coach for the 2017 team, said the 2018 Spartans have their sights set on making the NJCAA national tournament, slated for early November at Herkimer Community College. "Everyone has the same goal, and we're going to work as hard as we can to reach the nationals. None of us like to lose," said Davison. "I think we have the mentality and the ability to go that far."
Cayuga closed the 2017 season ranked 16th nationally in the United Soccer Coaches poll and had five players named to the All-Region III team, including Mid-State Athletic Conference Player of the Year Mikel Abando. The Spartans' trend of having strong teams is primed to continue, as they enter the 2018 season ranked 17th nationally by the United Soccer Coaches and featuring a blend of returning players and freshmen led by captains Grant Stamp and Spencer Urquiza. The team has pulled together this preseason, said Davison, with the returning players stepping in and helping the freshmen when needed. "It certainly helps the team gel, knowing that they're going through everything together," he said. "Our returning players are there to help out, because they've been through everything before."
Davison said Cayuga is usually one of the three top teams in the region, along with Genesee and Herkimer. All three teams are ranked in the preseason poll, with Genesee named the top team entering the season and Herkimer ranked 5th, respectively. Onondaga Community College is also ranked 15th this preseason.
The Spartans start their season Saturday with an away contest against Jamestown Community College. The regular season concludes in late October, with the Regional Tournament starting on October 23.