Welcome to Fall Preview Week at GoASU.com. From Aug. 19-25, GoASU.com will provide in-depth previews of Appalachian's cross country, field hockey, soccer and volleyball squads as they prepare to open their respective 2011 campaigns.

Men's Cross Country Ready for 2011 Campaign

Appalachian State University men's cross country is looking to continue its championship tradition during the highly-anticipated 2011 season.

The Mountaineers will be running for their seventh consecutive Southern Conference championship to become the third school in SoCon history to win at least seven-straight titles, during the 81-year conference championship history.  William & Mary claimed the title 10-straight years from 1966 thru 1975 and former conference foe East Tennesse State won eight-straight from 1978-1985.   Appalachian's 2010 SoCon title gave the Mountaineers 14 total SoCon championships trailing only William & Mary and East Tennessee State with 15 titles apiece.

Coach Curcio's club will rely on the leadership of senior Sean Soderman and junior Will Raby.  Soderman, a North Mecklenburg, Charlotte, N.C. native, earned conference honors for the third-straight year.  He posted three top-nine finishes including a first-place finish at the Asics-Winthrop Invitational.  Raby, a Charlotte, N.C. native, led the Apps in the 2010 conference meet with an eighth-place finish and a 42nd place finish at the NCAA Southeast Regional Championship.

Other Mountaineers to watch are senior Chris Moen and junior Alex Taylor.  Moen, a Rockville, Md. native, will be looked upon to be a big contributor this season as a senior, after having a very strong track season and setting a new 3,000m indoor school record last season, 8:05.88.  Moen posted a 15th-place finish in the SoCon Cross Country Championship.  Taylor, a Charlotte, N.C. native, earned all-conference honors by his season-best 25:06.11 time at the SoCon Cross Country Championship.

The Black and Gold welcomes three freshmen and two transfers.  Coach Curcio brings in Mark Sullivan, a South Alabama transfer, and Josh Cox, a Charlotte transfer.  Sullivan, a Raleigh, N.C. native, earned a first-place finish in his first collegiate meet and finished 20th at the Sun Belt Championships.  Cox, a Mooresville, N.C. native, helped the 49ers earn a second place finish at the Clemson Invitational.  The freshmen class consists of Chris Garrett (Garner, N.C.) Kyle McFoy (Newark, Del.) and Mason Rivera (Parkton, Md.).

GoASU.com PREVIEW WEEK

Friday, Aug. 19 - Women's Soccer
Monday, Aug. 22 - Field Hockey
Tuesday, Aug. 23 - Men's Soccer
Wednesday, Aug. 24 - Men's and Women's Cross Country
Thursday, Aug. 25 - Volleyball