BOONE, N.C. - Appalachian State University men's soccer opens the 57th season in program history this weekend in Florida with a pair of 7 p.m. Atlantic Sun Conference matches against Jacksonville on Friday and North Florida on Sunday.
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About the Mountaineers
The young App State squad, which is made up of 25 underclassmen, were able to get some good experience against a pair of experienced programs in Radford and Campbell in exhibition contests. The Black and Gold fell to Radford, 1-0, before registering a 1-1 tie against the Camels.
Charlie Baird scored a goal against the Camels while
Aldo Tarantini recorded his score in the extra 30-minute session. Fourteen of the student-athletes are freshmen. Appalachian brings back nine of 11 players who scored a goal including leading goal scorer,
Juan Hernandez. The sophomore was the only freshman last season to lead his team in goals and points with six.
Reed Hunnicutt returns as well after a team-high three assists and was second on the team with five points.
Jake Chasteen is back for his senior campaign as the primary goalkeeper, as he played 1137 minutes with 1.19 GAA and four clean sheets. Chasteen finished near the top in numerous categories in the Sun Belt.
Preseason Accolades
Chasteen and Hernandez both earned All-Sun Belt Preseason honors after their solid 2017 campaigns. App was picked to finish fourth in the preseason poll.
Season Openers
App State is 25-25-5 all-time (one season incomplete) in season openers while the last win coming in the first game of a regular season came in 2012 against ETSU. The Black and Gold's last win on the road in the season opener came against the Bucs in 2008.
Scouting Jacksonville (0-0, A-Sun)
The Dolphins were picked to finish third in the Atlantic Sun Preseason poll after appearing in the conference tournament title game. JU went 6-10-1 in 2017 but finished the year with a 6-3-1 mark after starting the campaign 0-7. Kai Bennett and Patrick Harding were named preseason all-conference. JU returns 17 letterwinners and brings in nine newcomers. The Dolphins are coached by sixth-year head coach Mauricio Ruiz.
Scouting North Florida (0-0, A-Sun)
UNF returns six starters from last season's 3-10-2 team including Tawan Seles, who was selected to the ASUN Preseason All-Conference team. The Ospreys are coached by eighth-year head coach Derek Marinatos. The homestand for UNF is part of Mike Gibbs Memorial Tournament, as the home team will host Mercer on Friday to open its season.
Series History
Jacksonville - App owns a 2-1 mark against the Dolphins, and will face each other for the first time since 2014 when App earned a 2-1 triumph. The Mountaineers are 2-0 at home and 0-1 on the road in the series.
North Florida - App State and UNF have faced each other once in 2015. UNF won the matchup in a 3-2 affair in Jacksonville.
What's Next
The Mountaineers return home for their home opener against VMI on Saturday, Sept. 1 at 7 p.m. before a Labor Day contest against Belmont at 1 p.m.
