NEWCOMERS AND VETERANS SHINE IN HUNTINGDON MEN’S SOCCER SCRIMMAGE

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Huntingdon men's soccer coach Kevin Ray liked what he saw in the Hawks' final preseason scrimmage on Friday.

Newcomers and veterans both drew praise in the White team's 6-0 win over the Red team.

"We had a lot of good performances," Ray said. "The preseason has gone well. We came in fit, we've grown together in camp and there is a lot of excitement right now. A lot of players got to play a lot of minutes tonight. It was an opportunity to see who can play where and what they can do to help us the most."

With five seniors and more than a dozen returning players, the Hawks have experience entering the season. Balancing the experience is a talented class of newcomers.

"This is the first time in a couple of years that we've had a lot of depth," Ray said. "We've got five seniors that are really stepping up and taking on the leadership role and trying to push the program forward. The new guys are also determined to help move the program forward. They've shown it in preseason practice, they showed it in the alumni game and they showed it again in this scrimmage."

On Friday, Jack Allen turned in his second three-goal performance of the preseason. Spencer Brown, Chris Blight and Dallas Thomas each scored once.  

"Jack looked sharp and Spencer really stepped up," Ray said of his two first-year players. "We took good shots and the guys demonstrated the things we've been working on in the preseason."

The Hawks open the season on Sept. 3 against Emory & Henry College in Emory, Va.