Hawks confident entering season

By Chuck Tidmore

Sports Information Assistant

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – On the eve of the regular season, Huntingdon men's head soccer coach Matt Cooper is pleased with his team's performance during the preseason.

The Hawks open their season at Samford Stadium on Tuesday against Birmingham-Southern at 7:30 p.m.

"Preseason went well and we have made good improvements from after the first week up until now," Cooper said. "The guys have gotten their fitness level up, we're healthy and excited to play on Tuesday."

A first-year head coach, Cooper will lead the Hawks after spending the past nine seasons at Hampden-Sydney College where he was part of 91 wins from 2006-14. Cooper credits his team and assistant coach Codi Crippen in helping to making the switch in schools easier.

"It wasn't too much of an adjustment. We have a high soccer IQ on this team, so the guys were able to pick up the new adjustments right away," Cooper said.

Cooper said Crippen, a second-year assistant with the Hawks, has been a blessing.

"There's not many times where you come into a situation where there is a coach to help you ease into a new job. I couldn't ask for a better assistant," Cooper said.

Among the Hawks' 17 returning players this season are eight who scored at least one goal in 2014 and four who scored two or more goals. Cooper said that Dylan Wier, Zach Dedman and Brendon Van Emelen are returners who will make an impact this season. Wier led the Hawks with four goals last year.

"I expect more goals out of Dylan this year," Cooper said. "He works really hard and does everything you ask."

Although this will be Cooper's first season coaching in the USA South Athletic Conference, he is already familiar with the conference from his time at Hampden-Sydney.

"I know the majority of the Virginia and North Carolina teams because we played them year-in and year-out in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference," Cooper said. "I'm not coming in blind. I know more than half the teams and where they stand and where we stand."

With Huntingdon coming off a 2-10-5 season, and just missing the USA South Tournament by two points, Cooper's goal for the season is to make the conference tournament.

"We have to make up those two points somewhere and we will," Cooper said. "Making the playoffs is very attainable this season."