Monday, July 17, 2006

BUIES CREEK, N.C. -- A challenging non-conference slate, plus a full compliment of Atlantic Sun Conference matches await Campbell University on its 2006 men’s soccer schedule.

Fifth-year head coach Doug Hess’ Fighting Camels will square off against non-league opponents from the Atlantic Coast, Colonial, Big South, Patriot, Atlantic 10 and Southern conferences during the 2006 campaign, while attempting to claim a second-straight A-Sun regular season title.

The Camels are coming off their best season in a decade. The 2005 squad posted a 13-6-1 overall record and won the A-Sun regular year title with a 7-1-0 mark in league play. CU finished 13th nationally in scoring (2.15 goals per game), while leading the Atlantic Sun in team goals-against average (0.98) and shutouts (6).

Willy Guadarrama, the 2005 A-Sun Player of the Year, returns for his junior season after leading the nation in goals and points per game. The Cedar Park, Texas native notched 46 points last year on 21 goals and four assists. Also back for the Camels are senior back Devin Sheppard and sophomore keeper Aaron Johnson, both of whom shared the A-Sun Defensive Player of the Year honor in ’05. Hess was named A-Sun Coach of the Year.

Campbell opens the regular season with its most frequent rival in the school’s men’s soccer history when UNC Wilmington visits Buies Creek on Aug. 26 for the 41st game in the series. Last season, Campbell won a 1-0 decision in double overtime on the road against a nationally-ranked Seahawk squad. Seven of the last eight meetings in the series – which Campbell leads by a 21-18-1 margin – have been decided by one goal.