Monday, July 10, 2006

MACON, Ga. – Entering his 12th season at Mercer, head coach Tom Melville is primed to keep the Bears among the Atlantic Sun’s elite men’s soccer programs. On Oct. 6, 2005, Melville picked up his 94th win to surpass Dana Robinson as Mercer’s all-time winningest coach. This season is filled with optimism as Melville returns a solid core of veterans to go along with seven newcomers.

This year will be no different as the Bears are expected to compete for another conference championship. The squad has captured three regular season titles and two A-Sun Tournament crowns since he took the reigns of the Mercer program in 1995.

Mercer has a tough task of replacing its 2005 leading goal-scorer Del Oloaye, but is confident due to the return of two-time First Team All-Conference selection Vicente Arze’s potent scoring ability. Arze finished second on the team with seven goals in 2005 and led the squad in assists (four) even though he was sidelined for six matches due to injury.