Wednesday, August 27, 2008

MACON, Ga. – For the third straight season, Campbell’s men’s soccer team opens play as the Atlantic Sun preseason favorite and like the two years past, Campbell’s first contest will be against in-state rival UNC Wilmington. The Camels and Seahawks square off at 7:00pm on Friday at Campbell’s Eakes Athletic Complex in the Atlantic Sun Game of the Week.

The series with UNC Wilmington dates back to 1966, Campbell’s fourth year with men’s soccer. The Camels won that year 4-1 en route to winning the first seven contests against the Seahawks. Since starting the series, the two schools, separated by roughly 115 miles, have met every year save for three years, 1967, 1968 and 1993. Campbell owns wins in each of the last three years and in eight of the last 12 contests, outscoring the Seahawks by an aggregate 25-14 margin. In addition to its status as the most-played series in Campbell history, the Camels have defeated no opponent more (23 wins against 18 losses with one tie), and they have scored more goals, 100, than against every opponent but two (Division III Methodist, 119 goals in 25 games and Division II UNC Pembroke, 111 in 24 games)

Campbell earned its place as the Atlantic Sun favorite in large part due its returning starters steeped in accolades. Senior midfielder Richard Jata earned the Preseason Player of the Year after making the All-Atlantic Sun First-Team for the second year. Goalkeeper Aaron Johnson landed on the 2007 First Team for the second straight year and has earned All Tournament honors each of his three years in net. Josue Soto garnered A-Sun Freshman of the Year last year in addition to spots on the A-Sun First Team and College Soccer News’s Second-Team Freshman All-America team. The Tournament MVP from the 2007 A-Sun Championship Vince Petrasso joins Soto and Jata at midfielder. Defender Stephen Oyuga received First-Team honors in 2007 after making the Second Team in 2006.

UNC Wilmington features a pair of sophomore midfielders in Allen Lomax and David Roberts. As freshmen in 2007, the two shared the team lead with 11 points and both earned spots on the Colonial Athletic Association’s All-Rookie Team. The Seahawks pair joined William and Mary’s Alan Koger and Andrew McAdams as the only set of teammates to make the 2007 All-Rookie Team. Lomax and Roberts headline a Seahawk team that features ten returning starters and 20 returning letterwinners.

The 2007 contest went to overtime with Josh Elliott connecting on the winning tally 4:52 into overtime for a 2-1 win, the seventh-straight Camel-Seahawk contest decided by a single goal. Campbell prevailed despite losing the shots battle, 15-7 (11-5 for shots on goal).

The Atlantic Sun Conference is an 11-member league committed to Building Winners for Life, with a focus on academic and athletic integrity and a balance between the two for the student-athlete, and maintaining a high level of sportsmanship. Headquartered in Macon, Ga., the A-Sun encompasses six of the top eight media markets in the Southeast. The A-Sun consists of some of the most dynamic private and public institutions in the region: Belmont University, Campbell University, East Tennessee State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Jacksonville University, Kennesaw State University, Lipscomb University, Mercer University, University of North Florida, University of South Carolina Upstate and Stetson University.