Lynx Men’ Soccer Team Looks Forward to NAIA Competition

[July 21, 2018] 

Lincoln College Men’s Soccer Coach Ben Massena is ready to begin his 15th season at the helm of the LC soccer program. The 2018 campaign figures to be unlike any of his previous seasons as Massena will oversee the team’s transition to becoming a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).

“I am excited about the schedule we have been able to create for our first season in the NAIA,” said Massena. “It should be a huge jump in terms of competition,” he added.

Last spring, the team was able to scrimmage against two NAIA programs with positive results, but Coach Massena is looking forward to the fall as a way to gauge how his team will fit into their new league.

“We plan to use this first year to assess what type of players we need to cultivate in order to compete and what style of play will be best for us going forward,” said Massena.

The Lynx will play a 15 match season that features five home events. Lincoln will play their home opener on August 27th at 3:00 PM against the University of St. Francis. USF finished the 2017 season in a tie for first place in their conference.

Coach Massena will have several key players returning this fall from his 2017 team that went 10-4 in their final year of play as a junior college program. Junior Adrian Roman (Waukegan) is coming off an outstanding 2017 season that saw him lead his team in scoring. Roman’s strong play earned him both Conference and Region Player of the Year awards.

Julian Roman (Waukegan) also figures to have a big impact for LC. The junior standout took home first-team All-Conference and All-Region honors in 2017.

A familiar face will appear in goal for LC in 2018 as former NJCAA All-American Pierson Fleming returns after red shirting the 2017 season.

Coach Massena likes what he sees from the group of players entering the Lincoln program as well. Two standouts from the 2018 recruiting class include David Jocome and local star Aleck Bailey. Jocome is a native of Equador and figures to see time in the lineup as a midfielder. Aleck Bailey is a graduate of Lincoln Community High School. Bailey was a State Journal Register All Metro Area selection who set season records in goals scored and assists for the Railers.

[Mark Tippett
Lincoln College
Sports Information]