Lincoln College Men’s Soccer is ready for action
Team is set to begin the 2017 season
 

[August 24, 2017]   It’s not difficult to understand why Lincoln College Men’s Soccer Coach Ben Massena is looking forward to getting the 2017 season underway. Coach Massena has one of the most experienced and athletic teams the Lynx have ever put on the pitch. His players will be looking to improve on the impressive 10-4 record posted by last year’s team. They will have their work cut out for them in achieving that goal as they are again set to compete in Region 24 which is widely regarded as the toughest Men’s Soccer Region in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA).

“Last year our Region saw three teams ranked in the top ten in the nation for most of the season,” said Coach Massena. “I expect that we will see a similar situation this year as well.”

Coach Massena sums up the theme for this year’s squad with the phrase “play fast and be mature,” a tone that is being set in the preseason by nine returning players and a host of new talent.

Headlining the class of returning players is attacking midfielder Adrian Roman (8). Roman, a sophomore from Waukegan, IL, was the Lynx leading scorer in 2016. He was recognized for his outstanding freshman season by being named 1st Team All-Region as well as receiving All-Conference honors.

Roman will be joined by fellow sophomore Petor Kromah (7) from Springfield as players to watch this season. Kromah has shown the ability to score from the forward position, and, based upon the way the team has approached the game in the preseason, he should see a lot of action on the offensive end of the field.

“We are going to look to get the ball forward quickly this year and keep the pressure on our opponent’s defense,” said Coach Massina. This faster style of play will be a departure from the Lynx traditional strategy of ball control and clock management. “Our goal is to be confident with the ball and not give it away on the offensive half of the field as much as our teams have in the past.”

One of the new additions to the team’s roster is actually a player who is very familiar to Lincoln College. Julian Roman has rejoined the team after being a significant contributor to the 2010 Lincoln College team that finished 5th in the Nation. Roman is the older brother of sophomore Adrian Roman. Julian made the decision to return to LC when he learned that the school’s athletic teams were set to make the move to the NAIA in 2018. Coach Massena is glad to have the All-Conference performer back in a Lynx uniform. “Julian’s strength and experience are going to be huge assets for us this season,” said Massena.

Another new member of the team who is sure to make an impact is sophomore goalie Miguel Barbosa from Sao Paulo, Brazil. Barbosa transferred to LC from Wentworth Academy in Missouri where last season he was named a USCAA All-American.

In addition to Barbosa, other newcomers include center-midfielder Ignacio Ximenez, who is a product of the U.S. National Developmental Soccer Academy in Atlanta Georgia, and midfielder Mauricio Montoya from Quito, Equador.

The Lynx will open up their 2017 season at home on Sunday, August 27th with an 11:00 AM match against NJCAA Division I powerhouse Indian Hills Community College.
 

[Mark Tippett
Lincoln College
Sports Information]