Ryan Lee
Contributor
The start of Troy’s 2014 soccer season is just around the corner, and the era of a new head coach is also about to dawn.
Head coach Jason Hamilton, who previously held coaching positions at the University of Miami and the University of Florida, has reported that preseason practices are going well.
His staff is both physically and mentally preparing the team for the long 20-game season.
Junior midfielder Jasmine Fahrnbauer from Canton, Georgia, talked highly of the new coach and said he pushes the team to achieve its greatest potential while constantly teaching players new things.
Both the coach and the players are trying to maintain a positive attitude as they get ready for their first match against LSU on Friday, Aug. 22.
Although their match against LSU is an away game, Hamilton said he thinks the game will be a good test for Troy’s team. The team has a short turnaround
period after its first game, playing four games in eight days.
The first home game will be against Alabama State on Tuesday, Aug. 26, and kickoff will be at 5 p.m. Troy clashed with Alabama State last year in the season opener and dominated the Hornets 3-0.
Troy will then host the 2014 Trojan Classic the following weekend, playing Kennesaw State on Friday, Aug. 29, at 4 p.m., and then playing Tennessee Tech on Sunday, Aug. 31, at 3 p.m.
Despite a long and challenging schedule ahead, Hamilton aspires to be over .500 this year and said he thinks it is within the team’s reach. Hamilton said he wants to be the aggressor this season, to “be the team that’s going after teams.”
The soccer stadium is currently in the process of installing lights, so the team will be able to host late games in the near future.
With the change in game time and cooler weather, the team and the coach hope to see an increase in the amount of student body support. Hamilton also mentioned potential appreciation days to stir up attention for the program.
