Coming off back-to-back trips to the NJCAA Region IV Division III Championship, the Madison College men's soccer team is poised to climb its toughest hurdle in a decade. The WolfPack narrowly missed out on its first Region IV title with a 5-4 loss in penalty kicks in 2017, and sixth-year head coach Cory Sims believes he has the group to push past that threshold.

"The ultimate competitive goal is to win a national championship, always. That means we must have the aim of being at the top of our conference and region, and winning the Region IV Championship Game. Our challenge, of course, is to meet the high expectations we have of ourselves and stay focused on our process."

Sims will look to a group of five returning players from last fall to lead the way for the 2018 WolfPack. Midfield/forward and British national Shane Paterson is the top returning goal scoring after netting nine scoring strikes during his debut season. Meanwhile, forward Fabian Perez tallied four goals and fellow forward Brandon Griffin had one as freshmen. Defender Logan Sandin-Carstens returns after logging the third most minutes by a position player. The group, which also includes forward Mintesinote Urban, collectively made 27 starts and played nearly 3,500 minutes in 2017.

Also back with the WolfPack is Donovan Brendler, a midfielder and Madison, Wisconsin, native, who recorded four assists and started 12 matches in 2015.

"The returning class brings more maturity and hunger to their game this season," commented Sims about a group that contributed to an 11-5-1 record last season. "Shane has improved his ability to influence the game from multiple areas of the field, as well as off the pitch this off-season. He has grown into a capable leader. Brandon has been very focused on improving his game understanding and technique in one-on-one situations. His leadership qualities have also developed significantly. Logan's decision-making has stepped up a few levels and we are excited for him to perform this year. Fabian's finishing and movement in the attacking third has gotten more precise and we expect a big year from him. Mante and Donovan bring a good balance to the team with their attitudes, experience, and ability to lay in multiple roles on the field."

For a program that won nine region championships in ten years before joining Region IV, the WolfPack will need significant contributions from its crop of newcomers if they want to add another title to that count. The class does include a pair of transfer student-athletes in defender Will Hamilton and forward Frankie Herrera. Herrera, a former Madison West athlete, competed at NCAA Division II University of Charleston (WV), while Hamilton, a product of Badger High School, played 18 games and scored one goal for NCAA Division III Wartburg College (IA).

"The transfer students bring with them considerable experience, game understanding, and technical skill," touts coach Sims. "They raise the level of their teammates in every training session."

The rest of the first year class is made up of five defenders, two midfielders, one forward, and the team's lone goalkeeper, Saxon LaFlash.

"Our defensive line sees significant reinforcement with a host of newcomers who excel tactically, technically, and physically in their respective positions," said Sims, who sits second on the program's all-time wins list. "Our midfield received an injection of pace, quality, and promise with ambitious and exciting additions. This group is focused and prepared to work hard for success this season...Our greatest obstacle will likely be our youth and, in some cases, inexperience. The transition to collegiate sports is especially difficult at our level, so some growing pains are to be expected."

Madison College begins the 2018 schedule by jumping right into North Central Community College Conference play against Joliet Junior College on Friday, August 24 in Joliet, Illinois. The 'Pack has taken four of the last six meetings with the Wolves. Following a three-game road trip to open the season, the WolfPack return to Irwin A. & Robert D. Goodman Pitch-East for two games against N4C rivals. The home opener brings Rock Valley College to town on Wednesday, September 5, and two nights later, defending conference and region champion Triton College invades Madison as part of a women's and men's soccer doubleheader on Friday, September 7.

"The biggest strength of our team is their willingness to learn. That eagerness to improve should see us grow and develop throughout the season, and ideally be in a good run of form as the postseason nears."

New in 2018, all Madison College home matches will be streamed live at MadisonCollege.TV, as well as on the Madison College Athletics Facebook page.

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