"We have a lot of tenacity in this group...I think our tenacity will be something that we lean on during the most crucial points of the season." Those words from Madison College men's soccer coach Cory Sims about his 2019 team has many in and around the program feeling optimistic about what the upcoming season may hold.

This year's roster also features a balance and familiarity that is unique. The balance starts with a returning group of five players looking to improve upon last year's 10-5-1 campaign that ended shy of a Region IV Championship Game for the first time in three years.

"This returning group has done a great job of taking the positives from their first season and building from that foundation," states Sims, who is entering his seventh season leading the program. "Each one of them has gone through significant growth in every aspect of their athletic and academic careers, and I expect that they will play a huge role in our successes this season."

The returning group is headed by a pair of goalkeepers battling on a daily basis for the number one job between the pipes. Saxon LaFlash and Msughter Abel Dzoho are joined by forwards Jonas Luskey-Sanders and Sulayman Njie, and defender Evan Bartz. LaFlash and Dzoho combined for a 1.85 goals against average and a 0.722 save percentage in 2018, while the other three produced four goals and three assists a season ago.

"Saxon and Dzoho have helped raise the level of the other's game by working together and competing in training. Evan has matured as a player and emerged as a central figure for our squad. Similary, Jonas and Sulayman look a lot more sure of themselves and their respective roles. They are much more aggressive in the opponent's box and look to create as much danger as possible."

Mostly due to the make-up of the incoming class, this WolfPack team features an unmatched bond with numerous connections. Currently there are five players from Sun Prairie High School, including three that played together on the Cardinals state tournament team in 2018. There are also five players from Madison East High School and another four from Madison West. In all, 16 of the team's 24 players are products of a Big Eight Conference school, and likely played alongside or against one of their new teammates. And to top it all off, two of the newcomers are brothers, The Gambia natives Muhammed and Ebrima Sallah.

The crop of newcomers includes goalkeeper Sebastian Varela; defenders Ebrima and Muhammed Sallah, Kebba Saidy, and Lucas Martin-Heid; midfielders Amadou Cham, Bubacarr Bah, and Sam Bradfield; and forwards Jheison Garcia and Ben Saric.

"We have a lot of incoming student-athletes reinforcing some key positions on the field," reiterates Sims. "Sebastian joined us in the spring and has improved significantly since arriving. Our defensive line should be balanced with player who combine all of the elements of the game well. Muhammed and Lucas are players who can operate centrally in defense, but  also contribute to the attack with their individual skill and comfort on the ball. Ebrima and Kebba will help us in 1v1 defending moments, as well as contributing further forward. Our midfield features a number of players who bring a mix of passing skill, stregnth, adn tackling ability. Ian and Bubaccar have played together for a number of years and that chemistry will be important. Amadou and Sam are experienced player who will bring a confidence to our play. And Jheison and Ben are two wing players that bring a unique dynamic that was missing last season. They are confident in 1v1 attacking situations and will look to find dangerous passes and create goal scoring opportunities."

Lost to graduation were four all-conference and all-region players, and more than 75% of the offensive production. Sims believes it will be a total team effort to replace what was lost, while also push forward to the next level.

"We have built the foundations of good chemistry off the field and are using this preseason period to solidify the connections on the field. There is a lot of learning and growing to do by both the players and the coaching staff. Our challenge is to highlight the strong qualities in each individual and mesh those with the philosophy of the team as a whole. There are always bumps in the road, but we are moving in the right direction....There is skill, size, speed, and strength, but above all each player has a tenacity that is crucial for competing in the [North Central Community College Conference] and Region IV."

Madison College opens the 2019 schedule on with a trip to Coon Rapids, Minnesota, on Sunday, August 25 to play Anoka-Ramsey Community College. The Golden Rams are the defending Region XIII champions and lost to the eventual national champion in the District C semifinals. The home opener also doubles as the N4C opener when Joliet Junior College comes to Irwin A. & Robert D. Goodman Pitch-East on August 31 for a noon start that's part of a men's-women's doubleheader. What follows is a daunting back-to-back set of road games against Triton College and Harper College, both listed among the top 15 in the NJCAA Division III Preseason Poll.The #8 Trojans are the two-time defending N4C champs and the Hawks won the 2018 Region IV Tournament for the third time in four years. The WolfPack will host those same two teams in successive games on the home pitch on September 28 and October 2, matches that could ultimately decided a league title and have a say in seeding for the Region IV Tournament.

"Our goal is the win the Region IV Tournament, at minimum. We were disappointed not to reach the final last season...The coaching staff and returning players have reflected on some of the things that contributed to our falling short and believe we have addressed glaring issues. We know we have to work every day to put ourselves in the best position to win and that anyone can beat anyone in our conference and region, so we must respect every opponent."

And those opponents will likely need to respect the balance, unity, and tenacity of the WolfPack.

Once again in 2019, every home WolfPack match will be broadcast live on MadisonCollege.tv, with select road games to be featured, as well.

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