Rome, GA, - Coach Paul Furey begins his second season with the Shorter Hawks Men's Soccer team with 20 new faces and a renewed excitement for the 2018 season.
                "This is a very different team than what we had a year ago," said Furey. "Given a full 12 months to recruit, we brought in guys this year who can really help us and will buy into what we are about and our team philosophy on the field and off.  I really like these guys.  I know we will be better this year but it make take some time to come into our own and we need to be patient with that. We have a tough road ahead this year in our conference and in non-conference play, but I like who I am on this journey with.  It will be challenging but it should be a lot of fun as well."
                Furey returns just seven players from last year's squad who will help set the tone for the new arrivals to the "Hill."  Hernan Saldana and Felix Guijosa will serve as team captains and lead the fresh new Hawks.  Saldana is a stalwart defender and natural leader Furey will rely on to anchor the back line.  Guijosa will help orchestrate things in the midfield and be a key playmaker in the Hawk attack.
                The Hawks return two senior starters in defender Dickie Coomer and goalkeeper Sean Carpenter.  Both started nearly every game in 2017 and the experience gained for Carpenter will make him a much improved product this season according to Furey.   Coomer is a gifted technical player who can stretch things from the back and has a viscous strike on goal.  Senior backup keeper Luis Vasquez will challenge Carpenter between the pipes and has been a valuable asset in the reserve roll.
                Among the new additions that should have an immediate impact are Brazilians, Thallison Alex and Lucas Magno Costa along with Englishman, Luke Wheeldon.  The trio transferred from junior colleges where Costa and Wheeldon will help hold down the back line defensively and going forward while Alex is skilled attacker that can produce goals. Transfers from Division I and II schools, Myron Asamoah and Val Evans respectively, will also bring experience and athleticism to the Hawks attack. 
"I'm really excited about this recruiting class we brought in.  It's not only a lot of new personnel that will make us a better team than a year ago but it has its quality of young men who are a good fit for our university both academically and spiritually," said the veteran coach.
                The true freshman class is a promising one that with time and nurture will be very good.  Furey found Florida to be a productive place to find such talent as he brought in 5 new players from the sunshine state. Four of the players were teammates on the same club and have played with each other since they were in grade school.  Zach Maxson, Frankie Rodriguez, Seth Calero and Evan Smith who all played for the Stovi Stars in Naples should contribute valuable time for the Hawks this season.  Maxson is an athletic and stalwart defender while Calero is a creative and crafty playmaker.  Rodriguez is a hard working winger and Evans was a starting center back.  Grant Presson comes to Rome from Sun Lake High School near Tampa where he was a standout for Coach Sam Koleduk and should add to the mix for the Hawks right away.
                Local talent from Rome High School and Pepperell High School are Sergio Vasquez and Ivan Sandoval who are also both products from Rome Arsenal Soccer Club.  Vasquez will add to the Hawks front line while Sandoval will bring his work rate into the midfield.  James Chege is also local talent from Cartersville who is a crafty and quick winger. 
                Furey is also high on midfielder, Jackson Wheatley and striker Zach Wyborn.  Wheatley was a starter for the Charlotte Development Academy team and brings a great work rate with excellent technical ability.  Wyborn was a 20-goal scorer at nearby John's Creek HS and should add to the scoring potential for the Hawks.
                Furey also has in the reserve roll returners, David Silva and Daniel Gilley along with newcomers, Seth Allen in goal, defenders Dylan Stern and Chandler Jerrell and wingers, Sam Reynolds and Thomas Curry.
                The Hawks open Thursday at Mars Hill University in North Carolina at 6:30.   The Blue and White return for their home opener on Saturday against North Greenville College at 2:00 and return to work on Labor Day to host Eckerd College.  Conference play begins September 15^th at Lee University.