Men's soccer team opens regular season on the road

The Eastern Florida State College men's soccer team will open the regular season this week on the road.

The Titans, who were 15-3 and played in the NJCAA Division I National Tournament last season, open the season Thursday night against Blinn College at Rankin Field at Hohlt Park in Brenham, Texas.

Blinn College is coming off a 14-7 season in which they made it to the semifinals of the Gulf South District Tournament. It was the third straight winning season for the Buccaneers who are ranked 13th in the United Soccer Coaches national preseason poll.

"Two good teams, obviously we get to travel and get to face off against two nationally-ranked teams that are going to be ready to go. It is exciting," Eastern Florida State College men's soccer coach Adam Butler said. "I think the exciting thing about week 1 is we have no idea. One of the best things about JUCO is that nobody really has any idea about us so it is about who can put it together the quickest."

The No. 9 ranked Titans have 14 players returning from last year's team and will rely on that experience this season.

"It has been perfect, the older boys have led by example, showing the young guys and the new boys have come in and know what to expect," sophomore Isaak Torossian said. "We look really well, coach has put in a plan that we are all looking forward to playing in, it will be fun to watch. We look really well."

The Titans will then face No. 17 Coastal Bend at 6 p.m. on Saturday at Blinn College. Coastal Bend is coming off a 10-win season. The Titans won the meeting with Coastal Bend last season.

Eastern Florida State College will be home Tuesday, Sept. 3 for the home opener against Lakeland.