BARTLESVILLE, Oklahoma Sporting Alert – The Oklahoma Wesleyan men’s soccer team began preparations for the 2015 season this week, with the focus solely being on making a run for the NAIA National Championships.
The Eagles, under Jamie Peterson, have cemented themselves among the elite programs in the country over the last few years, and the head coach believes things are well in place to go deep into this year’s national tournament.
“We want to continue playing good soccer this season,” Peterson told SportingAlert.com during a preseason session.
“Things are in place to make a run, but we will continue to be patient and do the work that is necessary to win a national championship.”
Oklahoma Wesleyan, which finished last season with an overall record of 14-5-2, were disappointed with the first round exit during last year’s NAIA tournament and the players are determined to make amends.
The club has also moved conference, following the school’s decision to leave the now squashed Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference Athletics (MCAC) for the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) at the end of last term.
Peterson also noted that a number of the standout players returning from last year, including the likes of Daniel Carney, Ivan Ristic, Jack McGowan, Aleksander Simovic, Luka Stojanovic, Luka Milicevic and Victor Gouveia – have all returned, which will help with the balance of the new settings for this campaign.
Oklahoma Wesleyan will continue its preseason preparations with a of number strength, speed, endurance and of course, some ball and technical work for the rest of the week, as Peterson looks to discover his best combination for the coming term.
The Eagles finished as the 23rd ranked team in the 2014 NAIA Men’s Soccer Coaches’ Postseason Top 25 Poll final release, but are expected to be in the top half when the preseason poll is released later this month.
