BREVARD, N.C. - Brevard's men's soccer head coach Bradley Morrison is optimistic about the 2015 campaign, producing a team that's ready to make the leap to the next level.
"Every year you hope to grow from the year before," Morrison said. "We learned a lot from last season and are expecting improvements this year."
In 2014, the squad posted the third-most wins since Brevard transitioned into the NCAA ranks with a 4-13-1 mark. The Tornados had success offensively, dishing out the second-most assists as a unit during the NCAA era with 14.
Morrison has the tools for a successful season, with an experienced core leading the team on the pitch. 11 juniors highlight a team that's 38 players deep, with six sophomores, 20 freshman and one senior rounding out the roster.
"With so many returning players, we feel like these guys now know the system and can help teach the newcomers," said Morrison.
Andrew Gallowitch and Winston Haddock will lead the attack for Brevard in 2015 after helping the team post the third-most goals in the NCAA era. Gallowitch, the lone senior on the team, has established himself as one of the most prolific scorers for the Tornados during the NCAA chapter. With five goals and 12 points in 32 games, the Charlotte, North Carolina, product is within striking distance of the most career goals and points on record, currently set at seven and 16.
Haddock, primarily playing midfield his first two seasons, led the position in goals scored in his sophomore stint and now moves up top to the forward position.
"We return two of our top offensive threats from last year," Morrison added. "With them playing up top we have been able to focus more on defense in the preseason."
Veteran goalkeeper Heath Turner will be working with an inexperienced defensive line, as Brevard returns none of last year's starting defensemen. Caleb Hall will be making the transition from midfield to defense in his junior season to add experience at the position while sophomore Austin Wolfe hopes his reserve roll with the Tornados last season will give him an advantage over the plethora of hungry freshman looking for a way onto the starting 11.
Turner enters his third season in goal already atop most of the career goalie records. His nine wins and 159 saves are the most in the NCAA era while his four shutouts have him tied at the top. Competing with Turner for the starting goalkeeper position are UNC Pembroke transfer Jordan Alread and Brevard native Daniel Taylor.
At the midfield position, Junior Alec Goettl returns to the pitch as the most experienced player in the position after appearing in all 18 matches and starting 16 for Tornados last seasons. Camilo Sosa also return for his third year at Brevard with logging an assist last year.
Another daunting schedule is ahead for Brevard with six opponents boasting winning records in 2014.
"Our schedule this season is stacked with difficult opponents and it starts from game one," explained Morrison. "After starting the season on the road at North Greenville and a neutral match with UNC Pembroke, we open up at home with back-to-back games against tough opponents in Southern Wesleyan and Lander before conference play starts with Lincoln Memorial. We have a pair of exhibition matches against Division I teams Gardner-Webb and Winthrop which will be a good experiences for the team before the season starts."
"We want to take this season 90 minutes at a time," Morrison concluded.
The 2015 season kicks off on September 4 when Brevard travels to Tigerville, South Carolina to take on North Greenville at 7 p.m. The Tornados open the home schedule with a three-game homestand starting September 9 versus Southern Wesleyan at 4:30 p.m.
To keep up with all the latest information about the Tornados, "Like" our Brevard College Tornado Athletics Facebook page or follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @BCTornados.
