By Jorge Sastre & Chris Tropea
In Motion Staff Writers
This fall at Daytona State students will have two new sports teams to cheer for when the Falcons Men’s and Woman’s soccer teams hit the field to play in the NJCAA league.
With soccer becoming a more and more popular sport in the United States, getting teams at Daytona State promise to be a big attraction for student.
Daytona State student Nick Ignoffo said, “It’s a great step forward for Daytona State to get a soccer team. Not only does it broaden the athletic demographic, it also provides another opportunity for spectators to come out and support their fellow students.”
In April of 2016 the Orlando Pride set a home attendance record of over 23,000 people. These numbers show how popular soccer is in the Florida. Men’s and Woman’s head coaches Bart Sasnett and Brittany Jones are optimistic about how they think the program will impact Daytona State.
Coach Jones was hired last November as inaugural coach of the women’s team. Prior to that hire, she completed her fourth season at the helm of the Florida Southern program in Lakeland, Florida. Florida Southern College is a NCAA Division II member which competes in the Sunshine State Conference. She grew up in Central Florida and attended high school in the Orlando area. She also played collegiately at Stetson University. Jones also began her coaching career at Stetson University as an assistant coach prior to moving on to Florida Southern.
“I am excited to be starting the program here and both Bart and I are going to be able to bring in a young group who will be able to add to campus life and to the academic reputation of our program,” she said. “They will also be bringing even more cultural diversity to the program.”
Coach Sasnett spent the last nine years at Darton State College, where he won 5 Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association Championships and earned two Southeast District Championships, as well as made three National Tournament appearances in 2010, 2011 and 2012. A native of Fort Walton Beach, Sasnett played prep ball at Choctawhatchee High School where he earned a spot on the Florida State All-Star Team.
“I think the teams are going to have a positive impact. We’ve given our student body at large the opportunity to come out and watch the soccer games. It’s also great for faculty and staff as well to be able to come out,” said Sasnett.
“And it’s going to have an impact on our community because a lot of people have been waiting for a college soccer program here.”
Earlier this summer, Sasnett, announced the program’s inaugural 2016 schedule. Five of the nine opponents the Falcons will face were ranked in the top 20 or were receiving votes at some point last season. The Falcon’s will host eight home matches out of their 18-match schedule.
“We are a new program so traveling is part of the deal, I think if we can find a way to win on the road that makes us much more dangerous come playoff time,” said Sasnett.
The Men’s Soccer team opened play with four away exhibition matches against four year colleges; Jacksonville University, Flagler College, Webber International and the upcoming contest with neighbor school Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University on Saturday, Aug. 27.
Still to come are opening double header matches on the road against Andrew College (Sept. 3) and Thomas University JV (Sept. 4). Following the opening weekend the Falcons will be on the road once again headed to West Palm Beach to battle the junior varsity program of Keiser University’s (Sept. 8). Following this initial seven-game road series the Falcons will be at home for their first Region 8 match against the Seahawks of Broward College (Sept. 11). The Falcons will see one more home match against Webber International’s junior varsity program (Sept. 14), before Daytona State hits the road again to play up and coming powerhouse programs, Spartanburg Methodist and GA Military College in Milledgeville, GA.
September ends with home matches against the Silver storm of Miami, ASA College (Sept. 23) and national powerhouse and reigning Region 8 champions, Eastern Florida State (Sept. 27). The Titians finished last season 15-2-2 and were ranked 3rd nationally.
The October schedule promises elite level soccer for the Falcons, and matches the Falcons up with some of the most premier programs in NJCAA soccer as the Falcons battle it out in Region 8 play. Region 8 teams will battle for the right to claim the coveted Region 8 title and to move on to play-offs competition.
All Daytona State home games will be played at Embry-Riddle College’s turf field. For further information on the Falcon Soccer program and their 2016 schedule, email Head Coach Bart Sasnett at sasnet@daytonastate.edu
In April, DSC trustees also approved a master plan that calls for construction of a 1,000-seat soccer stadium in the northeast quadrant of the Daytona Beach Campus. Construction has already begun and is slated to be completed by spring 2017.