{"id":3769,"date":"2016-08-24T12:49:17","date_gmt":"2016-08-24T16:49:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.daytonastateinmotion.com\/?p=3769"},"modified":"2018-05-13T18:43:12","modified_gmt":"2018-05-13T22:43:12","slug":"daytona-state-on-the-pitch-with-new-soccer-program","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.daytonastateinmotion.com\/oldsite\/daytona-state-on-the-pitch-with-new-soccer-program\/","title":{"rendered":"Daytona State on the pitch with new soccer program"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Jorge Sastre & Chris Tropea
\nIn Motion Staff Writers<\/p>\n

This fall at Daytona State students will have two new sports teams to cheer for when the Falcons Men\u2019s and Woman\u2019s soccer teams hit the field to play in the NJCAA league.<\/p>\n

\"Daytona
Daytona State Falcons new men’s soccer team is already competing statewide, with home games coming soon.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Daytona State student Nick Ignoffo said, \u201cIt\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u2019s and Woman\u2019s head coaches Bart Sasnett and Brittany Jones are optimistic about how they think the program will impact Daytona State.<\/p>\n

Coach Jones was hired last November as inaugural coach of the women\u2019s team. Prior to that hire, she completed her fourth season at the helm of the Florida Southern program in Lakeland, Florida.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 Jones also began her coaching career at Stetson University as an assistant coach prior to moving on to Florida Southern.<\/p>\n

\"DSC
DSC soccer players are practicing at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. The team’s 1,000-seat stadium on campus will be complete in 2017.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cI 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,\u201d she said. \u201cThey will also be bringing even more cultural diversity to the program.\u201d<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think the teams are going to have a positive impact. We\u2019ve given our student body at large the opportunity to come out and watch the soccer games. It\u2019s also great for faculty and staff as well to be able to come out,\u201d said Sasnett.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd it\u2019s going to have an impact on our community because a lot of people have been waiting for a college soccer program here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Earlier this summer, Sasnett, announced the program’s inaugural 2016 schedule.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n

\"Centerback
Centerback Brandon Berg, center, came from Sebastian to play at DSC.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“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.<\/p>\n

The Men’s Soccer team opened play with four away exhibition matches against four year colleges; Jacksonville University, Flagler College, Webber International\u00a0 and the upcoming contest with neighbor school Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University on Saturday, Aug. 27.<\/p>\n

Still to come are opening double header matches on the road against Andrew College (Sept. 3) and Thomas University JV (Sept. 4).\u00a0 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).\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n

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).\u00a0 The Titians finished last season 15-2-2 and were ranked 3rd<\/sup> nationally.<\/p>\n

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.\u00a0 Region 8 teams will battle for the right to claim the coveted Region 8 title and to move on to play-offs competition.<\/p>\n