MONTEVALLO, Ala. – After a busy offseason that saw key players leaving the program due to graduation and transfers, head men's soccer coach Bruce Dietterle is optimistic about the future that is in front of the Falcons for the 2019 season.

"We figured out that we have a lot of potential this year," said Dietterle. "I know that is a very dangerous word but the expectation is that we are competing for a conference championship."

Dietterle welcomes back 18 players from the 2018 roster including a group of 12 seniors, led by Robert Kuta and Liam Moore. Kuta, who has played in 50 games throughout his career with the Falcons, will anchor Montevallo defensively in goal.  On the opposite side of the ball will be Moore who returns as an instrumental part of the Falcons' attack. Moore returns as the leading scorer for Montevallo, having found the back of the net six times in 2018.

"The seniors bring more experience because they have been here longer. They can teach the younger boys things not just on the field but off as well," said Liam Moore. "It's just a plus to have all the seniors that we have."

Other key returners among this year's squad are fellow seniors Arad Lev Ari, Vladik Margolin, Patrick Morton, Logan Buckley, Kai Pham and Luke Garner, in the midfield and up top. Defensively Montevallo also returns seniors Joel Charles and Daniel Muyambi  who will pair along with redshirt Junior Rob McNeal to be an instrumental part, along with Kuta, in bringing new players up to speed on the Falcons' defensive scheme.

"Seniors in a program are very important. They set stepping stones for the team and provide an idea of someone to look up to," said Logan Buckley. "We have a large group of seniors this year and I think we can do well."

Vladik Margolin believes the large group of seniors will prove to be very beneficial to the team overall this season.

"We all know each other's strengths and weaknesses," said Margolin. "I think it is going to play out well for us this season. We are going to give the freshman role models so they can do the right thing, in order to be the most successful team."

The incoming class for the Falcons this year is a large one, with a group of 12 new players joining the program a few weeks ago.
Dietterle is encouraged by the development and the shape the team is currently in.

"We've got a lot of guys doing the right things," added Dietterle. "We are developing quite quickly; how far that goes will be up to this group and how hard and fast they are willing to come together."

Dietterle's 2019 incoming class adds eight true freshman and four transfers. Among the transfer group are two players from fellow NCAA Division II schools across the country, one NAIA school, and one junior college.

"We just have a good group of guys with this group that are pushing us," said Dietterle. "We are expecting a lot of new guys to impact the team in a really positive way."

Nemanja Acimovic and Shea Mannings join the program this season looking to add depth up front for the Falcons. Acimovic comes to Montevallo by way of Ohio Valley University. In the past two seasons Acimovic has totaled seven goals and eleven assists while reaching the Sweet 16 twice with the Fighting Scotts, including an Elite 8 finish last season.
Mannings joins the program after spending his freshman season at Northwestern Ohio where he scored six goals in 2018 and was named Second Team All-Conference.

Moore is excited with the incoming class this year, saying it is the best group he has seen.

 "On the field we have some really good players. The recruiting this year has been excellent," added Moore. "The players are really going to help us go forward and do well in the GSC this year."

The pair of strikers will join an experienced group of goal scorers from last year's squad, including Moore, Lev Ari, and junior Antoni Matabosch.

The Falcons also add depth in the midfield with transfers Humberto Blanco from Chaminade University and Cyprien N'Goma from Barton Community College.

The true freshman group for Montevallo this year looks to add a wealth of depth defensively to the team with five defenders joining the program this season, including Mario Gratzl, Nick Adams, Davis Whitt, Sam Fowles and Nathan Brock.

Anthony Nettuno and Dairai Mahachi enter as freshman who can have an impact in the midfield, while Fausto Castillo adds to the roster as another goal scoring forward.

"When it comes to the freshman, this is the most fit team that I have been on," added Buckley. "We have everything to look forward to this season."

The 2019 squad overall boasts a wealth of experience with 17 upperclassman, including five players who started 15 games a year ago.

"They bring experience on the field as well as a maturity and confidence that comes with how long they have been playing the game, which is invaluable" said Dietterle. "Most teams that I've had that have been successful at the end of the year have had a great core of upperclassman leadership. I think this group can give us the leadership that we need."

Montevallo opens the 2019 season at home with a pair of games against region opponents and Sunshine State Conference members Florida Southern College and Palm Beach Atlantic.  The Falcons will play a total of three opponents from the sunshine state, all within the first six games of the season. In addition, the Falcons will face off against three Peach Belt Conference foes. Montevallo will travel to Clayton State and Francis Marion, and will host North Georgia.

The Falcons will open conference play on September 14^th when they play host Christian Brothers.

Montevallo was picked to finish ninth in the GSC Preseason Coaches Poll but Dietterle isn't focused on preseason rankings.

"For us our priority is where we are playing. Are we in the top 4? Are we getting a home playoff game? Are we in the conference final? Are we reaching the national spectrum? Are we ranked in the region?" said Dietterle. "Those are the questions that we ask. Nine is nine."

With preseason wrapped up and the regular season around the corner, Moore is encouraged by the way preseason went.

"This preseason we had the best bonding off the field which is important for team morale and  moving forward this season," said Moore. "All I care about is winning. I want to win as a team and for us to go as far as we can this season."