Soccer Opens Season At Home On Friday

MIAMI SHORES, Fla. --The Barry University Soccer teams begin their march towards an NCAA Tournament bid in 2011 when they square off against the reigning Gulf South Conference men’s and women’s champs, West Florida on Friday, Sept. 2 at Buccaneer Field. The men kick off at 4:30 pm with the women to follow afterwards at 7:00 pm.

The past two seasons have been bitter-sweet as the Buccaneer men captured the 2009 SSC Tournament Championship and were crowned 2010 SSC Regular season champs last fall. However, the Bucs have been bounced from the playoffs by conference foe Rollins, in consecutive years, a trend they are determined to change this fall.

The Bucs return eight starters including the entire defensive third which led the SSC in several categories including fewest goals allowed (14). Reigning SSC Coach of the Year, Steve McCrath as well as Daktronics All-Americans, Mark Anderson, Joe Conkleton, and Johnny Rodrigues are eager to get on the pitch after a great training camp.

Last season West Florida finished with a 14-5-2 mark with an unblemished 5-0 record in conference play. The Argonauts return three All-GSC members as well as the Conference Freshman of the Year in 2010. This will be the eight meeting between the two regional rivals with Barry leading the all time series 5-1-1.

The women also open up against the Argonauts, winners of the last three GSC titles. The Bucs have narrowly missed the Sunshine State Conference Tournament the past two years, but boast the top offensive team in the SSC, having averaged over three goals per game.

Barry was 9-8-1 last season, 3-4-1 in the SSC. Emma Karp led the league in scoring with 20 goals and 48 points, while Melissa Madrid added 14 goals and 35 points. Karp, the 2010 SSC Freshman of the Year, became the first 1st-team All-American for the Bucs since Kassy Slattery in 2003. Madrid was a second-team all-league and all-region pick.

The Argonauts went 17-2-2 last season, 7-0 in the GSC and won the tournament for the third straight year. The Argonauts return seven starters from their Gulf South Conference championship team from a year ago, including five pre-season All-GSC picks. Forward Alexis Garrand, midfielders Tina Murray and Monica Malavassi and defender Jordan Stone were all first-team All-GSC picks in 2010.

The Bucs hold a 9-6-2 edge in the all-time series, though the Argonauts have won five in a row, including a narrow 3-2 win in Pensacola, Fla., last season despite a two-goal performance from Karp.

Kickoff is set for this Friday, September 2nd starting at 4:30 p.m. at Buccaneer Field with Livestat coverage throughout the match.