Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University men’s soccer team opens the 2012 season today with an NCAA Division II Southeast Region contest at Barton College (7 p.m. kick-off). The 2010 South Atlantic Conference champions look to return to title form in 2012. Wingate head coach Gary Hamill believes the Bulldogs have the right mix of veterans and newcomers to make noise in the SAC race this year.
 
“We are receiving great leadership from our senior class,” Hamill says. “Our newcomers are providing good quality play. I believe Wingate men’s soccer is developing team cohesiveness…an understanding of each other both on and off the field.”
 
Hamill was pleased with Wingate’s pre-season efforts. “We had an excellent two weeks of pre-season camp,” Hamill says. “We have had a professional mindset from day one. The guys are completely focused on our goals…they are buying into our style of play.”

Hamill knows what it takes to be successful. In 20 years as Wingate’s head coach, he is 236-129-18 overall. Hamill’s teams have four SAC regular season crowns, two Food Lion SAC tournament titles and four NCAA play-off appearances. His five SAC Coach of the Year honors are more than any other men’s soccer coach in league history.
 
This week, Hamill sat down with the Wingate sports information department to talk about the 2012 season. Hamill’s position-by-position thoughts are listed below.
 
FORWARDS
 
“Senior Gui Lima, juniors Fabio Azeredo and Patrick Brown and sophomore Peron Da Silva give us much experience. Obviously, ball movement is very important for our offense. Our midfielders are working hard to give us the proper service in the proper areas. We have midfielders who can play up front. I like our chances.”
 
MIDFIELDERS
 
“We are very deep in the midfield, with junior Gui Andrade leading the way. Gui Andrade can play in the midfield or up front. Senior Joshua Jokic, juniors Pedro Figuiera and Zach Machuca and sophomores Ben Biron and Dillon Payne have significant match experience. Freshmen Gustavo Andrade (Gui’s brother), John Currie and Sean Gadsby are adapting to the American game. They have the ability to help us right away.”
 
DEFENDERS
 
“We have six or seven guys we can play in the defensive backfield…without any hesitation. They must stay together as a unit…communication is a big key for this group. If they gel, we have the opportunity to be very good.”
 
“Senior Corey McCollom is a three-year starter. His leadership skills are well documented. Junior Gilles Che, sophomore Kole Patterson and freshmen Cameron Burrows, James Card, Liam Gillesphey and Victor Tozelli are interchangeable parts…we are deep at defender.”
 
GOALKEEPERS
 
“Sophomore Sanjit Kang is the frontrunner between the pipes. At 6-3, he is an imposing presence. Sanjit has good hands…and reads the game well. He is good in the air. Sophomores Stephen Harris and Daniel DeGraff are battling for playing time as well. Senior Josh Gregory will serve as a student assistant coach for the 2012 season.”
 
Hamill believes the team’s off-season conditioning and pre-season hard work will pay dividends down the road. “We lost our way (last year),” Hamill says. “We can’t forget the past…we must do something about it…both the coaching staff and the players are motivated to do well.”
 
“We set the tone for this season the first night of practice,” Hamill says. “We want to be playing when it matters…in November. We will be ready.” The Bulldogs will be tested early. After the always-tough Barton side, Wingate will face Peach Belt Conference opponents Francis Marion, UNC Pembroke and Lander in three consecutive contests. The Bulldogs open SAC play Saturday, Sept. 15, visiting Lenoir-Rhyne at 7 p.m.
 
WINGATE UNIVERSITY

Wingate University, ranked as the 8th “best value” in the South by U.S. News & World Report, serves more than 2,700 students on three campuses in Wingate, Matthews and Hendersonville, N.C. Founded in 1896, the University offers 34 undergraduate majors, 37 minors and career concentrations, numerous pre-professional programs, graduate degrees in business, accounting, education, physician assistant studies and sport administration, and doctorates in pharmacy and education. With a 14 to 1 student/teacher ratio, Wingate students gain the tools and support needed to excel in academics and apply that learning toward an extraordinary career and life.
 
In addition to a robust intramural athletics program, Wingate student athletes compete in 20 NCAA Division II sports. The University has won the South Atlantic Conference Echols Athletic Excellence Award for the past six years.
 
Wingate is first among NCAA Division II Academic All-America®-producing private colleges in the 2000’s with 50 selections. Among North Carolina’s colleges and universities, Wingate’s 50 Academic All-America® honorees are first during this millennium. Wingate’s 59 lifetime Academic All-America® picks are tops among all SAC schools. For more information, go to www.wingatebulldogs.com.