FLORENCE — Kevin Varnado’s first message to his team this year? Forget about last year.
The third-year Francis Marion men’s soccer coach doesn’t want his team to dwell on last season, which included a 15-match unbeaten streak and winning the Peach Belt Conference regular season and tournament championships.
The Patriots advanced to the second round of the Division II tournament before losing to Tusculum.
“We had a great season last year and our trip to the national tournament was very valuable, but it can also become a little bit of a crutch if we keep reflecting on it,” Varnado said.
Heading into last year, the Patriots were picked to finish fifth in the PBC and were coming off a 5-12-1 season.
This year, the Patriots are tabbed as preseason co-favorites with Lander to the win the conference and are ranked No. 22 in the country.
“We were a little under the radar (last year),” Varnado said. “This year, there is a different perspective people have of us. We just got to keep our guys hungry for success.”
FMU returns 10 of 11 starters headlined by leading goal scorer Kyle Clinton. The senior had 10 goals and five assists in earning all-PBC and all-Southeast Region honors.
“We will rely on him very heavily this year,” Varnado said. “But when we recruited Kyle, that was the intention. When he was a junior or senior, he was to become one of the ones we rely on.”
The Patriots also return senior goalie Clark Richeson and junior forward Juan Rivas.
Richeson had a 1.4 goal against average and posted six shutouts. Rivas, who had nine goals and five assists last year, will likely miss today’s opener against St. Andrews because of an injury.
The only spot the Patriots must fill is the loss of centerback Willie Hunt. Junior Ivan Juric will move from midfield to back and fill Hunt’s spot.
Schedule
Today at Wingate, 7 p.m.
Sunday vs. St. Andrews, 2 p.m.
Sep. 1 at Anderson, 7 p.m.
Sep. 6 at Pfeiffer, 2 p.m.
Sep. 11 at Mars Hill, 7 p.m.
Sep. 16 vs. Mount Olive, 4 p.m.
Sep. 19 at Clayton St., 7:30 p.m.
Sep. 22 at Coker, 7 p.m.
Sep. 26 at G. Sthwstrn, 3:30 p.m.
Sep. 30 at Lander, 7 p.m.
Oct. 3 vs., Montevallo, 3 p.m.
Oct. 9 vs. Newberry, 4 p.m.
Oct. 14 vs. Pembroke, 4 p.m.
Oct. 17 vs. N. Georgia, 2 p.m.
Oct. 21 vs. USC Aiken, 4 p.m.
Oct. 24 at Lincoln Mem., 4 p.m.
Oct. 27 vs. Catawba, 4 p.m.
Oct. 31 at Flagler, 7 p.m.
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