Evan Sale, Campus Carrier Sports Editor
Berry Men’s Soccer has finished for the fall season. After falling short this past weekend to Oglethorpe the Vikings finished the season 8-8-1 with a conference record of 3-3-1.
The Vikings had a very complicated schedule this year but were competitive in nearly every game. They are optimistic for next fall.
“Our schedule this year was one of the more difficult ones we have had,” sophomore Henry Arato said. “We had to play smart and battle it out the entire season, but next year should be a very good team as we are only graduating two seniors. Hopefully we can bring in another strong recruiting class to help us out as well.”
The team may have had its difficulties this season, but they finished out the season even with wins and losses and had five all conference selections: junior Alex Jones, senior Caleb Ford, sophomore Jake Williamson, junior Carson Oakes and junior Steven Moore.
Senior all-conference defenseman Caleb Ford who was out with a broken ankle and leg his junior year came back this season to be all conference for his third time.
“I thought I had a solid career,” Ford said. “I was honored to receive the awards I did throughout my four years, those were mostly due to the players around me making me look good, and I wish those guys would have been recognized.”
All-conference forward Jake Williamson, who netted six goals this season to help the Vikings to their success, has also shifted his mindset to next fall.
“I would say that the season went well,” Williamson said. “Even the game that we lost we were in all of them, and the ball just didn’t bounce our way sometimes, we are only losing two seniors, so we are bringing back pretty much the same team for next year. After three first team all-conference guys and two getting honorable mentions, I think that next year is a year that if everyone comes back healthy and fit it could be a special year.”
The team has their mind on next fall. They are already anticipating more young guys stepping up in order for the team to take the steps needed to have a better season next year.
“This season was good for the program.” Ford said. “It allowed players who will help the program in the future get valuable playing experience. It showed us the team is capable of taking it to the next level with the future guys.”
The Viking Soccer team looks forward to picking up where they left off next year fall.