The Point Park University men’s soccer team is getting ready for its 2014 season with long practices at the home venue at Highmark Stadium. 

The team will have seven home games this season and 10 away games, along with playing rivals Rio Grande (Ohio) for the win.

Last year, the team had a 12-7-1 record, 4-0-0 Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (KIAC) which won them the conference championship and got them to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NAIA) national tournament for the second year in a row.

Senior forward Lucas Silva believes the team has what it takes this year, and has greatly improved on its faults from last season.

“We have a few key players returning from last season that already know the PPU way of playing,” Silva said. “We have some good new players coming this year that will give the team depth of roster and give coach different options on the bench. I would say that this season our difference is that we look solid in the back, which was one of the main problems we had in the past few years.”

Jeroen Walstra, who has been coaching the men’s soccer team for eight seasons, is bringing back eight of the 11 starters from last season.

“Josh Williams, Giovani Lebrun and Alain Smit will be great additions to the defense,” said team captain Jonty Loukes. “Alan Ramos is a new forward that offers us something a little different going forward with his speed. We have the likes of Lucas Silva, Paul Carr, and Maz Flick who will be key players for us with the experience they have.”

Point Park is currently ranked second to Rio Grande in the 2014 KIAC Men’s Soccer Preseason Poll. 

The first home game for the Pioneers is Thursday, September 4th, at 7 p.m. against Wheeling Jesuit at Highmark Stadium.