250 /I athletics ·g ~ lEADERSHllt ~ a. young intercollegiate team Following the leadership of four senior play– ers, the men's soccer program completed its fourth season of NCAADivision II intercollegiate competition. Playing with the soccer program since its establishment in 2000, the team's four seniors were the first students to play intercollegiate soccer aU four years at Harding. The seruors, goalkeeper Michael Allen, defender Mitch Jones, midfielder Kyle Hinckley and midfielderIgoalkeeper Jacobo Hernandez, led the team to a 7-9-2 overall record, which was the best record in the program's four-year history. "The tearn did great this year, but as a coach, I always want to win more," head coach Greg Harris said. "The seniors provided positive lead– ership. I am glad these guys did not just come here to play soccer. They came here because they want to be at Harding and get a Christian educa– tion." After Harding joined the Gulf South Confer– ence in2000, the university faced requirements to expand its athletic program. "With women's soccer already in existence at Harding. interest for a men's soccer team grew," Scott Goode, sports information director, said. During the four years the team has competed, the seniors have watched the program develop. "The program has definitely grown stronger in its four years," Hinckley said. "The team has had opportunities to mature. The team now has leadership from guys who have played as Bisons for four straight years." Harris hoped the team's increasing stability would aid in producing successful seasons as the program continued to develop. "Our team has awesome potential," Harris said. "It is amazing, even mind boggling, that this young program could win seven games against strong competition without having the ability to provide a lot of scholarships. I am pleased that the team displayed such great effort to help build a successful program." ~EmjlySane
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