Clarksville, Ark.-Head Coach John Cossaboon and his Ozarks soccer team held its first practice early Thursday morning, and the Eagles are anxious to begin the 2012 season.
Youtube Interview: http://youtu.be/uXwebMEAX18
“We are really focusing on our defensive shape,” said Cossaboon. “We want to teach them how to be involved when they don’t have the ball."
"We are trying to get organized in our team shape and get some movement. I look at this group as a very young and teachable group.”
Cossaboon has 14 letterwinners and five starters back from last year’s team. Ozarks finished 6-11-1 overall and 5-7-1 in the American Southwest Conference.
The Eagles return two All-Conference players in forward Eloy Salgado and defender Shaun Keane. Salgado, a senior, ranked among the conference’s top-10 in shots (54), points (24) and goals (9). He earned American Southwest Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors once in 2011. Keane, a sophomore, started in 17 matches and scored 2 goals and had 2 assists.
Ozarks plays an exhibition game on Wednesday, August 22 at 5:00 p.m. against Ouachita Baptist University. The Eagles follow with another exhibition match Saturday, August 25 at home against Lyon College at 2:00 p.m. The Eagles open the regular season with a home match against Central Baptist College Saturday, August 31 at 2:00 p.m.
Topics: Athletics