ATLANTA – Oglethorpe's men's soccer team will begin the 2023 season this afternoon, marking head coach Jon Akin's 21st season.  

Alongside Akin, assistant coach Mike Patrick returns while new coaches Josh Bronstorph and Miguel Vilas join the team. Oglethorpe was tabbed for third in the Southern Athletic Association's preseason poll and received three first place votes.  

On the roster 

• The Petrels have welcomed five freshmen: Koen Edwards, Trace Higham, Nicolas Mejia, Newsha Mirfenderseki, and Chris Veglia. 
• Six transfer students have joined the team: JR Cozine, Daniel Gardner, Aaron Ibe, Cristian Medina, Nicolas Sciarra and Cristian Zaragoza. 
• Among the returners: Ben Alram, Dylan Bapst, Carlos Cavallaro, Javier Aponte, Felipe Ferreira, Jake Locklear, Javier Martinez and Ethan Nunes.  
• The team will graduate eight seniors: Aponte, Cavallaro, Ferreira, Spencer Hsu, Locklear, Martinez, Sebastian Molina and Alexis Puga.  

On the schedule 

• First game: Friday, Sept. 1, at 2:30 p.m. against Washington and Lee on neutral turf at Emory. 
• Home opener / SAA opener: Saturday, Spe.t 23, at 3:30 p.m. against Centre. 
• The first round of the SAA tournament is set for Saturday, Oct. 28.  

Last season 

• Record: 5-6-5 (2-1-4 SAA). 
• 25 Petrels were named to the SAA academic honor roll.
• Aponte and Martinez were named to the All-SAA second team. 
• Cavallaro and Locklear were named all-conference honorable mentions.