The Seahawks open the 2012 season with long-time rival UNC Greensboro tonight. The two played to a scoreless draw last season at UNCG last fall. UNCW owns a 6-5-1 lead in the all-time series, including a 3-2 win at the UNCW Soccer Stadium in 2004 when UNCG came into the match as the top-ranked team in the nation. To this day, it is the highest ranked win for any Seahawk program.
Seahawks In The Preseason
UNCW dropped both games to Charlotte and NC State by the identical scores of 3-1. In their final exhibition game, a goal from freshman Joel Perrell narrowed UNCW’s deficit to 2-1, but the Wolfpack pushed it to a two-goal cushion in the 86th minute to thwart UNCW’s rally.
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Colonial Athletic Association
UNCW was picked in a tie for eighth with Hofstra in the 12-team circuit in a vote of the league’s coaches. The CAA sent four teams to the NCAA tournament including conference champion Delaware, who claimed the league title for the first time. Joining the Blue Hens in the 48-team tournament were Old Dominion, James Madison and Georgia State. ODU was picked by the league’s coaches to win the conference title and received nine of a possible 11 first-place votes. James Madison received one vote and was second followed by defending champion Delaware. William & Mary and Northeastern rounded out the top five.
Tough Slate Awaits
UNCW will tackle a tough schedule in 2012 with seven teams appearaing in TopDrawerSoccer.com’s top-48. Duke, who is eighth on the list, is one of five of those teams to play at the UNCW Soccer Stadium this season. The Seahawks also have the distinction of playing the top three teams in the Southern Conference in the forms of Furman, Coll. of Charleston and UNCG.
Boulanger Honored
Senior midfielder Etienne Boulanger was honored by the league’s coaches by being named to the preason honorable mention All-CAA squad. Boulanger is UNCW’s top-returning career scorer with 29 points on 13 goals and three asists. Last season, he totaled five points on a pair of goals and an assist.
Name Tags Needed
Coach Heaney welcome 15 newcomers to the program this season. Eight saw action during the preseason including freshmen strikers Colin Bonner and Joel Perrell. Both played well during their time on the field with Bonner starting against NC State and Perrell scoring UNCW’s lone goal against the Wolfpack. The Seahawks enter the season with no returning minutes in goal after All-CAA goalkeeper Brandon Miller played every minute in 2011.
