CONWAY, S.C. – After posting a school record 20 wins last year, the 2004 Coastal Carolina Men’s Soccer team begins the year ranked 15th in the country by College Soccer News, the website announced. The Chants begin their season in an exhibition game against the third-ranked University of North Carolina on August 28 before taking on Anderson at home Sept. 1.

Last season, the Coastal men’s soccer program had a season for the ages, going 20-3 and 6-1 in the Big South, while winning both the Big South regular season and conference tournament crowns. The Chants then defeated Davidson and North Carolina in the NCAA Tournament before falling to Santa Clara in the round of 16.

In posting their 20-3 record, the Chanticleers were an exceptional goal scoring team. Although Joseph Ngwenya, the nation’s leading goal scorer for the last two years has departed, Coastal will still bring back plenty of offensive fire power. Head Coach Shaun Docking’s group will include the third-leading goal scorer in the nation last year in junior forward Jordie Hughes, who recorded 19 goals and also tallied eight assists. Also coming back is senior forward Boyzzz Khumalo who scored seven goals and added 10 assists. Other Chants expected to contribute to the offensive fireworks this year are senior midfielders Mubarike Chisoni with his seven goals and 11 assists and Randy Owen with two goals and eight assists from last year.

Coastal Carolina’s schedule is one that will certainly be challenging. Besides playing North Carolina in a preseason match, other key games will be at home on September 17 against Wisconsin-Milwaukee,who received votes in the preseason poll, and a home match against sixth-ranked Wake Forest on October 12th.

The Chanticleers will also play in four different regular season tournaments. Among the key opponents in tournaments will be Louisville, #21 Virginia Tech, South Carolina and College of Charleston.

In addition to all the tough regular season tournaments, CCU will also play against their Big South Conference rivals. Among the highlight games are at Liberty on September 20, a home game against Birmingham-Southern on September 26 and at Winthrop on October 30.