Boston College Athletics
Kelly Pleased with First Week’s Effort
August 11, 2017 | Men's Soccer
Eagles wrap up opening frame of preseason while prepping for Tuesday’s scrimmage against NYRBII
NEWTON, Mass. – "Things are going well. We need to get a game in."
Boston College men's soccer head coach Ed Kelly won't have to wait long to do just that.
After opening preseason camp on Tuesday, the Eagles will get their first taste of unfamiliar competition exactly one week later on Tuesday, Aug. 15, when the they face New York Red Bulls II, the USL-affiliated club of the MLS side of the same name.
BC has held six training sessions – with a seventh set for Saturday morning – before Sunday's off day and Monday's travel day to Upper New Jersey for Tuesday's morning match.
The 25 players already in camp have piqued Kelly's interest after just a few days.
"It's a strong group," Kelly said. "We have a lot of competition and a great attitude. It's fun and everyone seems to be enjoying it.
"The incoming kids are a good class coming in. Our captain is back; we didn't have him last year. So all is well," Kelly added.
Twenty returnees – including nine of 11 starters from the Eagles' 2016 postseason run, plus captain Len Zeugner back from a season-long injury – have been joined by six newcomers.
With an experience group of veterans and a talented group of new players, the Eagles have seen high competition levels in the first week of preseason despite playing against each other so much already.
But the Eagles are ready to test themselves against another team.
"We want to play someone," Kelly said. "It always takes another team to make players play better. It's always hard to play great against each other (on your own team). It's a little boring after a while. But another team can raise the level of the game."
Tuesday's game is the first of two scrimmages next week, which will serve as Boston College's external preparation for the 2017 season opener against Quinnipiac at the Newton Campus Fields on Friday, Aug. 25. Next Saturday, BC will host UMass Lowell to close the preseason portion of its schedule.
But first, Boston College will take the field on Tuesday against a professional USL side that currently sits eighth in the USL Eastern Conference standings with 27 points from an 8-11-3 record.
Among the players expected to see time against BC? Zeiko Lewis, the Eagles' former four-time All-ACC honoree who was the 2016 Eagle of the Year.
For Kelly and the Eagles, Tuesday's game can't come soon enough.
NOTES: The Eagles have played intrasquad scrimmages in almost all of their training sessions so far this preseason … Friday's second session late in the afternoon featured shooting drills after the team completed lift testing mid-afternoon … the Eagles are awaiting the arrival of the final player on the roster – junior goalkeeper Cedric Saladin – who wrapped up his summer internship in New York this week … several players were off to the side during Friday's sessions while nursing knocks, but none are expected to need extended time for recovery.
Boston College men's soccer head coach Ed Kelly won't have to wait long to do just that.
After opening preseason camp on Tuesday, the Eagles will get their first taste of unfamiliar competition exactly one week later on Tuesday, Aug. 15, when the they face New York Red Bulls II, the USL-affiliated club of the MLS side of the same name.
BC has held six training sessions – with a seventh set for Saturday morning – before Sunday's off day and Monday's travel day to Upper New Jersey for Tuesday's morning match.
The 25 players already in camp have piqued Kelly's interest after just a few days.
"It's a strong group," Kelly said. "We have a lot of competition and a great attitude. It's fun and everyone seems to be enjoying it.
"The incoming kids are a good class coming in. Our captain is back; we didn't have him last year. So all is well," Kelly added.
Twenty returnees – including nine of 11 starters from the Eagles' 2016 postseason run, plus captain Len Zeugner back from a season-long injury – have been joined by six newcomers.
With an experience group of veterans and a talented group of new players, the Eagles have seen high competition levels in the first week of preseason despite playing against each other so much already.
But the Eagles are ready to test themselves against another team.
"We want to play someone," Kelly said. "It always takes another team to make players play better. It's always hard to play great against each other (on your own team). It's a little boring after a while. But another team can raise the level of the game."
Tuesday's game is the first of two scrimmages next week, which will serve as Boston College's external preparation for the 2017 season opener against Quinnipiac at the Newton Campus Fields on Friday, Aug. 25. Next Saturday, BC will host UMass Lowell to close the preseason portion of its schedule.
But first, Boston College will take the field on Tuesday against a professional USL side that currently sits eighth in the USL Eastern Conference standings with 27 points from an 8-11-3 record.
Among the players expected to see time against BC? Zeiko Lewis, the Eagles' former four-time All-ACC honoree who was the 2016 Eagle of the Year.
For Kelly and the Eagles, Tuesday's game can't come soon enough.
NOTES: The Eagles have played intrasquad scrimmages in almost all of their training sessions so far this preseason … Friday's second session late in the afternoon featured shooting drills after the team completed lift testing mid-afternoon … the Eagles are awaiting the arrival of the final player on the roster – junior goalkeeper Cedric Saladin – who wrapped up his summer internship in New York this week … several players were off to the side during Friday's sessions while nursing knocks, but none are expected to need extended time for recovery.
Players Mentioned
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Men's Soccer: NC State Highlights (Oct. 31, 2018)
Thursday, November 01
Men's Soccer: Weekly Press Conference (Oct. 15, 2018)
Tuesday, October 16
Men's Soccer: Harvard Postgame (Oct. 9, 2018)
Wednesday, October 10
