Vikes are youthful, but ready to play

Graduating six seniors last spring, the Berry College Vikings remain optimistic about the men’s upcoming soccer season.

Last year, the Vikings finished 10-6-3 and went 4-1-2 in the Southern Athletic Association (SAA). With 15 returning players, the Vikings will guide four freshmen that have joined the squad.

Top returning scorers, Zak Wallingford and Christian Fulbright, return for the Vikings. Wallingford, a senior midfielder, was named to the SAA Second Team as a junior. Fulbright returns as a junior forward. They both had three goals and three assists for Berry.

Team captains are senior defenders, Josh Fancher and Matt Williams. The Vikings return all three goalkeepers, including Logan Hill, a 2013 SAA Honorable Mention selectee who posted an average of 1.02 goals.

“The team is youthful, so we expect every game will be tough both in conference and non-conference,” said Berry head coach Richard Vardy. “Our goal is to use the tough non-con- ference games to continue our development and be ready for a strong SAA conference campaign.”

The squad has played two preseason matches, looking strong in both performances.

The Vikings travel to Lexington, Kentucky this weekend for The Transylvania College Classic, where they will play Hanover College and tournament host, Transylvania.

The men’s first home game against Ramapo College is on Sept. 6 at 2 p.m. The kickoff game is part of the two-day Berry College Invitational.

Berry women’s soccer

The Berry College women’s soccer team opened the 2014 season with a convincing win on Friday night. Led by freshmen, the Vikings defeated Thomas College, 9-0, on the first day of the Old Town Canoe Classic. Freshmen Michaela Routh and Bella Fornuto led the offense with two goals and one assist apiece. In goal, Jackie McGivney and Maggie — also freshmen — shared the shutout.