By Kayla Perry

Carlo Castrechino, Laurentian Voyageurs men’s soccer coach, has high hopes for the 2014-2015 season.

With 12 rookies and 14 returning players, two of whom are all-star athletes, Castrechino said he hopes the team will be able to “build upon last years record,” and said he wants the team to finish “in first or second place” in the league this year.

The soccer season officially began on August 30 in a match between the Laurentian University and University of Toronto teams, which was quickly followed with another game between LU and Ryerson University on August 31.

The Voyageurs were defeated in their first two games of the season, losing 5-2 to the University of Toronto Varsity Blues with goals from both Omar Allison and Dean Pozolinas, and losing 1-0 to the Ryerson Rams.

This weekend, the team faced the Queen’s Gaels on Sept. 6 and the RMC Paladins on Sept 7, losing both games with final scores of 1-2 against the Gaels and 0-1 against the Paladins.

Castrechino says he hopes the team will have better luck at the home opener game after this “rough start.”

The Voyageurs will face the Carleton Ravens on Sept. 14 at the LU home opener.

Castrechino said two key players to watch this season are returning all-stars Omar Allison, number 19, and Cameron Brooks, number 15. Brooks is returning for his fifth year with the team, and is 2014-2015 team captain.

Other returning players include Matin Abinah,Cam Cloulter, Nick Franke and Matthew Willkes.

More information on the 2014-2015 mens soccer team, including a season schedule and team roster, can be found online at https://www.laurentian.ca/voyageurs/schedule-and-results.