FLORENCE, S.C. (Men’s Soccer) – After three weeks of training, Florida Tech is set to open the 2010 season with a trip to South Carolina to play Francis Marion and Coker over Labor Day weekend. 

The Panthers will jumpstart the new year when they oppose Francis Marion on Saturday at 4 p.m. Before they make their way back to Melbourne, they will travel to Coker on Monday for a 12 p.m. match. 

Tech head coach Robin Chan returns 15 student-athletes from last year’s squad, including seven starters and five seniors. All five – Dean Faithfull, Nicolas Garcia, Peter Mindley, Ryan Moon and David Tufft – saw significant playing time one season ago.

Tufft scored four goals in 2009, second-most on the squad. Assisting eight of the Panthers’ goals was Faithfull and junior Naru Wild-Putsorn, who both recorded a team-high four assists.

When preseason began on Aug. 12, Tech welcomed forward Ricardo Menendez (Parkland, Fla.), midfielder Clay Myers (Daytona Beach, Fla.), defender Francisco Ubiera (La Romana, D.R.) and midfielder Guillaume Zumofen (Vercorin, Switzerland). Along with the returners and newcomers are three student-athletes who redshirted as Panthers in 2009, goalkeeper Brentton Muhammad, midfielder Gary Ogilvie and defender Gabriel Warren.

On Thursday, Francis Marion and Coker faced each other in their season opener. Coker walked away with the victory as a result of a converted penalty kick in the 43rd minute.

In 2009, Francis Marion posted an 11-5-3 overall record and placed fifth in the Peach Belt Conference at 4-2-2. The Patriots inherited 10 players from last year’s team, including seven starters. Chris Foltanski will play his final season as a Patriot after finishing second on the squad with six goals.

Coker is coming off a 12-5-3 season and a Conference Carolinas Championship. Among the players the Cobras returned were two of their top three goal scorers, Tyler Senecal and Eric Stiefield who finished with six goals each.

For complete coverage of Panther men’s soccer, please visit the new and improved home of Florida Tech Athletics, www.floridatechsports.com.