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SANFORD, N.C. — ������ҳ��’s men’s and women’s soccer teams are making their debut as Region 10 conference participants this fall. 

That is a big step up from the club team status they held last fall, when both teams were first starting. 

“There’s more hunger for sure, just because it’s our first year competing in conference,” said sophomore Johnny Jimenez, who is studying Information Technology at ������ҳ�� and is one of the standout players on the men’s team. “It means a lot to us to make a name for ourselves in our first year and really let a lot of the competition know who we are.” 

Home games and practices take place at Lee County Athletic Park in Sanford. The teams have also been traveling to play opponents such as Wake Tech, a neighboring rival, and Patrick & Henry Community College, located in Virginia. 

Men’s Soccer Head Coach Brad McDougald said there are some highly skilled players on his team who may also get a chance to play at a four-year college in the future.

He complimented the whole team for their hard work and for progress in terms of cardio and getting in shape. 

“They’re playing for each other,” McDougald said. “They care about each other and they understand that they’ve got the chance to do something here that’s going to help them in life.” 

Women’s Soccer Head Coach Giovanni Viana said this year’s women’s team has a mix of players who have experience with high-level competitive soccer and others who have played before but are newer at it, having played at a more recreational level. 

When he coached soccer at Seaforth High School in Pittsboro, he said, he started out with just six soccer players, with the rest coming from cheerleading and volleyball.

“Three years later, we won a state title,” he said. “So, it's just a matter of getting kids that are committed to getting better and proving they want to work at it.  

There are some standouts in this year’s group, including sophomores and freshmen, Viana said. For example, he said, he was blown away by what sophomore Avery Lentz was able to do in their season opener against Wake Tech. 

Lentz, who is studying to become a Physical Therapist Assistant at ������ҳ��, said she started college thinking she wouldn’t play for a couple years, but then really missed it. 

“It’s a great group of girls,” she said of the team. “We all work very well together.” 

View additional information about ������ҳ�� athletics, including this year’s soccer match schedules. 

Students who are interested in joining ������ҳ��’s soccer teams this season or next should contact Viana gviana@cccc.edu or McDougald at bmcdo575@cccc.edu.