By Robert Hudson

The Selma Times-Journal

Football season is in full swing, but the season is also underway on the Concordia College campus for a different kind of football.

The Concordia College Hornets men’s soccer team began its season Monday with a 2-1 loss on the road against South Georgia.

The Hornets began the season under the tutelage of new head coach Gregory Williams, who has high hopes for the program.

“My aim is to just get into the playoffs,” Williams said. “Then, we’ll take it from there.”

Williams, who served as an assistant coach on the team for four years, has 18 freshman on his team this year.

Williams said it’s going to take a lot of work in order for the Hornets to achieve their goal of making it to the postseason.

“Just like everything else, it’s going to take hard work,” Williams said. “We have to want it, and if the players want it, most likely we’ll achieve it.”

Williams said he’s excited to be in charge of the soccer program.

“It’s an honor to be head coach at this school,” Williams said. “I hope to take them to bigger and better things.”

Working with a young team, Williams believes conditioning will play a huge part in how successful the Hornets are.

“The main thing we need to work on is fitness,” Williams said. “We started a little late and we have some new freshman that have to get acclimatized. Fitness is the key to our success.”

Williams said his team is made up of young, raw talent, and getting them to play as a team will be another factor in how successful the Hornets are this season.

“They’re young kids,” Williams said.

“Some of them are 18 and just came out of high school. We’ve never had that before. It’s going to be a new experience for a lot of them and I hope they’re up for the challenge.”

The Hornets will take the field again Sunday for their home opener at Bloch Park against Oakwood University at 3 p.m.