FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The NSU men's soccer team will have its first match under new head coach Matt Watts on Friday, hosting Mississippi College at the NSU Soccer Complex at 7:00 pm.
 
The Sharks finished 5-9 overall in 2015, and look to take revenge this season with a strong mix of veterans and new faces.
 
The Sharks bring back 12 players from 2015, including eight starters, and welcome 14 newcomers. Among the returners is 2015 assist leader, Filippo Mancini, and forwards Viktor Johnsson and Faycal Ouhlabib, midfielders Andrea Asti Brun, Daniel Gutierrez and Nate Matthews and defenders Caue Munareti Rodrigues and Emilio Blanco.
 
After a busy preseason, Watts is ready to kick off 2016. ""I'm obviously very excited for the start of the new season, but we have to make sure we play the game and not the occasion tonight," he explained.
 
"It's a chance to see where we are at against a good team in Mississippi College. Preseason is so short that and we are as prepared as we can be at this stage with so many new players and new coaching staff. We are by no means a finished article but the boys have worked tirelessly on the process to be ready for this opening game. They have their vision for the season and they're ready to get after it. It's great to see."
 
Similar to this season, the Sharks opened with Mississippi College in 2015 on their turf, and picked up a 3-1 win.
 
The 2016 campaign features the Choctaws return to full-time competition in the Gulf South Conference, after over 20 years in Division III. The Choctaws were picked to finish 7th in the 2016 GSC Preseason Coaches' poll on August 4.
 
The Choctaws return 13 seniors, including team captain Graham Bobo, as well as Jorge Delgado, who led all returners in goals scored last season.
 
Check the schedule for multimedia links for all matches and check back with NSUSharks.com after every match for results.
 
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