Coastal Carolina Chanticleers in Relation to Soccer
The Coastal Carolina Chanticleers are one of the most prominent teams in college soccer. The team has a storied history, having won multiple accolades and championships throughout its existence. In this article, we will delve into the details of the Coastal Carolina soccer program.
History
The Coastal Carolina soccer program was founded in 1974 and is currently coached by Shaun Docking. Docking has been at the helm since 1993 and has led the team to numerous successes during his tenure.
In 2003, the Chanticleers won their first Big South Conference championship. Since then, they have continued to dominate the conference, winning ten titles in total. In 2011, they made their first appearance in the NCAA College Cup, making it all the way to the quarterfinals before being eliminated.
Team Successes
The Coastal Carolina men's soccer team has made a name for themselves with several notable achievements. The team has won 18 consecutive Big South Conference games, the second-longest streak in conference history. They have qualified for the NCAA tournament eleven times and have reached the Sweet Sixteen five times.
What is more impressive, however, is that the Coastal Carolina women's soccer team has won five Big South Conference Championships too, in addition to its successful baseball, basketball, and football programs. Particularly, the women's team secured back-to-back championships in 2011 and 2012, earning the program its first-ever trip to the NCAA finals.
Players
Throughout the years, the Coastal Carolina soccer program has produced some fantastic players, including several who have gone on to play professionally. Among these standout players are Joseph Ngwenya, Daniél Steres, and Ashton Bennett.
Joseph Ngwenya is one of the most notable players to have come out of the program. He played for Coastal Carolina from 2000- 2003, earning All-American honors in each of his final two seasons. He was drafted seventh overall by the L.A. Galaxy in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft and enjoyed a successful professional career, playing for several teams, including the Austrian Vienna.
Daniél Steres is another standout player to have played at Coastal Carolina. He played for the Chanticleers from 2009-2011, earning first-team All-Big South Conference honors twice. Steres was drafted 28th overall by the Seattle Sounders FC in the 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft before moving on to play for the Vancouver Whitecaps and eventually LA Galaxy.
Ashton Bennett is yet another noteworthy player to come out of the program. He played for Coastal Carolina from 2009-2012, scoring an incredible 39 goals in his senior year alone. He was named first-team All-Big South Conference three times and was selected as the league's Offensive Player of the Year in 2011 and 2012. Bennett went on to play professionally, representing Jamaica in international matches and in clubs such as Charleston Battery and FC Cincinnati.
Conclusion
The Coastal Carolina soccer program is one of the most successful in collegiate soccer history. With championship wins aplenty, talented players, and a passionate fan base, NCAA college soccer fans have everything to look forward to when they see The Chanticleers on the field.