JACKSON, Miss. – During the days leading up to start of the fall sports seasons, Millsaps Athletic Communications will preview football, soccer, volleyball, cross country and golf. The second in this set of previews is men's soccer.
 
When the 2018 Millsaps' men's soccer season kicks off on Aug. 31 against Maryville College, fans will notice a lot of new faces suiting up for the Majors…14 of them to be exact. With only 16 returners, head coach Steve Voltz was tasked with filling out the roster to improve on last season's 7-8-2 record.
 
Voltz cast a recruiting net that spanned the globe and reeled in an incoming class that consists of players from six different countries, including Germany, Iceland, Switzerland, Russia, Santa Catarina and the U.S. Voltz said he expects Icelandic newcomer Throstur Saemundsson to play an important role for the Majors this season.
 
While Millsaps did lose their top two goal scorers from a season ago, they return senior Nathaniel Edwards, a four-year starter and 2017 SAA All-Conference Honorable Mention. They also return their third, fourth and fifth leading goal scorers, Luca Kistner, Brett Judd and Gabriel Ryce, respectively. The Majors also return junior netminder, Alfie Miller, who Voltz has named captain of this year's squad. Miller started 13 of Millsaps' 17 games last season, pacing the defense with 58 saves and five shutouts.
 
Voltz said that this season, which will be his sixth year at the helm, will be different than anything Millsaps has had before.
 
"It'll certainly be (more) different than we've ever been," he said. "We're bringing in the largest recruiting class. Early on, a lot of time will be spent just getting to know each other and getting to know a new system. Overall, however, our aspirations don't change: We want to compete in the conference tournament and look to make it to the national tournament."
 
The Majors are on the road for their first two games before opening at home on Sept. 4 at 5 p.m. against LeTourneau University.