Men's soccer player Troy Cole signs with Mars Hill College
Jun 15, 2007
Irvine Valley men's soccer coach Martin McGrogan announced that sophomore defender Troy Colege (Laguna Hills High) has signed with Mars Hill College in North Carolina.
Cole started for the Lasers for two seasons and was part of the program for three years (he redshirted one season).
He was one of the team's top defenders and despite missing several games his sophomore season due to injury still finished the 2006 campaign with two goals and an assist. He also had two goals and one assist as a freshman in 2005.
Irvine Valley ended the 2006 season with a record of 15-4-4 overall, was second in the Orange Empire Conference and just missed making the state tournament.
Cole scored one of the memorable goals in IVC program history this past season. He connected on a blast from about 30 yards out with less than two minutes left in regulation time to help save Irvine Valley's season in a second-round Southern California regional playoff contest.
The goal lifted the Lasers into a 2-2 tie with San Diego City and then after two scoreless overtime periods, the second-seeded Lasers defeated the Knights in penalty kicks, 4-1.
Cole is one of 15 recruits headed to Mars Hill.
Said head coach Chris Donnelly of the recruiting class, "I am very pleased to welcome each of this year’s incoming players to the Hill. I expect big things out of this group over the next four years and believe that this class can be an integral part in future successes. These guys represent a wide array of top notch soccer experience and I know that they can make an impact here at Mars Hill College.”
Mars Hill is a NCAA Division II institution and a member of the South Atlantic Conference. The league is comprised of schools in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
The Lions open up the 2007 season on Aug. 23 when they host Erskine College in newly renovated Meares Stadium at 7 p.m.