BEREA, OHIO --  The Baldwin Wallace University men's soccer team and 17-year Head Coach Reid Ayers will be looking to compete for a shot at the 2014 Ohio Athletic Conference title. Despite losing eight lettermen from last season, Ayers is confident his team can contend in the OAC.

Coming off a 7-11-3 overall season, Ayers returns five seniors and nine returning starters to provide the leadership and spark that the Yellow Jackets need to get back on top of the OAC. The squad will be well-balanced and combine both young and experienced players.

The attack will be led by senior Academic All-OAC forward Cody Smith (Brunswick) and senior Academic All-OAC midfielder Michael Brennan (Akron/ Walsh Jesuit). The duo combined for nine goals and three assists last season and hope to improve on that mark this season.

Senior Nick Gallo (Richfield/ Revere), who started 20 games season, and junior Zach Smith (Parma/  Normandy) will be the top midfielders. Gallo had three assists and Smith provided three goals and three assists. Also look for senior Eric Sokol (Burrell, Pa.) and sophomore Patrick O'Malley (Sheridan, Ind./ Westfield) also to be counted on to contribute to BW's success. Sokol scored once and O'Malley had a goal and three assists.

On defense, look for senior Mike Womack (Mentor) and sophomore Adam Grove (Indianapolis, Ind./ North Central) to provide the experience after both started 20 of 21 games in 2013.  

One key battle in camp will occur "between the pipes".  Junior goalkeepers Zach Haynes (Medina/ Senior) and Andrew Sismour (North Ridgeville) are the main competitors and will be challenged by at least one incoming freshman. Haynes played in four games, including two starts, allowed five goals in more than 264 minutes of action with nine saves. Sismour saw action in one contest and did not allow a goal in more than 52 minutes.

The Yellow Jackets open the season on Friday August 29 when they travel to Erie, Pennsylvania and play host Penn State-Behrend University in the first round of the annual Herb Lauffer Memorial Tournament.