Despite a 2-12-3 mark last season, the Clarkson University Men's Soccer team, led by fifth year head coach Nick Hillary and first year assistant Matt Konecnik, has plenty of reasons to think that significant strides in the win column can be made in 2013.

The Golden Knights return more than a dozen players from last year's squad, including nine regular starters. A pair of Liberty League Honorable Mention All-Stars are among the returners, with sophomore Marco Parisi (Guilford, CT) and junior Trevor Blackwell (Pittsford, NY) coming back to the pitch. Parisi scored six of Clarkson's 13 goals last year, and Blackwell added a goal and an assist in starting all 17 games last season.

The team graduated both goalkeepers from last season, and incoming freshmen Michael King (Verona, NY) and Alex White (Unadilla, NY) will be competing for the starting role in 2013. Clarkson is bringing in 13 other freshmen to the roster this fall, including four defenders, four midfielders, and five forwards, making for the deepest class in Hillary's five years as head coach.

The Golden Knights will have 11 homes games overall in 2013, and open their season with six straight games at Hantz Turf Field, including hosting the North Country Classic at the end of August. They open up conference play at Rochester Institute of Technology on September 28th, and finish up the regular season against rival St. Lawrence University on November 2nd.