Future Cougars Excelling in National Premier Soccer League
6/8/2012 6:22:00 PM | Men's Soccer
The pair has helped lead the Colonials to a 3-0 start to position themselves strongly within the Northeast Keystone Region of the NPSL. They sit just one win behind division-leading FC Sonic which has had the advantage of an additional game thus far in the season.
"I'm very happy to see that Luke and Tam are in an environment that is preparing them for our fall season," said CofC head coach Ralph Lundy. "These are two young men who take advantage of opportunities. They both made a commitment to stay in the States and play NPSL this summer, which is a sacrifice for both of these players as they will not be able to go home with their families. They have a team-first mentality and that is the attitude we need for the fall."
McGowan (Glasgow, Scotland) has started at center back in all three matches of the season and anchored a defensive line which has only allowed two goals so far this season.
Huggett (Brighton, England) made his debut with the team on Saturday, June 2 and did so in fashion, netting a pair of goals to spring the Colonials to a 7-0 road victory over the Pocono Snow. In his second appearance, he provided another two-goal performance to lift the Colonials to a 2-1 win over Junior Lone Star FC.
The two are joining the Cougars from Cloud Community College where both were captains of the 2011 Junior College National Championship team. Huggett was named a National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) All-American after leading the country in goals scored with 32 in 26 games. McGowan was a NJCAA regional selection and solidified a defensive corps which posted 17 shutouts in the national championship run.
The NPSL is the successor to the Men's Premier Soccer League (MPSL), which was formed in 2002. By 2005 it became necessary for the league to expand to a national format in order to accommodate teams from the Midwest region. The NPSL expanded further in 2007 by adding a Northeastern region. In 2011, with the addition of a Southeastern region, the National Premier Soccer League has truly become a nationwide league.
It supports an extremely competitive league structure allowing players who hold amateur status to compete at an elite level without sacrificing their college eligibility.
Huggett and McGowan will rejoin the Cougars in time to prepare for the fall slate which opens on Friday, August 24 when CofC travels to Columbia, S.C., for a rematch of last year's banner game against South Carolina.
