The 2010 season brings changes to the Campbell University men's soccer program as it begins its final year as a member of the Atlantic Sun Conference under first-year head coach Steve Armas. However, Armas, who served the previous four years as lead assistant for the team, and the Camels seek to continue their success against the A-Sun before CU joins the Big South Conference on July 1, 2011.

Over the last five years, Campbell has won three A-Sun regular season championships (2005, 2008, 2009), one A-Sun tournament title (2007), and made the school's first appearance in the NCAA Division I College Cup (2007).

The Camels have compiled a 58-35-7 overall record (.615) during that span. Furthermore, Campbell also owns the best A-Sun regular season record (32-5-5, .821) of all league members since the start of the 2005 season.

Eleven letter winners, including six starters, return from last season's club that finished 7-1-1 in the league and 8-10-1 overall. Over the past two years, the Camels own a 16-1-1 mark in A-Sun regular season play. Including this year's second-place prediction, Campbell has been selected to finish among the top two teams in the Atlantic Sun Conference for the fifth-straight year by league head coaches.

Among those lost from last season's club are the 2009 A-Sun offensive player of the year, Vince Petrasso, the program's all-time leader in matches played (and 1st-team all-league pick) Justin Madrid, plus key veterans Pat Danford and Austin Skakle.

However, the roster still is stocked with talented performers, headed by seniors Khalil Johnson, a 2nd-team all-conference choice in '09, and Ben York, plus 3 players who were chosen to the A-Sun all-freshman team a year ago - Mitchell Cardenas (at 2010 pre-season all-league choice), Justin Smith and Keegan Terry.

Question: Over the past five years, Campbell has won four Atlantic Sun Conference trophies. What are the keys to continuing that success?

Armas: I am a firm believer that success breeds success. I have to give credit to the players past and present that have played a significant role in developing a winning mentality and creating a competitive environment. As a coaching staff, we have committed ourselves to giving the best possible experience we can to our teams. It is extremely important for our players, both returning and incoming, to know the history of the program, and those that have paved the way for our team today. This is a new team developing chemistry and they must recognize that wins in the past don't ensure winning in the future.

Q: You have played a great role in the success of the last four years of Campbell Men's Soccer. In what ways are things different now that you are the one who ultimately makes the final decisions?

Armas: Things are a little different now because ultimately I am the one that is making the decisions and not just suggestions. I will likely continue to build upon the successes and experiences of our program. Additionally, I would like to focus on the development of relationships of trust on and off the field.

Q: What similarities and differences will the Campbell soccer fan see in the team this year from those in the past?

Armas: This year's team is extremely young. It will be a collective effort to win games, and we will not rely solely on one individual player. Fans will see a similar style of play, comprised of a high tempo passing game with creativity in the attack, as well as a stingy team committed to defending farther away from our goal.

Q: Over the past five years, Campbell has won four games against nationally-ranked schools. With five schools on this season's schedule that advanced to last year's NCAA College Cup, the odds are that the Camels will again face at least one of the country's best units. How has this team managed to rise to the level that it is consistently competing with, and defeating, the nation's elite?

Armas: The only thing I can attribute to our success is the desire within each player to compete and prove themselves as a team. Preparation also has been a key component to our past success. In training, we always try to work at a challenging pace and compete at a high level. It is our hope this will transfer to our games. I can see within our program the belief that day in and day out, we can play with and beat anyone in the country. We have the understanding that this will not always happen, but we will welcome the opportunity to play against any program.

Q: To say that your team has enjoyed a home field advantage over its five-year run of success would be an understatement. At home, the Camels have won 31 of 42 home games (31-11-0) since the start of 2005. What makes this team so tough to beat at the Eakes Complex?

Armas: When you have facilities like ours, it is easy to get motivated to play on game day. It is a privilege for our players to play on our game field, which has been so cared for by Mike Collins, Director of Operations, and his staff. We walk past the game field everyday staying off the hill and on the path using the stairs on our way out to training. It has become a ritual, so to speak, and a reminder that if we can focus on the process of creating the proper training environment, it will transfer to our game play. Additionally, we have been fortunate to have the continuous support of our fans; friends and families that help make Eakes a tough place to play. We hope to increase attendance, and create an exciting atmosphere to watch great soccer.

Q: What do you anticipate to be the strengths as well as areas that need improvement for the 2010 squad?

Armas: One of our strengths is our ability to find a way to score goals. Returning players that I foresee contributing to this are Mitchell Cardenas, Keegan Terry, and Khalil Johnson. We also have more depth in all positions, including defense which we struggled with last year. As in the past, I expect our midfield will be strong, as we have been continually able to field skilled players for these positions.

Looking at last season the glaring issue that needs attention is how many goals we let in. We must concentrate our efforts on defending in all parts of the field, buying into being a well-organized, focused, disciplined team. The key to our success is how quickly we can understand each other and fully trust in our preparation and each other. If we are able to put those two components together, it will foster another year of success.

Q: With nearly as many newcomers in camp as veteran players, where has the staff focused its pre-season training efforts?

Armas: With so many new players coming into the program this season, everything becomes our focus. More importantly, we start with team defending, it is the best way to help the players gain an understanding and create an identity from which they can grab on to. In order for our new players to improve, assimilate and contribute to our success they must rely on each other and look to the returning players for guidance leadership and how to positively affect the team's identity.

Q: Campbell, Jacksonville and Stetson have accounted for four of the last five A-Sun tournament titles. How do you see the A-Sun race developing this year?

Armas: I look for Stetson to be strong this year. I know that both Bob Butehorn (Florida Gulf Coast) and Scott Calabrese (East Tennessee State) will have their guys ready to go to improve upon last year. Mercer really performed late and Brad Ruzzo did a great job managing his team during tournament time. One thing is for certain, this is all a true testament to the fact that little separates teams from top to bottom in this conference. All of the teams have shown continual growth and I am sure this season will be no different. It will be a tightly contested race and as always a fight to the finish.

Q: Finally, you have been in your place as head coach at a Division I program for six months now. What are your feelings as you open your first season in charge of this team?

Armas: All of my emotions are running on all cylinders. I am excited to see where our returning players pick up where we left off in the spring. I also find myself anxious to see how our newcomers will begin to figure out their individual roles and places within the team. I am hopeful that returning players respond positively to our program's coaching staff changes, and the integration of my personality and ideas for training and preparation.