Men's soccer hoping to switch to winning fields

Yeomen working to better 2-14-1 finish of last year

By the end of last season a definite transformation had taken place within the men's soccer team. According to coach Chris Barker, they gelled, metamorphosing from a group of individual players into a team. This process has continued into this season and could spell victory for the men.

"I predict a successful season. I think we will improve over last year's record," said Coach Chris Barker. Sophomore Sam Hopkins was also optimistic, commenting, "I think if we can keep a positive attitude and keep up our work ethic we'll improve over last year and play as a team." Last season the team was 2-14-1.

The disappointing record of last season has motivated the men to try even harder. Hopkins said, "Everybody's very motivated to turn [our record] around. We're geared up and ready to go." Captain David Lessinger, a junior, said, "It's hard not to think about the past season, but what's nice is that we have a totally new season. We try not to let the past affect us."

The team will be playing more aggressively this season according to Barker. Their primary goal, though, Barker said, is "to play a very team oriented game."

First-year left forward Matias Stebbings said the team's strategy would be, "quick passes, not much dribbling, and to work as a team."

And they're not just talking about teamwork, they're working at it. According to Hopkins the men have been playing "small sided games" in practice, "a lot of six on six and nine on nine."

"We are playing a lot of one and two touch soccer in practice which forces us to pass as opposed to dribbling a lot on our own," Lessinger said.

Lessinger and junior Jon Wilson will be serving as captains this year. There are no superstar players though. Barker said,

"There are no key players; we play together as a team," Barker said.

The team faces Defiance Saturday and Heidelberg Wednesday, also away. They've never played Defiance before and are making no assumptions about the team. "We're assuming they're as good as any other team we've ever played," Lessinger said. Their first home game is against La Roche on Sept. 19.