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Intercollegiate AthleticsFor Sports EnthusiastsFor Student Athletes |
Men's Soccer: It's Time To Move Forward |
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August 20, 2001 COMING UP: vs. Northwest, Aug. 27, 1 p.m.; vs. The Master's (Calif.), Sept. 1, 4 p.m. THE MOTTO IS SIMPLE: The motto for the 2001 Evergreen men's soccer season is simple - "It's Time to Move Forward." Head coach Scott Martin has put the recent past behind him and is focusing on the development of his 2001 squad. "Last year was such a new and disappointing experience for me," Martin said of the struggles from 2000. "It is something I never want to see repeated." WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR: Evergreen finished the 2000 season with an 0-16 record, the first time in school history that a team did not score a victory. For the record, the Geoducks have dropped 33 games in a row, with the last victory coming in October of 1998 against Hawaii Pacific. NEW ASSISTANT COACH: Martin went out in the off-season and received the services of former Seattle Sounders star Tom Dutra to assist the program and direct the goalkeepers. "Coach Dutra brings a great deal of experience as a player and as an instructor," Martin said of his colleague. "It will be his responsibility to stabilize the goalkeeper position." RECRUITING A SUCCESS FOR CLAMS: The 2001 recruiting class was solid for the Geoducks, as Martin went out and got a goalkeeper along with some scoring punch. "It is difficult to walk in with players handed to you by another coach," he said referring to the 2000 squad. "With players I recruited this year, we can start to establish a program in my direction. Furthermore, I was pleased that we could recruit so well within the State of Washington, which is my number one focus." YOUNGSTER IN THE NET: One of those recruits was true freshman goalkeeper Tom Kneeshaw (Eatonville, Wash. / Eatonville HS), a two-time All-Nisqually League selection, who is battling for the starting job in goal. "Tom is a diamond in the rough. He has raw skills, but is a good learner and student of the game, and has a good athletic background," Martin said of the 6-1 youngster. "Tom is a kid who realized that you do not have to go to an NCAA Division I school to play in college. Evergreen is another option for upper-level players." The Geoducks are looking to improve on the 4.69 goals against average they had during the 2000 season. THE SCORING PUNCH: On the attack, Martin returns leading scorer Justin Connell (Sequim, Wash. / Sequim HS), along with a pair of transfers - Nick Valentine (Steilacoom, Wash. / Tacoma CC) and Brian Cook (Cape Girardeau, Mo. / Skagit Valley CC), who were prolific junior college scorers. "I have come to readopt my traditional background of the game and will go with three forwards this year," Martin said. "This will allow for individual creativity of our front line." Evergreen scored just 11 goals last season, fewest in school history. However, the sophomore Connell booted four in the net. TWO CAPTAINS, TWO MIDFIELDERS: The Geoducks have the core of their midfield unit back, with co-captains Jimmy Nagle (Bainbridge Is., Wash. / Univ. of Portland) and Kinnan Murray (Portland, Ore. / Catlin Gabel HS) returning. Nagle played in 15-of-16 games last year with one assist, and Murray started all 16 games, scoring one goal and had a team high three assists. "Their leadership style is much like their playing style - Jimmy plays for results, Kinnan leads by example," Martin said of his captains. The other midfield positions will be determined during preseason workouts. Returning players Orion Shannon (Port Townsend, Wash. / Port Townsend HS), Charlie Flewelling (Kent, Wash. / The Northwest School), and Scott Pugsley (Spring House, Penn. / Huron (Mich.) HS), along with newcomer Jonah Millett (New Lebanon, N.Y. / New Lebanon HS) are battling for the remaining two spots. THE Z-MAN TO PATROL THE BACKLINE: The Clams return starter Sonny Gruginski (Goldendale, Wash. / Goldendale HS) on the backline. Others who will fill out the remaining spots include redshirt sophomore Dave Zebley (Sequim, Wash. / Wenatchee Valley CC), along with freshmen Dave Rack (Whitefish Bay, Wis. / Whitefish Bay HS) and Kolby Bray-Hoagland (Saint Louis, Mo. / University City HS). Martin likes what he sees in Zebley - "Zebley will be the core of our defense. He is one of the best defenders I have seen in a long time. The defensive end of the field will be his responsibility." THE 2001 SCHEDULE: The 2001 schedule contains a high caliber non-conference slate to go along with the Cascade Conference tour. Non-conference games with The Master's and Humboldt State from California, along with Pacific Lutheran, each nationally recognized programs, will challenge Evergreen. "Based on our recent record, it was very difficult to convince outside teams to play us," Martin said of the schedule building process. "I am very pleased with what we have put together." Other non-conference games have Evergreen facing Northwest Nazarene and Walla Walla College. WHAT ABOUT THE CCC: Conference wise, Concordia again looks to be the team to beat in the CCC, however there is much parity within the other six teams. "I worry a lot about Concordia because of their team speed, especially on the artificial turf at Delta Park. We will definitely try to slow the game down against them," Martin said of the Cavaliers. Albertson, the lone Cascade Conference representative to the NAIA National Tournament, lost six All-CCC seniors to graduation. Northwest, Western Baptist, Warner Pacific, and Cascade each have players returning with experience, which will make each of the 12 conference games tough. NEW TO EVERGREEN SOCCER: When coming to Geoduck games this year, fans will notice a few different things. One will be the new uniforms the squad will don - featuring the new institutional logo with the "Big G" look. Another will be the permanent scoreboard in the north end of College Recreation Center Field No. 4. FOR MORE INFORMATION: For all press releases, statistics, and team information about every Geoduck athletic team, head to www.evergreen.edu/crc, the official website for Evergreen athletics. |
Men's Soccer InformationAffiliates
Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC)
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Related Links |
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