|
||||
Intercollegiate AthleticsFor Sports EnthusiastsFor Student Athletes |
Evergreen Men's Soccer Looking to the Post-Season Geoducks bolster roster with JC transfers |
|||
|
Evergreen Head Men's Soccer Coach, Tom Boatright, announced his 2004 recruiting class as the Geoducks returned to campus with high expectations. Evergreen missed Cascade Conference post-season play by one game in 2003 and is hungry to repeat its 2002 season playoffs appearance. "Last year I felt we had a good team that had the wind taken out of our sails with tough home losses to Warner Pacific and Western Baptist early in the year," said Boatright. "We have a good group back and our goal is to make the conference tournament. But we will have our work cut out for us. The conference will be very strong again this year, top to bottom." Evergreen is picked to finish fourth in the Cascade Collegiate Conference behind perennial power Concordia University, Albertson College and Warner Pacific. Tied with the Geoducks for fourth is Western Baptist. The Geoducks' success will be in the hands of a strong group of returners led by First Team All-Conference forward Joe Gjertsen who led the league in goals with 27. Last season Gjertsen was twice named the Regional Player of the Week and once picked as the National Player of the Week. Joining Gjertsen will be other All-Conference players Nick Mancaruso, Nate Ford, and Luke Arthur. Ford tallied eight goals and 11 assists in 16 games for the Geoducks in 2003 while Arthur contributed four goals and two assists out of midfield. Evergreen will also welcome back Jason Gjertsen, Joe's older brother who redshirted last season but was an All-Conference pick in 2002 when he ranked third in the Cascade Collegiate Conference in goals per game and fourth in assists per game. " This years returnees have a chance to lead a group of talented newcomers, it should be very exciting to watch them put definition to the group and this year," said Boatright. Evergreen's squad will be bolstered by a number of first-year players vying for immediate playing time. Leading this group are two Walla Walla Community College transfers. Greg Perciado was a NWACC First Team All-Conference midfielder for the Warriors who possess great vision and passing ability. Sean Oliver is a towering six foot-five inch goalkeeper who was also a NWACC First Team All-Conference pick. Oliver will be competing for a starting role in the nets with returning goalkeeper Tom Kneeshaw. Joining them is Zephyr Titus of Highline Community College who will be competing for a starting spot at outside defender. The Geoducks will also enjoy the services of true freshmen Dan Jones of North Thurston High School, Duwan Tyson of Nova High School in Seattle, Alex Swanson and Jeff Wruck. The Geoducks were slated to open the regular season on the road at Cascade College August 27, but the game was cancelled due to poor field conditions. Evergreen will kick off its 2004 campaign at home as they host the annual Arno Zoske Tournament September 3-5. The Geoducks will face Willamette at 3:00 p.m. on September 3 and The University of British Columbia at 1:00 p.m. on September 5.
|
Men's Soccer InformationAffiliatesRelated Links |
|||
|
Last Updated: September 12, 2007 All content and images on this site are copyrighted by The Evergreen State
College. © 2008 |
||||
