Leadership may be key to next season
Men's Soccer
Patrick Gocklin
Issue date: 11/6/09 Section: Sports
Patrick Gocklin
Staff Writer
The Mocassin men's soccer team finished up their season with a 3-1 loss against Rollins College. The Moccasins finished last in the conference with 1-8 record and a 1-13-1 overall record.
Despite the Moccasins' struggles this past season the team expects see strength and leadership returning to the field with a bright future for next season.
Throughout the season the Mocs faced many obstacles that were difficult to overcome.
"One of the biggest problems this year has been our defense as a team and the absence of Ashley Holmes has been a big influence," Zach Hofstetter, a medical red-shirt sophomore mid-fielder.
When sophomore defender Holmes was not present on the defense line - due to an injury - the Mocs goals against average has gone up to almost two goals a game. The team was also very young this year after losing many seniors last year.
"Because we are so young we have made a lot of mistakes that could have been prevented," Hofstetter said. "We also have had a variety of different starting 11 which is a big reason why we haven't really gelled this year."
The team has taken some positive perspective out of this past season to take into next year.
Experience is one thing the team feels it has gained for its younger players.
"Although results have not been what we are looking for, our young team has gained valuable playing time and seen what it takes to compete in a tough conference," Holmes said.
Matt Macias, Paul DiPalma, Daniel Pulse and Sebastian Haupt finished up their last season for the Mocs.
The majority of the team is made up of juniors and sophomores. All three of our captains are underclassman.
"I think having a young team and having younger leadership is a good thing," Hofstetter said. "We will miss the seniors very much but our leadership is with our youth."
The team said that it realizes that this season was not good enough and that now they need to look at themselves individually and as a team closely to realize where they need to improve.
"The strength and core of our team will remain, and this is extremely important for us improving after a disappointing season," sophomore defender Ryan Arndt said.
The team believes there is plenty of time to prepare for next season and once the season stops the preparation for next season will begin.
"It will be up to the bigger personalities like Givi Kokaia, David Fletcher and Johan Jonsson to help galvanize the team in the wake of the spring season," Holmes said.
Staff Writer
The Mocassin men's soccer team finished up their season with a 3-1 loss against Rollins College. The Moccasins finished last in the conference with 1-8 record and a 1-13-1 overall record.
Despite the Moccasins' struggles this past season the team expects see strength and leadership returning to the field with a bright future for next season.
Throughout the season the Mocs faced many obstacles that were difficult to overcome.
"One of the biggest problems this year has been our defense as a team and the absence of Ashley Holmes has been a big influence," Zach Hofstetter, a medical red-shirt sophomore mid-fielder.
When sophomore defender Holmes was not present on the defense line - due to an injury - the Mocs goals against average has gone up to almost two goals a game. The team was also very young this year after losing many seniors last year.
"Because we are so young we have made a lot of mistakes that could have been prevented," Hofstetter said. "We also have had a variety of different starting 11 which is a big reason why we haven't really gelled this year."
The team has taken some positive perspective out of this past season to take into next year.
Experience is one thing the team feels it has gained for its younger players.
"Although results have not been what we are looking for, our young team has gained valuable playing time and seen what it takes to compete in a tough conference," Holmes said.
Matt Macias, Paul DiPalma, Daniel Pulse and Sebastian Haupt finished up their last season for the Mocs.
The majority of the team is made up of juniors and sophomores. All three of our captains are underclassman.
"I think having a young team and having younger leadership is a good thing," Hofstetter said. "We will miss the seniors very much but our leadership is with our youth."
The team said that it realizes that this season was not good enough and that now they need to look at themselves individually and as a team closely to realize where they need to improve.
"The strength and core of our team will remain, and this is extremely important for us improving after a disappointing season," sophomore defender Ryan Arndt said.
The team believes there is plenty of time to prepare for next season and once the season stops the preparation for next season will begin.
"It will be up to the bigger personalities like Givi Kokaia, David Fletcher and Johan Jonsson to help galvanize the team in the wake of the spring season," Holmes said.
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