2007 Men's Soccer Outlook

By Mitch Ellisen, edited by Bill Scott

USF head coach Mitch Ellisen is a winner - 15 years and 160 wins at the college level are proof of that. However, the past three seasons have shown that even winners can have down times.  Character is built by adversity, and the 2007 team should have a lot of character.   The 2006 season showed an improved record and team from the 2005 season, it was still not what Ellisen is used to with a 5-13-1 record. 

The season ended with a tough loss in penalty kicks to the regional champion Goshen team.  The official outcome of that game is a 1-1 draw.  Therefore, the Cougars did not end their season on a loss.

In the off season, Ellisen used that game as the platform for building the team.  With an active off season of training at the Dome, the team developed a new attitude.  This season will be different from a competitiveness standpoint.  Commissioned to help communicate and lead the resurgence, team captains Zach Christman, Ryne Standish and Marty Wyss will lead the task and look to have the team prepared to return to playing Cougar soccer - winning soccer.

"Everything we did last Spring was very intentional, from recruiting, to planning, to training," Ellisen said. "We are going to find the right student-athletes for the University and identify the best players that fit into the system and work hard. We are going to focus on the things we are good at and everyone will be accountable."

Forward

One group that stepped up last year was a new group of players to score goals for USF. Brad Lohman, Pat Ohms, and Dusan Friga return to add to their goal scoring totals from 2006.  The team improved in the number of goals by 38% from the previous year. 

Lohman, lead the team with 5 goals, 4 assists and 14 points.  Second leading scorer, Ohm's, returns to add to his total of goals, also 5.  Friga, was the third leading scorer with 3.  The attack gets back one of its leading scorers from 2005, Nick Fowler, who sat out last year due to a medical red-shirt.  Nick is feeling much better and will add on to his two year total of 7 goals and 10 assists.

Returning up front for the Cougar is Junior Andrew Eisberg to continue the scoring prowess he established with the Reserve team the past two years.  Sophomore Zack Kwiatkowski also returns after red-shirting in 2006.  Kwiatkowski gets opportunity to display his athleticism that made him a prolific scorer this past spring. The addition of Indiana Tech transfer Tyler Stahl adds to a solid group of forwards.  He is looking forward to getting back to the scoring level he displayed at Michigan City High School.

Rookies Ryan Crawford, Cory Simon, and Ben Linehan round out the options up front. Crawford is the likeliest to have significant impact as a freshman after finishing as East Noble's all-time leading scorer.   With such a solid group of upper classmen, Simon and Linehan will compete on the Reserve squad in 2007.

"We need to do a better job finishing chances this year and become more dangerous in the final third," Ellisen said. "Brad [Lohman] will have to be a leader by example with his passion for the game and I think our wingers will do a good job. If Nick [Fowler] can get back to the level he is known for, our attack will be much improved."

Midfield

The midfield will look a little familiar this fall with addition of returning players from two years ago, Zack Linson and Justin Adams.  Senior Joe Carter will anchor one side of the midfield while Junior Jamie Werling will switch to the middle after playing wide on the other side. Senior Tri-Captain, Marty Wyss will see time in the middle of the Cougar attack.

Juniors Michael Reitenbach, and Josh Whitfield add to a solid midfield with much athleticism and crafty footwork on the ball. Adams returns after spending last year at IUPUI in Indianapolis.  Sophomores Alex Rauch, Nick Frank, and Tyler Lash all return for their second year.  Each will get much experience on the Reserve team who have a 16 games scheduled this fall. 

The freshmen class bring much excitement to the future of the program.  Jake Briede, Zack England, Eric Moeller, bring a lot of success to the program from both their high school and club experiences.  Briede comes after finishing a very successful year, 25 goals, after an injury plagued senior season.  England played for one of the most successful programs in Fort Wayne, Carroll High School.  Moeller enjoyed a stellar senior season leading his New Haven team to the Regional Finals before losing.  It was the best year that New Haven has ever had.  Smith and West complete the new additions to the Cougar midfield. Three other freshmen, Kyle Boyd, Randy Smith, and Pat West will begin their careers directing midfield for the USF reserves.

"We need our midfield to make good decisions with the ball and keep us organized defensively," Ellisen said. "Marty [Wyss] has paid his dues and deserve a good year and Zack [Linson] has the ability to complete our team. Joe[Carter] and Jamie [Werling] have worked very hard this past off-season and will have good seasons this year.  I am also excited about Michael's [Reitenbach] development and the impact of Jake [Briede], Zack [England] and Eric [Moeller].

Defense

The back line is arguably the strongest part of the 2006 USF team. Senior Tri-Captain, Zack Christman, will anchor the Cougars with his vocal and physical presence. Junior Tri-Captain Ryne Standish will sit alongside Christman in the middle at the back after playing in 33 games his first two years.

"Zach and Ryne are our two best returning players," Ellisen said. "They have been key to inserting an new attitude into the minds of their teammates by raising the level of expectations this fall.  They will compliment each other well and give us a solid foundation to build around in the back."

Red-Shirt Freshman  Nick Beck and Senior Nick Swanson have eyes on the right and left back spots, respectively. Beck brings the ability to read the defense and communicate this to his teammates.  He is extremely athletic with a willingness to get forward.  Swanson has waited three years to get the chance to make the left back his, and brings his solid left foot and well as an keen mind.  Nick is mulling over an offer from the University of Berkley to continue his education next year.   

Junior Jon Bowen also returns to Ellisen's side. Bowen will compete with Beck at right back. Ryan Malone is a savvy defender that will be in USF's back line in the future. Malone has captained both his prep and club teams and reads the game well.

Sophomores Michael Hoover, Ben Naseman, Greg Sutter and Cam Weeks complete the defensive unit.  Sutter played for both the Varsity and Reserve team last year getting the most experience.  Weeks played mostly on the Reserve team but gain quality experience and maturity.  Hoover is expected to bring leadership to the Reserve squad this fall.  Naseman red-shirted last year.

Freshmen Nick Wissing and Keith Wagner will start their Cougar careers on the Reserve squad.  Each will be asked to develop into solid defenders due to the fact that the defense will lose two seniors after the 2007 season.

Goalkeeper

Sophomores Ryan Roy and Chad Kilies will compete to take Brandon Ingram who finished a stellar career by making the NAIA Honorable Mention All-American team in 2006.  Both got experience playing in goal against Varsity and Reserve matches last season. 

"Neither keeper is going to be the season-opening number one until they prove they can do the job and respond to the responsibility," Ellisen said. "Both have had good off-seasons and it would not be in the programs best interest to name a starting keeper at this point."

Pushing the pair of  Sophomore keepers will be a pair of talented freshmen, Nick Morken and Grant Bockelman. Morken was the Fort Wayne Carroll's goalkeeper in 2006 and earned 1^st Team All-NHC as well as ISCA All-District recognition. Bockelman played for Columbia City High School, set eight records including most shutouts, lowest GAA, and wins. In 2006, he made 1st team all conference. The past two years, he was selected as the teams MVP and won leadership award. 

Schedule

The Cougars begin 2007 in the prestigious National Soccer Festival being held at the Fort Wayne Sport Club, where they will battle last years Regional Finalist Cornerstone University on August 24 and challenge Siena Heights University two days later. The matches between Cornerstone and USF have always been competitive with the last match taking place in 2004 with the outcome being a 2-2 draw.  The games with Siena Heights have not been any less competitive.  The teams have battled to four ties the past five years.  Last year Siena Heights won 1-0 at Bishop D'Arcy Stadium in the final pre-season scrimmage of 2006.

Aquinas College, Huntington University, and Shawnee State visit D'Arcy Stadium and Coonan Field August 31 and September 1in the 5^th Annual Cougar Cup. Last year the program did not have the early season tournament.  USF will play Aquinas on August 31 and Shawnee State on September 1.  It has been a few years since USF and Aquinas have met with the last game going in the favor of the Cougars' 3-2 in OT.  Last year, the Cougars' won at Shawnee State 2-1.

Other key non-conference games are against Calumet Saint Joseph's and Robert Morris of Chicago, with the first game being in Whiting, IN on September 5 and the latter game on Bishop D'Arcy Stadium on September 9.  Walsh University returns to USF on September 16.  The final non-conference match before the league schedule opens is at Urbana on September 19.  The Blue Raiders have had the Cougars' number the past two years.  The games have been competitive but the Urbana side has been a bit stronger.  It is time for the Cougars' to end the streak.

The league schedule opens September 22 as nemesis Bethel College visits USF.  Rival Goshen College visits USF on September 26 with fixtures at Grace College (Sept. 29), Huntington University (Oct. 2) and Indiana Wesleyan University (Oct. 6), highlight the conference slate before taking a break in the tough MCC schedule with a game at Defiance College (Oct 8). Goshen reached the NAIA National Championships last season and again will be the preseason favorite to win the Mid-Central Conference. Bethel, Marian and Indiana Wesleyan University will be among the top contenders to challenge the Maple Leafs at the top, with USF lurking just off the MCC radar screen.  The league schedule continues with games at home against Marian (Oct. 10) and Spring Arbor (Oct 16).  The final game at Taylor (Oct 20) closes the MCC season.  A match the week of the playoffs against in town rival Indian Institute of Technology (Oct 24) will wrap up the 2007 regular season.

"Our team has worked very hard this past year and is ready to take over the leadership of the MCC.  Our schedule always prepares us well for conference play and I think we really can be a team that surprises people," Ellisen said. "There is much parity in the MCC, everyone is fairly close on talent so it comes down to outworking your opponent. I believe we finally have the experience that the team has lacked the past two seasons to go along with our willingness to work and a new attitude, which could put us right in the mix again."