The Observer, September 21, 2007
Volume XL, Issue 4
Third-ranked men's soccer continues undefeated season
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The Case men's soccer team continues to build on the success they began the season with. While it's still early in the season and the first UAA match is over a week away, the Spartans, ranked third in the nation, beat Tri-State University this past Saturday in what coach Dan Palmer considers the first great game his team has played. "That was the first game we played well for the entire 90 minutes," said Palmer. "The first four games; we'd play 20 minutes of good ball then have a breakdown."
While the team is still working out some kinks, Palmer credits their wins to the team's overall fitness.
With no returning starters in the back, the duties have fallen to freshman Nikola Ivanovic, sophomore Will Green, who saw limited playing time last year, and sophomore Jordan Cottington, who converted to back at the beginning of the season. Coach Palmer assures that, as the season progresses, the unfamiliarity with the system and inexperience will begin to fade. Yet, with the only goal scored against the Spartans an own goal, the new kids on the block seem to be holding their own.
Offensively, the team is consistently creating scoring opportunities. Right now, the hottest foot on the team belongs to R.J. French. He has scored half of the team's 10 goals in the first five games. The largest goal from last weekend, however, belongs to freshman Jordan Fox who, ironically, is the team's shortest player. "It was very exciting for Jordan this weekend, scoring his first collegiate goal," said Palmer. "He was in the box and headed in the game winner with about seven or eight opponents around him."
This week the team faces Oberlin at home on Wednesday and Heidelberg away on Sunday. Oberlin, ranked ninth in the region, will be the best team the Spartans have faced so far and will provide a good measuring stick as to the team's growth. Last year the match played out to a draw. Heidelberg is the team coach Palmer is wary of, however. "Heidelberg is a team that is very dangerous at home," said Palmer. "They have a narrow field and real grass, which can hurt us because it slows us down and cuts down on space that we like to utilize." The team is very optimistic about their chances, though. While upsets are commonplace in college soccer, Palmer believes that his team's blue-collar work ethic and great attitude will carry them to their long term goals. "We were picked third in the UAA this year," said Palmer. "Of any team that's supposed to be a long shot to win the title in our conference, we definitely have the best chance."
