The Observer, September 28, 2007
Volume XL, Issue 5
Men's soccer continues winning streak; Spartans ranked second in nation
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The men's soccer team is on fire again. The Spartans have amassed a perfect 7-0 record up to this point in the 2007 season, good enough to make them the second-best Div. III team in the country, behind only Trinity University (Texas) in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America/Adidas poll. With an extremely aggressive offense that has scored 16 goals and a stingy defense that has allowed only two goals, the Spartans look as if they are clicking on all cylinders as conference play looms. This past week the team defeated two very good Oberlin and Heidelberg teams.
Last Wednesday, when the Spartans hosted Oberlin, it looked as if they picked up where they left off. The teams played the first half to a 0-0 draw. Then, the Spartans picked up offensively. The first goal came as a result of a hand ball called against Oberlin in their own box, and Neal Duryea converted the penalty kick into points. It was the second goal, however, that was the most impressive. On a throw-in, junior Justin Steggerda bounced the ball off of R.J. French's back. The ball bounced back to Steggerda, who then blasted a ball that went over the goalie's head and bounced off the back post for a goal. "Steggerda was actually trying to cross the ball," said sophomore back Jordan Cottington. "And the ball just bent in and went off the post. It was one of the weirdest goals I'd ever seen." Matt Paglia finished out the scoring for the team with assists from both Phil DeBauche and Neal Duryea.
With the game seemingly wrapped up, the defense got a little comfortable and allowed two Oberlin scores in the last six minutes of the game. "Yeah, we just lost that finishing mentality," said Cottington. "We should have cut both those scores off." These were the first two goals Case has allowed all season.
The following game at Heidelberg on Saturday, the Spartans returned to form. This win can be credited to the Spartans' superior conditioning and excellent bench play. "It was a very warm day at Heidelberg," said coach Dan Palmer. "We were doing a lot of chasing so we subbed more than usual and kept fresh legs on the field." The first two Spartan goals came from freshman Phil DeBauche, who came in during the 60th minute. To seal the victory, junior Zeyad Schwen scored in the 89th minute. The defense pitched another shut-out, with goalie Chad Skidmore recording three saves.
The best is yet to come for the Spartans as they faced a great Wooster team Wednesday (after press time) and open conference play against New York University this Saturday. Last year, Wooster played the men into double overtime before Case came away with a one-goal victory. "Wooster is a very good team," said Palmer. "They came out to a slow start, but are playing good soccer now."
However, the away game against NYU is what has the team excited. "NYU and all of the UAA are really the best games," said Cottington. "They're always bigger, faster, and stronger than our non-conference games. We are expecting stiff competition." Coach Palmer likes his chances, though, as long as his team continues to play fast, aggressive, and physical soccer.
