The Observer, August 29, 2008
Volume XLI, Issue 1
Strong core returns, but so does tough competition
Last year had all the makings of another fantastic soccer season for the Spartans. They began the year with a preseason ranking; they came back with a solid group of returning starters, and sprinted out to an 8-0 start. Ranked #2 in the nation, the Spartans saw their dreams of repeating their awesome 2006 campaign begin to fade. After some difficult losses to conference opponents, the team was squeezed out of NCAA playoff contention and failed to win another UAA conference title. This season, the Spartans find themselves in a similar situation, ranked 22nd in the nation with high expectations. However there is a different air about the team and a chip on their shoulder to boot.
Preseason camp is coming to an end and the Spartans mean business this season. "I think when last season ended, there was a lot of disappointment and some frustration," said senior midfielder Justin Steggerda. "We used that throughout the off-season as motivation." Also during the offseason, the team took a trip to Brazil. Many players have written blogs about their experience and what soccer was like down in South America, but all of them echoed the benefits of team bonding that occurred during the trip.
Leadership will not be an issue for this year's team as they return their top three goal scorers in Matt Paglia, RJ French, and Kevin Bigart along with nine other upperclassmen. "We have experienced players everywhere on the field," said Bigart. "A lot of leaders, a ton of talent, and we are all ready to play." Senior and Second Team All Region defender Zeyad Schwen will be the leader on the defensive front this year. In addition the Spartans will see the return of senior goalkeeper Konrad Karasek after he missed nearly all of last season with an injury to his shoulder.
The team is going to face stiff competition as always this year, especially within the UAA. As always the UAA is one of the most, if not the most, difficult conferences to win in Div. III sports. Along with Case Western's 22nd rank, Emory University, The University of Rochester, and Washington University are ranked 13th, 10th and 6th respectively. The team's out of conference schedule is not quite as demanding, however, it is not to be overlooked and the team is well aware of that. "We are all focused and realize that teams won't just hand us a win," said Bigart. "I think in some ways [last season] we expected to make the tournament and got a little too comfortable with that idea."
The season officially begins for the Spartans this coming Saturday and Sunday with the Second Annual Case Western Reserve Soccer Tournament. The team will face St. Vincent College at 7:30PM on Saturday and Bethany College at 5:30 PM on Sunday evening. There is one goal and one purpose for the team as their first game approaches according to Steggerda, "This year, we hope to accomplish what we set out to do: win a conference championship and make the NCAA tournament."
