The 2001 Men's Soccer Outlook
8/13/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Aug. 13, 2001
EVANSTON, Ill. - Building something special.
That is the goal first-year head coach Tim Lenahan has set for the 2001 Northwestern men's soccer squad. After a winless season in 2000, the Wildcats have a new leader at the helm and a new attitude to begin their 2001 campaign.
Lenahan and his staff spent most of the spring practice season trying to instill a winning attitude into each player and getting them to buy into a new system.
"We will approach every game with the mindset that we will win," said Lenahan. "There will be no easy games for the other teams, they must earn everything."
In order to accomplish this, the Wildcats will rely on defensive organization and team cohesiveness on the defense end. Last season, NU gave up three times as many goals than they scored, so the primary focus of the spring was to decrease the number of scoring opportunities by the opposing teams. By doing this, the `Cats should keep themselves in every game, with a win just a break away on the other side.
Ten letterwinners return to Lakeside Field this fall, including five starters. They are led by senior captains Daniel Doman and Grant Trimble.
"Leadership and motivation from Daniel and Grant, both on and off the field, will be critical to our success," said Lenahan.
Doman played in 11 games last season, notching two goals on just three shots. Trimble saw action in 14 games, collecting one goal and one assist.
When the fall season opens in August, junior Steve Jedlinski may find himself in an unfamiliar position. Jedlinski, who played 17 games as a midfielder last season, moved to defense for most of the spring season. According to Lenahan, Jedlinski excelled in that position, and will be used as a wildcard of sorts, playing both the offensive and defensive ends of the field.
Junior's Justin Lesch and David DeHorn return to their spots in the backfield where they were both fixtures last season. Leash started all 18 games last year, while DeHorn saw action in every game and started 15. Sophomore Douglas Gibson could also see some time in the back.
With a year of experience under their belts, sophomores Matt Miclea and Mike Trudell return to anchor the front line. Miclea fired 29 shots on goal last year, playing in all 18 games. Trudell had an assist in 16 appearances.
In the midfield, Trimble will get company from junior Paul Elkins. Elkins has seen action in every game during his first two seasons as a Wildcat.
The biggest void to fill this season will be at goalkeeper. No one on the current roster has seen any game time in goal. The frontrunner for the position is currently sophomore Adam Grossman, but freshman Ryan Pederson is expected to compete for time.
"I believe Adam has been the most improved player since last season," said Lenahan. "But there will be no free tickets for that position or any other."
As many as nine freshmen could find their way on to the 2001 roster. Two that are expected to make an immediate impact are Derick Schneider and Matt Pyzyk. Both earned All-State honors in Wisconsin and were club teammates for Mequon United F.C. Illinois native John Dahlquist scored 43 goals in his high school career and will bring much-needed speed to the front line. Another Illinois native could also step right into a starting role. All-State selection Brandon Gayler's athleticism could be a major contribution. Lenahan describes the newcomer as a "tough back."
With a heavy dose of new blood coming to campus in the fall and a solid core of veterans returning, this season looks to be a positive beginning in establishing success at Lakeside Field.
"Every day we must come to the field ready to work hard, committing ourselves to Northwestern soccer," said Lenahan. "I can live with the results as long as we do just that."
