Friday, September 5, 2008
Sports
Page 5
Men’s soccer kick-starts season
Ryan Burtner
SPORTS WRITER
RRBURTNE@UNCA.EDU
The men’s soccer
team begins their
regular season
against Appalachian
State this Saturday
with two pre-season
victories on their side.
According to Head
Coach Steve Cornish,
this season will be a lot
better than last season.
“We have a good
balance between
experience and youth.”
We’ve got a lot of
flair going forward
and defensively
we’re better than we
were last year,” Said
Cornish, entering his
sixteenth season. “We
will make it difficult
for teams to play here
against us and will
score lots of goals.”
A pre-season poll
predicted UNCA to
finish sixth in the Big
South Conference
this season.
Cornish said the poll
does not concern him.
“Everyone will tell
you pre-season polls are
a somewhat academic
exercise,” Cornish
said. “You have to do
them, but a lot of them
are based on historic
performances.”
He said his squad
can compete with
anyone in the Big
South Conference.
As long as his players
stay healthy, they have
a chance to compete.
Cornish said
last year his team
couldn’t have gotten
off to a better start.
“Last year we won
our first game 4-3 at
a tournament after
leading 4-1 with 15
minutes remaining,”
Cornish said. “We
then played a series
'
%
It
Photos clockwise from left:
make saves at a practice to
of tight games against
teams like Kentucky
and Furman, which we
knew were very difficult
games going in.”
Following those
games the team had
a two week break
and really struggled
to get going after
that, Cornish said.
“After that loss to
Furman, we then lost a
series of close games,”
Cornish said.“Acouple
of them were overtime
games, then all of a
sudden the results were
going against us, which
affect confidence.”
He said the team
managed to get back
on track in their
historic 2-1 win over
Clemson University.
The team always felt
they could go against
any team and beat them.
“We gave a lot of
teams a run for their
money and they were
good teams too,”
Susan Ti;rky - .Stah- PiionxiRAmuR
Derrick Filip, 18, Ire.shman from Newton, NC; ChrLs Zarzar, 19; La.s.si Hurskainen, fre.slimaii from Finland all
gear up for the game against Appalachian State on Saturday at 2 p.m.
Cornish said. “We line and keep them and Finland native, Cornish
defense.”
year 17
were unable to score
goals and finish last
year and when you’re
unable to score goals
you’ve got to play
perfect
This
freshmen and
nine seniors
comprise the roster.
Cornish said
he is impressed
by the freshmen’s
performances.
“They’re giving the
returning players a
run for their money,”
Cornish said. “They’re
very smart, very quick
and hungry for success,
and a number of
them will play early.”
Edwin Wotortsi, a
.senior defender and
captain, said he and the
fellow seniors’ main
goal is to watch over
the freshmen this year.
“We want to make
sure none of the
freshmen get out of
focused on the season,”
Wotortsi said. “We just
have to make sure they
learn all the things
they need to know.”
Wotortsi said he
thought it might be
difficult to control 17
freshmen. He said he
was surprised to find
out they were not.
“They’re all really
well-disciplined guys,”
Wotortsi said. “It’s
resulted in good team
chemistry all around.”
He said he feels
confident in the
freshmen to step in
for injured seniors
this year if need be.
“We have a couple of
line-ups that we can go
to and I’m comfortable
with it either way,”
Wotortsi said. “Last
year 1 was iffy about
one or the other, but
this year is different.”
Lassi Hurskainen, a
freshman goalkeeper
Senior glam!!
Attention Seniors: Come check out the men's
soccer team as they take on Appalachian State
at 2 p.m. this Saturday.
Before the game, from 12 until 1:30 p.m., join
other members of the Class of 2009 for free
food and drinks at the roundabout outside of
Governor's Hall.
Seniors 21 and up can bring beer to enjoy
before the game.Then we'll wrap up and
then head down to the field to cheer on the
Bulldogs!
geoior cGlass ^oard
When: Saturday, Sept. 6 @ 12 p.m.
*Where: Turnabout behind Governor's Hall
\ ^ V To get to know fellow seniors, drink
beer & support the Bulldogs!
said he wants to have
a successful year
by winning games.
“We have three
reallygoodgoalkeepers
and everyone wants
to start and play,”
Hurskainen .said. “I’ve
started two games,
but it’s not for certain
that 1 will start, and I
have to work hard.”
Hurskainen .said
that because everyone
wants to play it makes
for great competition
in practices. He said
the competition has
made the team better.
“1 don’t know
what the team was
like last year, but this
year we look good,”
Hurskainen said.
UNCA will
host Appalachian
State on Saturday.
The game will
mark the start of the
regular season for the
men’s soccer team.
Cornish said
he expects the
game to be tough.
He said that
Appalachian
State is usually a
very robust team.
“They’ve got some
very good returning
players,” Cornish .said.
“They’re strong in the
air, quick on the sides
and always a handful.”
He said that he
thinks Asheville will
take next weekend’s
game. He said he
couldn’t predict the
score, but promi.sed it
will be worth watching.
“There will be a
lot of goals scored.”
Cornish said.
Hurskainen said he,
too, feels confident
that UNCA will
win next weekend.
“We’re going to
keep it zero on our
side,” Hurskainen
said. “UNC Asheville
wins 2-0, 3-0.”
September Sports Calendar
Sept. 5
Women’s Soccer at Murray State
4:30 p.m. (CST)
Women’s Volleyball Tournament
6 p.m.
Women’s Volleyball Tournament
11:30 a.m.
Men’s Soccer vs. Appalachian State
2 p.m.
Women’s Volleyball at USC Upstate
7 p.m.
Women’s Soccer at UT-Martin
Noon (CST)
Sept. 10
Women’s Soccer at Furman
6 p.m.
For more information, visit the athletic Web site,
wwwMncabulldogs .com