8
file Stentorian
NCSSM:
Sports
NCSSM Soccer 1993
by James Steiner
Soccer is an honored traditiorrs at the School of Sci
ence and Math, and this year is no exception. The NCSSM 1993
varsity soccer team has started slow this year but it is picking up
its pace, says team member David Jones. The team's record is
3-2 in conference play, and they feel that this is representative of
both their ability and their potential to improve. The team has
improved steadily since the very first day. A team at a school
like NCSSM (a two-year residential one) has many difficulties to
overcome. Nearly every member comes from a different school,
a different style of coaching and playing, as well as a different
team philosophy. Added to this is the fact that the team had
only two weeks of practice before their first game, whereas most
teams practice for a month or more in preseason.
However, these difficulties are being systematically
eliminated by the 1993 Unis. This year's team has showed that
they can pull together, though, and are now on a two game
winning streak (The last game was won 4-1). This has been good
for morale and has also gotten the team feeling good about the
rest of the season. When asked where they think they will end
up, the team responded by expressing their confidence about
going to the state playoffs. Though the Coach — Lane Wright
— would only say that he felt the team would do well in the
playoffs, team member David Jones was more optimistic. Jones
believes that given the teams steady rate of improvement and
what he called a "good draw" in the playoff order, the Unis have
a good chance of "going aU the way." The group seems to be
playing well as a team, as well as individually. All the players
are making extraordinary efforts in both games and practice.
Coach Wright says that the team works harder than most teanrs
he has come in contact with. Part of this effort comes from team
unity, which is very strong.
The team doesn't just work hard, they also have a
great deal of natural ability. The five returning seniors have
improved dramatically and have contributed to the team more
than last year's despite their smaller numbers. The jimiors
(about nine of them) have been very productive and have
performed impressively. These juniors have great potential
and may prove to be the backbone of a very strong team next
year.
Coach Wright feels that this team is both a strong
team this year and a solid foundation for next year. The team is
powerful in all three major areas of the game: defense, midfield,
and forward. The goal keeping is also impressive. Both keepers
(one of which is a first year soccer player) are admirable in dieir
dedication and ability. Coach Wright also feels that the work
ethic is among the best he has experienced. "They give 100
percent in every practice" says Wright and adds that they are
committed to continuous improvement. Though the coaching
switch between Kevin Bartkovitch and Lane Wright has been
difficult to overcome for the seniors (because of different styles
of coaching), Wright is pleased with how they have performed
so far. It is obvious that the team has great potential that they are
committed to living up to. So far this year, there have been large
crowds at all home soccer games, so make every effort to attend
as many games as possible for the rest of the season.
Men’s Soccer Team
Stockton Butler
Joel Colon
Daniel DeBrule
Mike Felts
Clark Grey
Craig Hart
Chris Haskins
Gabe Hauser
David Jones
Sam Lada
Dan McDermon
Mark Paschall
Drew Patterson
Matt Puffer
Tommy Reilly
Charlie Roederer
Kevin Stevens
Carlos Thompson
Chad Wellman
James Worriax