Orange Soccer Enters Week 2 Of Preseason Training
8/23/2007 8:31:02 AM | Men's Soccer
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SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The preseason is winding down for the SU men's soccer team. As the squad enters its second week of training there are just eight days before its season-opening match against Penn State in the Wolstein Soccer Classic. During that time Orange head coach Dean Foti wants to focus on good decision-making and organization which will be key, especially against the likes of the Nittany Lions.
"We still need to be more organized defensively," Foti said. "There are still some things on that end that need to be a little more air tight. Attacking-wise we have to be efficient with the chances we get. We've done a good job of generating opportunities, but we still need to be better at finishing them off."
Two players that didn't have much trouble finishing off scoring chances last season were Hansen Woodruff (Stuart, Fla.) and Kyle Hall (Toronto, Ontario). They are the team's top two returning scorers. Woodruff led the squad with seven goals and 16 points. He developed a knack for coming up big SU when it needed it as all of his scores were either game-winning or game-tying tallies. Hall paced SU with four assists. He also netted five goals for a total of 14 points. That duo gives the Orange one of the top attacking combos in the conference.
Foti has also been impressed with the progress of the team's six new players. He believes they are starting to understand the Syracuse system and are adjusting well to the speed of Division I soccer.
"The new guys have done a good job of picking up of what we're trying to do," Foti said. "A couple of them will contribute right away so it's important that they get on the same page with the veteran guys. The veteran guys did a good job of coming back in shape, so we've really come a long way in the short time that we've been together."
One of the newcomers expected to contribute is defender/midfielder Brien Chamney (Oakville, Ontario). Chamney transferred to Syracuse from McMaster University where he was a member of the football team. Chamney gained the majority of his soccer experience at T.A. Blakelock High School and was he was selected as its Male Athlete of the Year as a junior and senior. He also performed well in the Ontario Soccer League, earning South Region West Rookie of the Year honors in 2005.
"Brien's a presence on the field because of his size," Foti said. "But we are trying to get him acclimated to our style of play. That's going to take a little bit of time, but each day that goes by I think he will get a little better at it. In terms of catching on to his position, where he needs to be in relation to other players on the field. As the season goes on I think he'll improve by leaps and bounds."
Defender Karol Wasielewski (Gdynia, Poland) will also be a contributor for the Orange. Wasielewski was an accomplished youth player in Poland and was a member of several of the of the country's youth national teams. Like Chamney, Wasielewski has excellent size which works to his advantage on 50-50 balls and defending opponents' set pieces.
Their first taste of collegiate competition will come against Penn State at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 31. The game is part of the Wolstein Soccer Classic which also features Ohio State and West Virginia.
