Orange Men's Soccer Season Preview - Part I
8/12/2008 12:15:53 PM | Men's Soccer
Experience and depth are two ingredients for any successful soccer team and Orange head coach Dean Foti, now entering his 18th season at SU, believes this year’s team possesses those intangibles. The Orange returns 12 letterwinners, including seven starters, and features 12 players who made at least one start in 2007. The team boasts six seniors and nine juniors.
"Our team maturity and chemistry is the best since I’ve been here," Foti said. "The players are older and they’re more seasoned. Some have played internationally. More than ever have been through the BIG EAST battles and have played at every venue that we’re going to play at this year. The majority of the guys have been around the block so there’s an experience factor there that will come into play when we get into hard games and difficult situations which, hopefully, will lead them to make good decisions when the game is on the line.
"Position-wise, we have goal scorers. We have play-making midfielders. We have defenders who have proven they can keep opponents from scoring, and we have more of them than we’ve ever had before."
Depth and experience has the team on the cusp of a breakout season because it’s clustered in the two aspects of the game that produce results.
"I think our strengths are really in the bottom line categories," Foti said. "Preventing the other team from scoring and scoring ourselves. We have the pieces of the puzzle that you want to have."
THE SCHEDULE
Syracuse’s veteran squad will be put to the test early and often. The Orange will face seven clubs that reached the NCAA Tournament a year ago as part of a schedule that features 17 total matches. More than half of SU’s 2008 conference foes reached the postseason in 2007.
FORWARDS
Woodruff and Hall are flanked by several other players capable of putting the ball in the net. Junior Tom Perevegyencev blossomed into a consistent scorer last year, finishing second on the squad with 11 points, including four goals. Senior Spencer Schomaker is a top-flight target player, and classmate Pete Rowley is healthy after missing all but six games last season due to injury. In 2005, Rowley led the Orange with six goals.
"Most teams have one or maybe two guys who can score," Foti said. "It’s nice to have a bunch of guys because it keeps the defenders honest. They just can’t key on one guy."
Kyle Hall (Senior, 5-8, 155)
- Tied for second on the team in 2007 with four goals.
- Member of the Canadian National Team that participated in 2008 Olympic qualifying.
- Scored twice in the Orange’s 2007 win against Fordham.
Tom Perevegyencev (Junior, 6-1, 180)
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- Game-winning goal against Cincinnati.
Elliott Townsend (Junior, 6-4, 180)
- Appeared in three matches with one start last season.
Pete Rowley (Senior, 6-4, 200)
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- Missed 12 matches last year because of injury.
- 10 career goals.
Spencer Schomaker (Senior, 6-3, 180)
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- Had a goal in the Orange’s 4-0 win vs. Penn State in the 2007 season opener.
Hansen Woodruff (Junior, 5-10, 160)
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- Led the team in goals (10) and points (24).
- Fourth at SU career points per game (1.18).
Jose Zuniga (Freshman, 5-11, 160)
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