COACH SPEAK: Green Bay Men's Soccer
Aug. 29, 2008
Q: How have your preseason workouts been so far? Which areas have you've been pleased with?
A: Our preseason training is going really well. We are much further along at this time now, than this time a year ago. I feel like our older players are training and playing with a greater intensity, focus and determination.
Q: Your program has increased its win total in each of the past three seasons. Do you have an explanation for that recent success?
A: No real secrets -- just hard work, quality players and a great team mentality.
Q: Your team advanced to the Horizon League Championship match last season, and has been picked second in this year's preseason poll. Can you talk about the expectations entering the season?
A: We have actually been to the last two Horizon League Finals, and have come up short both times. So our team knows what they are capable of and the seniors are working hard to teach the younger guys what it will take to get past where we have been in 2006 and 2007. Our players have won some big games over the last two years and have set high expectations.
Q: Your offense was pretty balanced last year. Is that a good feeling going into the 2008 campaign?
A: In soccer, it is always good to be able to get goals from a lot of places on the field, but we are looking for certain players to step up and have a big year. We feel pretty good about our ability to go forward as a group.
Q: You have six seniors on the roster. Talk about that group and what they've accomplished during the past three seasons.
A: Our seniors have played a lot of college soccer games. Many of them are potentially four year starters and know what it will take for us to reach our goals. This senior class has the opportunity to leave its mark on Green Bay soccer and could record the second-most wins for a class in our history. These guys have been great for our program and community.
Q: Discuss your newcomers. Who has stood out to this point?
A: All the newcomers are doing really well for being three weeks in to their college careers. They are following the lead of the upperclassmen and fitting well. They will help a great deal with our success this season.
Q: What kinds of goals have you set for this year's team (both on and off the field)?
A: On the field, we want to improve with every training session and match throughout the season. Our team is eager to get things right in the HL Tournament and qualify for the NCAA Tournament. Off the field, we want to continue to do well in the classroom and to continue to increase our community service around Green Bay. Our guys are good role models and hopefully our attendances will continue to increase with our involvement in the greater Green Bay area.
Q: Preview your non-conference schedule. Have you added any new matches or tournaments?
A: We start off the season with six challenging matches. We open up at Michigan and Oakland. Then, it's off to Akron's tournament where we will play two Big East opponents in Cincinnati and No. 15 West Virginia. After that, we host another NCAA tournament team in DePaul and a very good Drake squad. Our first home tournament includes Western Illinois and IUPUI, both of which are picked in the top two or three of the Summit League. Then, we face in-state rival Wisconsin in mid-October. It's great for soccer in the state to see us play the other quality Division I teams in Wisconsin.
