Last year the Wesleyan men’s soccer team began and ended their season with losses to Williams College. The Cardinals will look to ensure this will not happen again when they kick off the 2005 campaign tomorrow against the Ephs.
Playing at home, the Cardinals will attempt to knock off division rivals and eighth-ranked nationally Williams, a feat Wesleyan has not accomplished since 1992. With a new season, the soccer team feels strongly that this is a perfect way to jump-start a run at the NESCAC playoffs.
“It is guaranteed to be a heated battle and a good game,” said Ross Pemmerl ’08. “We think that after the game on Saturday we will have turned a lot of heads and gained some due recognition as one of the premier [Division Three] teams this year.”
There is much excitement surrounding this game, despite the team losing six starters to graduation, four of whom were all-NESCAC performers. Co-captains Noah Isaacs ’06 and Kevin Lohela ’06 will provide the backbone in the midfield while last year’s top goal-scorers, Brandon Smith ’08 and Jared Ashe ’07, return up top.
Chris Keeler ’07 and David Baharestani ’07 return on defense, along with Justin Mello ’08, Zach Steinberg ’08 and Pemmerl, all expected to share time in the back. Together they hope to shut down Williams’ attack, led by Brett Olsen ’07, who netted a hat-trick against the Cardinals in last year’s NESCAC semifinals.
Matt Gnall ’08 will get the call in goal, replacing keeper Dan Penrod ’05. Gnall’s task is a mighty one, taking over for the former all-conference goalie.
Despite some early struggles in the scrimmage against Yale this year, Lohela is confident the team will come around.
“We are still sorting out some spots and working on our formation, but, overall, I am confident we will thrust toward our goals and climax at the right time,” Lohela said. “We are very focused this season.”
Despite a history of tough matches with Williams, the Cardinals remain confident that they can begin their season the right way take down the team that has reined over the NESCAC for the last four years.
The game kicks off Saturday at noon on North Field.
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