2007 Men's Soccer Preview
After
an exciting season where Pacific completed the biggest turnaround in NCAA
Division III men's soccer, the Boxers will be looking to build on their
success with a set of new faces.
The 2006 season came together in away no one predicted. After finishing 2-15-1 in 2005, the Boxers rolled to a 10-6-1 mark in 2006, their best record in seven seasons. In 2007, the Boxers hope to replicate that success while replacing nine players, including Northwest Conference Offensive Player of the Year Matt McDonough and All-NWC goalkeeper Jory Shene.
"We have to build on last year's success while at the same time continuing to grow the program," said Jim Brazeau, the 2006 NWC Men's Soccer Coach of the Year. "The challenge this year is growing those younger players faster so that they can contribute earlier to the success of the team."
In fact, the newcomers outnumber the returners. A total of 16 newcomers come to Forest Grove to complement a tight core of eight returners. That means enhanced roles for upperclassmen such forward Danny Williams (Jr., Eugene, Ore.), midfielders Todd Gienger (Sr., Springfield, Ore.) and Jeremy Hinton (Sr., Portland, Ore.) and defender Robin Grossman (Sr., Taos, N.M.).
At the same time, Brazeau is impressed with the quality and pace he has seen in what he believes may be his best incoming class. "I am happy with the quality of players we have recruited and the focus of our returning players has been very good," Brazeau said. "We have some players who can play and we have a freshman class with some ability. We just need to get it all organized."
FORWARDS
With the departure of McDonough, much of the scoring responsibility will
fall to the shoulders of Williams. The junior showed last year that he
has the potential to be just as potent, scoring seven goals, including
three game-winners, while earning Honorable Mention All-NWC honors. Williams
was one of four players, and the only underclassman, to start all 17 matches.
"It's always harder to fill a goal scorer's role in my opinion because that's the hardest thing to do in the game," Brazeau said. "Danny will be asked to carry more of the load this year. Hopefully he can put some balls in the back of net for us."
Newcomers Michael Iacolucci (Fr., Seattle, Wash.) and Travis Birrell (Fr., Seattle, Wash.) add solid depth and the potential to make an impact immediately. Both players started for Seattle's Nathan Hale High School, with Iacolucci earned all-conference honors with 23 goals and 18 assists in 15 matches.
MIDFIELDERS
Brazeau hopes that the presence of a number of new faces in the midfield
will provide a new, creative presence for the Pacific offense, but the
leadership will fall to a pair of experienced seniors. Hinton started 16
matches for the Boxers last year and netted the game-winner in an early
1-0 victory over Northwest (Wash.).
Gienger, meanwhile, is hungry to contribute after missing last season with a knee injury. The sixth-year senior was a valuable contributor the previous two seasons and has the ability to play a number of positions. "The good thing about Todd is that he has experience and he has quality to his game," Brazeau said. "We just need to find the best place to put him."
The newcomers stand to bring some needed pace and creativity to the middle of the pitch. Kizamu Tsutakawa (Fr., Seattle, Wash.) was an all-conference midfielder in high school and has shown a great deal of calmness and functional passing ability. "He has some vision and creativity that we haven't always had in there," Brazeau said.
Jasem Jaihouni (Fr., Portland, Ore.) scored eight goals and 11 assists in his senior season, earning all-conference honors, and shows potential in his ability to execute in the midfield. "J.J. has good vision," Brazeau said. "He seems the game well and executes his passes well."
Avery Neal (Fr., Loa Alamos, N.M.) and Anthony Jaeger (Fr., Portland, Ore.) also stand to figure into the mix at both midfield and defender. Neal brings a high pedigree to the program, earning New Mexico high school all-state honors each of the last two seasons. Jaeger spent four seasons with Portland's powerful Jesuit High School program and will bolster the defense with his strong tackling abilities.
DEFENDERS
Pacific returns the most experience in the back with three starters returning
to the fold. That experience will be especially critical with a young core
of goalkeepers protecting the net. "We are going to rely on our returners
to be organized and give us some experience back there," Brazeau said.
"How we defend as a team is going to be very important and will directly
impact our success this year."
Grossman returns with the most experience, registering 15 starts in 2006. Grossman showed defensive and offensive versatility with three assists late in the year. Jared Komo (Jr., Kailua, Hawaii) will spend much of his time on the backline after splitting time last year between defender and midfield. Komo made 14 starts and registered two assists.
Brandon Porter (So., Canby, Ore.) will provide a formidable presence in the middle of the field with his 6-foot-1 frame. Porter put together a solid freshman season, making 11 starts and scoring the game-winning goal in a 2-1 home victory over rival Linfield.
GOALKEEPERS
Filling the hole left by Shene, a Second Team All-NWC selection, will not
be easy, but Brazeau is confident in the ability of the five goalkeepers
in camp. Chris Caswell (Sr., Pearl City, Hawaii) will vie to secure a spot
after spending much of his first three seasons as a backup to Shene. Caswell
made two appearances in the net last year.
Brazeau, meanwhile, will look to the potential for the future in four newcomers to the program. Chris Grasso (Fr., Las Vegas, Nev.) brings to Pacific a technically sound game and a solid 6-foot-3 frame. Grasso earned all-conference honors each of his last two high school seasons. "He is a hard-working kid that comes from a good background of soccer," Brazeau said. "He just needs a little refinement and experience."
Andrew Stevermer (Fr., Gillette, Wyo.) has proved to be an unexpected surprise for Brazeau. Stevermer earned all-state honors each of his last two seasons and managed a 0.70 goals against average and 120 saves as a senior. "You don't find many goalkeepers coming out of Wyoming, but he has done really well," Brazeau said. "He has great range and he works very hard."
Derrick Inouye (Fr., Honolulu, Hawaii) and Ethan Woodis (Fr., Montrose, Colo.), both of whom carry frames taller than six feet, provide additional depth.