The 2011 Pacific Men’s Soccer Team goes from the hunters to the hunted as they prepare to defend their 2010 Northwest Conference title.

No longer able to lean on the experience of nine seniors or the proven plug in goal that was two-time NWC Defensive Player Of The Year Andrew Stevermer, Head Coach Jim Brazeau’s club is still to be reckoned with according to the conference’s coaches. Despite the loss of the Second Team NSCAA All-West Region goalkeeper and the graduation departures of five other all-conference honorees, the Boxers were picked to finish second in the NWC, one year following their first conference title since 1996.

“It’s a coaches vote and it’s a nice thing to be there,” said Brazeau, “but at the same time the reality is that until we play a game we don’t know where we are because we did lose six starters and nine seniors.”

“The proof will be when the games start. We are looking forward to the group coming back and we should be fairly competitive again this year.”

Matching last season’s 14 victories will be a difficult task with a roster that will feature a large injection of youth and a rotating cast in goal to start the season. However, the new recruits are now fully aware of the expectations of playing for a winning program and the experienced returners will be motivated to continue the development that has seen the team improve its win total or conference standing each of the past three seasons.

“We had a big group of seniors that was really important,” said Brazeau. “I think the biggest question mark will be going in goal. We’ve got four people fighting for one goalkeeper spot.”

The Boxers are coming off back-to-back 14-win seasons, with the 2010 squad finishing with a 14-3-3 record. In conference play, the Boxers finished three points ahead of second place Whitman with a 10-2-2 mark. The Boxers first trip to the NCAA National Tournament since 1998 ended with a first round 3-1 loss at Trinity (Texas), the number one-ranked team in the nation.

“Winning the conference championship was a great accomplishment for the team,” said Brazeau. “It’s something that has always been our goal at the beginning of every year.”

Pacific’s stifling defense led the conference with just six goals allowed in 14 games, half the total allowed by number two scoring defense Whitworth. The Boxers outscored their opponents 39-14 over the 20-game season and recorded 11 shutout, nine of which came in conference play.

While goalkeeper remains a question mark entering the season opener, the Boxers backline can count on two seasoned defenders in returning starters Jack Wickward (Sr., Portland, Ore.) and Taylor Kane (Jr., Portland, Ore.), while Conor Peterhans (Sr., Seattle, Wash.) is one of only four senior returners on the squad.

Attacking midfielder Patrick Murray (Sr., Hillsboro, Ore.) led the club in shot attempts (57) and shots on goal (24) while starting all 20 games. Murray is Pacific’s only returning All-NWC honoree after being named to the second team in 2010.

Five starters return and a total of eight players appeared in at least half the games in 2010, although junior midfielder Jorge Mandujano (Cornelius, Ore.), who started all 20 games, will likely miss the season recuperating from offseason surgery. A young roster will feature 11 incoming freshmen out of 31 total players. Two transfers also join the ranks.

“[Seniors] Conor Peterhans, Jack Wickward, Taylor Kane and Patrick Murray are our four guys that have been here the longest,” said Brazeau. “We’re going to put the pressure on them to make sure that they help maintain and promote the culture that’s here to all our new guys.”

Despite the relative youth and lack of proven players at the college level, Brazeau has kept the expectations high and expects nothing less than to contend for a second consecutive conference title.

GOALKEEPERS
Four players who bided their time on the sidelines as freshmen now will compete for the opportunity to replace the stalwart Stevermer, who manned the goal 97 percent of the minutes in 2010.

Of the contending keepers, only Eric Baker (So., Shoreline, Wash.) saw any game action, spending 35 minutes in goal and recording one save in a 5-0 victory over Walla Walla. As a high school senior, Baker helped lead Shorecrest to a state championship with 11 shutouts.

Michael Summers (So., Beaverton, Ore.), Zach Cohen (So., Graton, Calif.) and Chris Reimer (Ferndale, Wash.) are all expected to see action over the first two weeks of the season as a full-time starter has yet to be named.

“It’s really going to be a preseason determination,” said Brazeau. “They are fairly close together as a group. They push each other and work hard and they all have their own strengths and weaknesses. It’s really up in the air right now.”

According to Brazeau, the rotation during the non-conference portion of the schedule will be based on fitness level, with either two goalkeepers splitting halves or three keepers playing 30 minutes in each match.

DEFENDERS
While the Boxers audition a new goalkeeper early in the season, the onus will be on a relatively experienced backline to maintain Pacific’s recent standard of defensive excellence.

The Boxers led the NWC with a 0.66 goals against average and 11 shutouts, while placing 32nd nationally with a 0.55 shutout percentage and 33rd in the nation in GAA. After allowing three goals in a season-opening win at Warner Pacific, the Boxers played 13 consecutive games without allowing more than one goal, recording five consecutive shutouts in conference play.

Central defender Wickward and left back Kane each started 19 games in 2010, while Mason Nakama (So., Honolulu, Hawaii) started a lot of games at right back.

With one piece of the puzzle to fill following the graduation of Second Team All-NWC defender Avery Neal, Antonio Maddedu (Jr., Milwaukie, Ore.), newcomer Daniel Wagner (Fr., Kailua, Hawaii), Devin Hughes (So., Seattle, Wash.) Lucas Sconyers (So., Seattle, Wash.) and Cam Davis (Jr., Eugene, Ore.) will all contend for playing time.

MIDFIELDERS
Murray will be expected to lead the team offensively. A keystone player who can do some special things with the ball, Murray has started since his sophomore year. The senior captain is Pacific’s top returning scorer after notching four goals and two assists while starting all 20 games in 2010.

“He is going to have a role that allows him to go be creative,” said Brazeau.

Kody Ganiko (Jr., Makawao, Hawaii) is expected to play well in the midfield this year after appearing in 17 games and scoring two goals in 2010. Maddedu, who saw action in 14 games last season with four starts after appearing in 18 matches as a freshman in 2009, may swing between midfield and defender.

Newcomers Alex Arrington (Fr., Portland, Ore.) and Garrick Knowles (Fr., Roseburg) are two very dynamic wide players that have done very well in preseason so far and will look to be incorporated into the action.

Arrington comes from a very strong Grant High School program in Portland, where he scored eight goals and added ten assists as a senior, while leading his state champion Westside Metros-Remix soccer club in scoring. Knowles comes from a long line of Pacific athletes and played two years of varsity soccer for a state playoff team at Roseburg High School.

Mandujano, who scored one goal with two assists in 2010, will begin the season on the injured list ending a streak of 39 consecutive games played.

FORWARDS
The Boxers frontline will have a youthful look and according to Brazeau, several newcomers have come in fit and ready to contribute right away.

Ian Farley (Fr., Spokane, Wash.) and Mark Watson (Fr., Clackamas, Ore.) have each had strong preseasons. Each played for strong programs at large high schools.

Farley proved himself to be a prolific goal-scorer while helping lead Mead High School to a 4A Greater Spokane League title as senior, while Watson was a First Team All-Three Rivers League performer for the Cavaliers as senior and contributed six goals and four assists his junior year on a team that reached the final four in Oregon’s highest classification.

Nick Rudella (So., Sammamish, Wash.) and Victor Wilson (So., Juneau, Alaska) should see their roles increase with the graduation loss of several offensive players.
Rudella scored four goals in nine games last year, while Wilson will be looking for his first collegiate tally after appearing in eight games in 2010.

Devin Shull (So., Seattle, Wash.), who did not play last year, is an intriguing wild card with his 6-7 length presenting an inviting target on set plays.