The Washington University men’s soccer team (2-0-0) did not disappoint the home crowd last weekend when the Bears opened the season with two decisive wins, both 4-0 shutouts against MacMurray College and Dennison University.
As of this week, the Bears are currently ranked fourth in the NCAA Division III Central Regional Rankings, and look to continue their offensive dominance this upcoming weekend when they hit the road and travel southeast to Sewanee, Tennessee to take on two additionally ranked teams of the central region.
WU will first take on seventh ranked University of the South (2-0-0) on Friday afternoon, followed by the third ranked Rhodes College (2-0-0) on Saturday. The Bears hope to avenge last season’s close 2-1 losses to each team. As senior goalkeeper, Giles Bissonnette, points out, “Each of those losses last year was only by one goal. If we play our game with confidence, we should dominate and win.”
According to junior team-captain James Ward, in addition to focusing on strong defense and an aggressive offense, the team needs to go out and play even harder than they did last weekend when WU scored a total of eight unanswered goals.
Last weekend’s leading scorer with three goals for the Bears, senior forward Mark Gister simply stated, “Last weekend’s games were warm-ups, but this weekend will be a true test of our team. Both of these teams are very physical.we need to use our team speed to keep the pressure on them and play great defense.”
Ward noted, “We can’t get sucked into playing their game.”
“If we play solid defense, the offensive goals will come,” said Bissonnette.
This week’s practices have been preparing the Bears for their first two tests of the season. According to Ward, Coach Joe Clarke has been putting them through a variety of different drills, mostly focusing on formations and supporting the play so that each position player, (i.e. the midfielders, strikers, and defenders) know their options and angles on the field in a game situation.
One major advantage this season-this year’s team is definitely very deep, with thirteen new freshmen interested in seeing some playing time.
“The freshmen have definitely contributed, even if they haven’t gotten playing time yet,” said Ward. “Their presence off the field leads to better performances on the field because they push the starting position players to try to play better.”
Bissonnette noted, “This year we are very confident. We are very prepared and very fit. We feel we can outrun any team in the country. Last year we had a great team, but I think we have an even better one this year. I think everyone expects us to come away with two wins this weekend.”