UD Soccer Program Looks to Overcome Preseason Struggles
There’s a new air around the UD soccer locker room. Both the men’s and women’s teams have taken up fresh new faces at the helm of the program, with high hopes to turn the Crusaders not just into a competitive team, but one to be feared.
Since Coach David Hoffmann stepped down, Coach Chase Reynolds, a UD soccer alum, and his assistant Tomas Depetris have worked hard together to shake up the team program, all while earning the players’ trust for the program as a whole. Midfield star Ryan Dahl recognizes all of the change, saying, “It’s a lot of good change happening. I think we have a lot of potential for the season… I think we’re all really bought into what we’re trying to do this year.”
Still, as is the case with most transitional phases, the fruit of the labor is yet to show. The team has rounded out its preseason with a 0-5-1 record, allowing 17 goals and scoring just 3. Numbers, however, never tell the whole story. The team is trying to move game by game, doing their best to build momentum from each previous performance. “I think we’re getting better every game and we’re only really growing in chemistry as a team and tactically,” says Dahl.
One glaring reason for the 17-goal allowance is the need for depth at the goalkeeper position. After two of last year’s top goalkeepers transferred out, there was a need for someone to step up in the position. Dahl notes, “We did try to have a bit of an open tryout for anyone at the school to try out to be a goalkeeper. But recently our captain, Andi San Roman, stepped in, and now he is playing goal.” Notably, San Roman’s preferred position is not between the sticks – he’s an outfield player who valiantly stepped up as a true captain to take on a responsibility that any outfield player might outright refuse. Knowing San Roman is in uncharted territory, Dahl had nothing but high praise for his skipper: “He’s choosing what’s best for the team over his own personal goals. He’s done very well the last few games, and we’re very grateful to have him back there.”
Yet, the goal allowance does not account for the lack of goals. Dahl, who was interviewed prior to his wondergoal brace against Southwestern Adventist, really focused on the team’s success. When asked if he would be the one to end the goal drought, he said, “I hope that would happen, but I really just want our team to win regardless if it’s me or not scoring the goal. I just want us to turn the season around.” It seemed as though Dahl predicted the team’s performance, saying, “I think we have what it takes to put a few goals away this weekend.” This was fulfilled in an unfortunate 3-4 loss, but ultimately ended a 9-game scoring drought.
The men seek to strike like that again in conference, searching for the glorious goals which the team knows it can produce. With the lack of a true keeper, those golden goals are their key to their first win.
The women’s program also has a new face, Coach Jeremiah Navarez. With coaching experience at the professional level and with SCAC rivals Trinity, Navarez has the experience and know-how to make the 180 change the UD soccer program hopes to have. The women have also quickly come to admire their new coach. Kaitlyn Munguia says, “He just has a lot of experience in soccer and in coaching and playing himself. So he knows what he’s talking about.” It very much seems the case that, as the men, the women are sold on their new programming.
Yet, just as the men have experienced, the women have also had a rollercoaster of a preseason, with a record of 1-4, allowing 20 goals, but also scoring 9 in those five games. A particular standout match was their 8-0 win against Arlington Baptist, but the preseason was still extremely difficult for them. However, their numbers understate their efforts, as they have faced formidable opponents. Munguia notes, “We’re basically going through the worst in the beginning to prepare ourselves. Our performance was probably the best it could be compared to what those teams normally do. They have players that should have gone D1.” Despite the hardship, Munguia knows that all storms pass, and that there is greater hope for the conference frame of the schedule. “I think it’s just really good practice. It may suck in the beginning, but once we get to the conference, it’s going to be a lot more helpful.”
Navarez has played an integral role in encouraging a positive and hopeful attitude for the games that will count. “[Navarez] reiterates to us the point of these games was not to get down on ourselves; it was just little mistakes that led to them scoring,” Munguia says. “We’re getting really good practice. Some other teams in our conference play easy teams for the preseason. We’re starting off with losses, but we’re playing the best.” The strategy of a challenging pre-conference schedule is expected to yield an extremely successful conference, and Munguia and the team seem to be committed to that plan.
One thing to highlight about the women’s soccer program is that there is no captaincy role this season. Navarez ultimately decided that matters should not be delegated to just one, but that the many should speak as one. “Coach said that he thinks we shouldn’t have somebody designated to speak up, and it should be all of us,” says Munguia. She echoes that opinion, especially in support of the squad newcomers, noting, “I think sometimes having captains, some people just feel like their word won’t matter. I think not having captains will help… whoever wants to speak, especially the underclassmen.”
As it stands, both the men’s and women’s soccer squads look to carry their scars from a harsh preseason storm with hopes to create a storm of their own in the conference. To do that, though, support from the general student body is crucial. Dahl notes, “We would love the support from the students at UD. We would love a passionate fan base at our games.” The soccer program is now undergoing the internal changes that the program has seemed to need so desperately. The last piece of the puzzle in positively changing all aspects of the UD soccer program would be to add the fuel that fires up the players’ passion to play for the badge proudly as Crusaders: full stands and a loud crowd.