2008 Woodie Awards
Men's Soccer Preview
Soccer Team Looks To Build Team Unity
Seth Schlessel
Issue date: 9/4/07 Section: Sports
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After a disappointing year in '06, the YU soccer team appears ready for a breakout season. This year's team looks like it can be the best team YU has ever produced. They have a solid core of experienced and young players. The team will be playing in the Skyline Conference for the first time and hopes to make a name for itself on the Wilf Campus.
The team is returning their star players, senior Chaim Bar-eli (Striker), senior Seth Schlessel (last years captain, fullback) and star goaltender Daniel Rosenthal-Cohen. According to sources around the league, Aaron Glatt will be returning after a one year hiatus from the team, to help solidify the defense.
"I wish I could come back for my sixth year to play with these guys. This is a special group of guys who can go far in this league," said former Mac Justin Lepolstat.
When asked what the game plan will be for this upcoming year, Captain Seth Schlessel said, "We are going to try and open up the pitch and give our forwards a chance to challenge the other teams defense."
Michael Goldberg, the team jokester, said, "We will win a lot of games if Chaim finally learns how to hit the net with his shot." When told of Michael's comment, Chaim responded by guaranteeing at least 15 goals. This sort of exchange however is what excites many about this year's team. Their comfort with each other is seen as a strong factor in building team chemistry.
The Maccabees, however, have a tough schedule due to the way the Jewish holidays fall out this year. They will be playing eight of their eleven games in a two week period. That kind of schedule would take a toll on anyone. "We can't do anything about the scheduling," said an understanding Goldberg. "We just have to keep our heads up and give 110 percent."
The team is going to have to get into game shape very quickly. They have only a little less than two weeks between the time school starts and their first game against Hunter College on September 10. The team looks willing to do whatever it takes to make YU soccer a force in this league. This team has been built over the past few years and this seems to be the year that all the hard work will finally pay off. The players and coaches on the team are like family and seem willing to do whatever they can to help and better each other.
"I am looking forward to a new year with these guys and am expecting only great things," said Chaim.
The whole team believes that this is their winning year. Great things can happen if they play their game together as one.
The team is returning their star players, senior Chaim Bar-eli (Striker), senior Seth Schlessel (last years captain, fullback) and star goaltender Daniel Rosenthal-Cohen. According to sources around the league, Aaron Glatt will be returning after a one year hiatus from the team, to help solidify the defense.
"I wish I could come back for my sixth year to play with these guys. This is a special group of guys who can go far in this league," said former Mac Justin Lepolstat.
When asked what the game plan will be for this upcoming year, Captain Seth Schlessel said, "We are going to try and open up the pitch and give our forwards a chance to challenge the other teams defense."
Michael Goldberg, the team jokester, said, "We will win a lot of games if Chaim finally learns how to hit the net with his shot." When told of Michael's comment, Chaim responded by guaranteeing at least 15 goals. This sort of exchange however is what excites many about this year's team. Their comfort with each other is seen as a strong factor in building team chemistry.
The Maccabees, however, have a tough schedule due to the way the Jewish holidays fall out this year. They will be playing eight of their eleven games in a two week period. That kind of schedule would take a toll on anyone. "We can't do anything about the scheduling," said an understanding Goldberg. "We just have to keep our heads up and give 110 percent."
The team is going to have to get into game shape very quickly. They have only a little less than two weeks between the time school starts and their first game against Hunter College on September 10. The team looks willing to do whatever it takes to make YU soccer a force in this league. This team has been built over the past few years and this seems to be the year that all the hard work will finally pay off. The players and coaches on the team are like family and seem willing to do whatever they can to help and better each other.
"I am looking forward to a new year with these guys and am expecting only great things," said Chaim.
The whole team believes that this is their winning year. Great things can happen if they play their game together as one.