The Commentator

The YU Soccer Maccabees have endured a disappointing start to a season that had so much promise. By bringing back most of last years' stars and adding good young talent, the YU soccer team appeared on the cusp of its best season ever. That's where it all fell apart. They have played three games and lost them all. Before the first game, the team found out that Yair Barzilai would not be able to play due to his ineligibility for having been in the school for too many years.

According to team officials, the problem isn't the fact that the team doesn't have the talent to compete against other teams. The major problem is the scheduling, which hurts this team every year and the commitment players have towards the team. Due to this, for two of the three games that the team has lost thus far, they've only had half the team in attendance. The main reason for that is because the University scheduled games right before the holiday, as they do every year, and most of the foreigners go home to be with their families.

"Unfortunately most of our players don't have the commitment to come to all of our games," Captain Seth Schlessel said after their latest loss in which they had only half the team. Players missed the game because of class and because of traveling for the holidays. Most of the starters didn't come to the game, including the starting and backup goalie.

One bright side to the season is the fact that the team is attracting more fans to their games. A couple of players from years past have been coming out to the games to cheer on their alma mater. "This team has a lot of talent and will be a force if they can get the whole team to come to the games," said Michael Zakaim, who has been rooting the team on all year.

Hopefully the players on the team have stayed in shape because once they return from the holidays they will have eight games over the course of a two week period. It will be very hard for the players to stay on their "A" game because of the flurry of games in this short period of time. The only thing guaranteed is that the players who do show up to the games will give it their all.

"I know most of these guys from last year; they will give it their all every second of every game, especially the captains Schlessel and Chaim Bar-Eli," said Zakaim, last year's backup midfielder.

"What happened these past three games we have to forget about and when we get back from the holidays it's a new start to a new season. We have to forget about these games and come back in good condition to finish the season strong and make a name for ourselves," said Bar-Eli.

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