Season Outlook
Looking to return to their fourth SoCon Championship appearance in the last five seasons, Matt Spear’s Davidson Wildcats enter the 2007 campaign full of optimism, focus and loads of potential.
Like most clubs, this year’s team will rely on the examples and experience of their veteran leadership, but will also lean on the talents of very skilled sophomores and freshmen.
“We have some important, experienced seniors that will need to set the standard in terms of commitment and performance,” commented Spear, who enters year seven at the helm of his alma mater. “Plus we have seven talented newcomers that will be called on to contribute.”
Of the 25 members that complete the 2007 Davidson roster, almost 70 percent is comprised of first and second year players.
“With seven freshmen and 10 sophomores, I suppose it could be labeled a young, inexperienced team. But we have always had our young players step in and contribute - even in our best seasons. We expect them to be fit, determined, brave, honest and cohesive. We know we need to give our best effort each day to reach our potential as a group. If we have a daily pursuit of excellence, we will be in a great position. That is all I ask.”
Goalkeepers
The Wildcats return both experience and depth in net, led by the duo of Ben Ashton and Robby Goldsberry, who have combined to start 40 games the last two seasons.“Ben Ashton is our Senior keeper and knows what it takes to win at this level.”
With six career shutouts to his credit, Ashton ranks among school leaders in three separate goalkeeping categories.
Goldsberry, a native of Tampa, Fla., showed glimpses of brilliance a year ago, and will continue to battle with Ashton for the starting nod.
During his freshman slate, Goldsberry turned away a team-best 42 shots and held then-ranked No. 6 Wake Forest scoreless for 89 minutes in his first career start.
Freshman Matt McElroy will develop quickly and add valuable depth to the position.
Defense
On the defensive front, the experience of the steady Senior Jon Bassett will be the anchor.Along with Bassett, co-captain Cameron Griffin returns in the back, and provides the fight and will to disrupt the opponent's attack. Like the Wildcats’ keepers, the defense has critical depth and could turn to a number of individuals (Petri Lindberg, Christian Hambleton, Liam Bracken, AJ Grant and Josh Zipin) that could feature in several vital spots.
Midfield
Much of the Davidson attack is orchestrated by its midfield. Led by four seniors a year ago, the Wildcats will look to reload its catalyst with both experience and youth.Senior Aaron West is a dangerous threat with loads of speed on the left wing, while sophomore Charlie Reiter can set up great plays from the middle as shown with three assists in 2006.
Junior Juan Duque and sophomore Tim Roark are important central players too, as well are a trio of freshmen in Alex Caskey, Seth Kulasekera and Peter Shelton, who provide much needed depth to such an integral part of the Wildcats’ offense.
Attack
This year’s squad has five seniors, and two of them are experienced with the ability to score in a number of ways.Up front, the Wildcats are led by Senior Robby Hoak's technique and tactical understanding.
A 6-4 striker that hails from Raleigh, N.C., Hoak can find the back of the net from crosses served into the center or by his excellent ball-striking by either foot. After spending much of last year on the defensive side of the field, Hoak looks to return to his scoring form of 2005, when he tallied eight goals and three assists.
“A big help for this season would be for him to not just score important goals but to help orchestrate our attack, especially with some talented young players joining he fold. He is a respected leader and I trust him like another assistant coach,” Spear said.
The speed and finishing abilities of senior Tom Lavan and sophomore Machel Turner will be crucial for Davidson.
Lavan is coming off a five-goal season and very strong spring, which has all the makings for his most successful season in a Wildcat uniform.
Turner, a Jamaican citizen, was a pleasant surprise in his debut season, scoring three goals on just seven shot attempts. Teamed with Hoak and Lavan up top, this tandem could make Davidson’s attack one of the more dangerous in the SoCon.
Junior Whitey Bolan continues to accelerate, while Sophomores Clinton Smith and Robert O'Donnell aim to prove their mark. Freshmen Mauricio Simms and Yannick Pilgrim have the athletic and technical tools to impact right away.
Schedule
Coming off a campaign that featured six teams ranked in the national Top 10, the 2007 Davidson men’s soccer schedule includes five NCAA participants from a year ago, three weekend tournaments and a full Southern Conference slate."We always aim to schedule great challenges, but we view them as opportunities to play our best and to prove ourselves.”
The fall schedule provides four challenges from California teams -- “A fun opportunity to battle West Coast soccer.” And then there are many great South Region powerhouses, including North Carolina, Wake Forest, Duke, and South Carolina, which help set the stage for a potential NCAA Tournament at-large bid.”
Unlike last season, the 2007 schedule in anchored with a five-game homestand, which could be crucial in deciding seeds for the Southern Conference.
“The 2007 schedule of course features the deep SoCon rivalries. More than ever, we have parity in the conference and each game will be up for grabs. And any team can finish first.”
