Averett University Cougars

Even though the Averett men’s soccer program is coming off its best season in over 20 years, coach Ed Goodhines is still apprehensive about starting his 2010 campaign against Hampden-Sydney College this afternoon at 4 p.m.

“I’m nervous. We’re not quite ready,” Goodhines said. “I thought this last Sunday was our best practice, but then we came out Monday and we were very flat.”

 “I thought we were going to be able to build off Sunday’s practice leading up to Hampden-Sydney, which is going to be a very, very tough opening game. They were ranked first in the preseason in the ODAC. Last year playing them, they were just big, fast, athletic, well-conditioned. So that is a tough opening game.”

One reason for the third-year coach’s nervousness is the fact that his team has no upper classmen in the starting line-up. The Cougars return six sophomore starters from last year’s squad, but five freshmen will take the field alongside them. Despite the youth, both Goodhines and assistant coach Enda Crehan feel the newer players have made them stronger in some key positions.

“We’re looking strong in the center of the pack. Last year with Christopher Newport, that was a really strong position,” Crehan said. “This year, we added Stewart Bath, Aldo Ramirez and Mark-Antony Liljeklev. We added guys like that who are quick, fast and played at a higher lever and be able to adapt to this level. Hopefully, that will help us strengthen that position because we struggled there last year.”

Goodhines is also excited about freshman James Grogan, who had to switch positions during training camp but is adjusting nicely to his new role.

“He came to us as a midfielder, but we noticed very early that he was a very good leader and a great communicator,” he said. “He talks all the time, so we put him to a true sweeper position. He has been able to control things quite nicely for us.”

The coaching staff is also looking for big things out of sophomore goalkeeper Nate Barker, who made great strides in the offseason with help from new goalie coach Dan Nadel.

“He was honorable mention all-conference last year,” Goodhines said. “I think he has improved with help from our goalkeeping coach and I feel a lot more secure with Nate and Justin Duksis in the goal.”

One of the areas Goodhines is trying to improve on is team leadership. Sophomore Richard Bjornander will join fellow sophomore John Thrower as captains and the pair are improving as team leaders.

“Being just freshmen and sophomores, and them being sophomores who started last year, we’re looking to them to be leaders,” Goodhines said. “They don’t have to be the stars, but we are looking for them to be the leaders of the team.”

“It’s growing. They’re getting there,” he said. “They are young, too.”