Same story, different year. That will be the situation that faces the 2008 Otterbein men's soccer team.
"Our goals are the same year in and year out," said Otterbein head coach Gerry D'Arcy. "We want to put our selves in a position to qualify for the conference post-season tournament. Once you make the tournament anything can happen," he added.
The top six teams in the OAC qualify for the conference tournament. The season will mark the second year that the conference has expanded its tournament format from four teams to six.
Otterbein is coming off a 7-11 season in 2007, where the Cardinals finished 4-5 against conference foes.
The Cardinals will try to erase a four-year absence from the conference tournament, a streak that does not sit well with D'Arcy.
"The last couple years we've played well defensively, we just haven't been able to create and finish enough chances in front of the goal to win games," said Otterbein senior captain R.J. Lindquist.
The Cardinals will be guided by a new flock in 2008. With the graduation of nine seniors this spring, including six starters, it will be a youth movement on the pitch this fall.
The transition should be a little easier with the team's successful spring practice and summer sessions underway.
Lindquist and fellow senior co-captain Dan Ensign will provide the leadership in 2008.
The duo are lone seniors on the squad and should anchor down a solid Otterbein defense this fall.
Lindquist was an All-OAC Selection in 2007 and both should be highlights to the All Conference team in 2008.
"They're both great competitors, and they never quit on a play. If you beat them, they get right back in your face," said D'Arcy. "That's what makes them so tough to beat."
The team has already begun to focus in on the fall season. Concluding its annual spring practice, the team will start summer training sessions once classes are out.
"We were able to get in some valuable practice this spring, which was pretty key," said Ensign. "We have a lot of new faces to insert into our starting lineup and our game rotation with the loss of a big senior class, so the spring was the perfect time to get everyone introduced to their new roles before camp starts in August," he added.
A strong junior class should add depth to D'Arcy's team. Matt Beckett and Auggie Fisher will be counted on to create and finish scoring chances--something that has hindered Otterbein in the past few seasons.
"I'm looking forward to the challenge of having to step up, make plays and becoming a leader," said Beckett. "Everyone has to step their playing level up a little bit because we don't have a big senior class to fall back on like we did last season. It's our time and we have to accept that," added Beckett.
Otterbein will begin the regular season August 30 at home against the Wittenberg Tigers. t&c;
