2009 Season Preview

Collin Power

2009 Men's Soccer Preview


This year’s men soccer will be gunning for a playoff spot after a disappointing finish in 2008 that saw them on the outside of the AUS playoffs. The roster will be improved this year with a number of fourth and fifth year players returning to provide a solid core. The veterans will be joined by a talented group of rookies and sophomores.

Head Coach Scott Betts will return at the helm of the program. Joining Betts are assistants Mike Power and Michael Kirby.

The roster will be deep, giving Betts the luxury of having to make challenging roster decisions.

However, the team is battling injuries as they open the season. With the AUS regular season spanning two months these injuries could have an impact on the team’s performance. 2007 team MVP keeper Tyler Putt is out for a extended period of time, as are last season leading scorer Aaron Anstey, Jake Warren, Chris Bulger, Colin Baker, and Andrew Stanford.

In the backfield the Sea~Hawks will rely on team captain Ryan Yetman as an anchor to the defense. The team also welcomes back Collin Power to the fold, who is returning for his fifth year of competition. Betts will also rely on Chris Pope and Jeff Slaney, who are both in their second year of eligibility.

There are a number of players fighting for a featured role at midfield. Zach Wade, and Chris White (who both sat out last season) are returning to be joined by rookies, Matthew Hamlyn and Steven DeLong. They will be pushed hard by second year players Kevin Connolly and Taedy O'Rourke, and by Colin Baker and Jake Warren when they return from injury.

At forward fourth years Corey Moore and Zach Hynes will bring speed and quickness to the offensive attack. Rookie Scott Woodfine will also look to make a contribution after coming into the season with a team-best result in the fitness test after taking part in the Canada Games.

There is some uncertainty at the keeper position with the injury to Putt. Luke Olmstead will see some action, and possibly fellow rookie Adam Coleridge. The wildcard to take a hold of the starting keeper position is Gerald Zengeya. The Zimbabwean rookie is extremely athletic but a little unconventional in his style of play.

Overall, Coach Betts feels that this year’s team is a playoff calibre team. However in the short AUS season he knows that every game is critical.
In giving his synopsis of the season he said, “Any player with experience in this league will tell you that teams gel and continue to improve as the season grows. No one team is going to give that break in the schedule where you can relax. You only get what you earn, and trust me, even then you need some breaks. The parity in this league is getting tighter with each year and without question, there are no free points to be had. However, there is also no team that cannot be beat -- if you are prepared to do what it takes game in and game out”