Wake Forest Athletics
Chemistry Experiment
10/12/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Oct. 12, 2005
By Jay Reddick
A team with talent can be great. A team with talent that plays together can be unstoppable.
Jay Vidovich knows his men's soccer team has talent. His task this season, he said, will be gaining the experience and togetherness to make the Deacons into a championship contender.
"In my career, I don't think I've ever had more questions to answer," Vidovich said. "The challenge for this team is how we answer those questions."
Vidovich is forced to find some new faces to fill existing roles, after losing eight seniors and a junior from last year's squad. One measure of Vidovich's struggle: six players from last year's roster are playing professionally today. But Vidovich has plenty of options to fill his lineup sheet.
Justin Moose, an All-American forward, is the top returning scorer on the roster. Moose had seven goals and five assists in 2004, and he'll be back on the attack. Mark Ellington and Marcellus Tennyson are a pair of veterans who could be slotted in beside Moose. Ellington finished last season strong off the bench, scoring the only goal in a 1-0 overtime victory over Virginia Tech in the ACC Tournament. Tennyson missed the season with an injury but returns with good health and a senior's perspective.
"Marcellus is as fit as he's ever been," Vidovich said. "He's been ambitious, and it shows. Mark still could be one of the best pure goal-scorers we've ever had in the program. He has to step up."
A pair of freshmen will also push for playing time: Marcus Tracy, a Parade All-American who Vidovich called "a glider who can score;" and Andrew Wright, who could provide a big target for passes into the box.
The midfield provides the fewest questions for Vidovich in preseason. Despite the loss of three starters, he returns three athletes with experience and talent. Ryan Solle finished second on the team with nine assists last season; Steven Curfman battled through injuries to make an impact in the postseason; and Wells Thompson provides a physical presence on attack and defense.
Most of the other contenders for time in the midfield are freshmen. Michael Lahoud is an attacking midfielder, while Cline Beam has a defensive reputation, and Jamie Franks has potential in the transition game.
Sam Cronin, a freshman from Winston-Salem, is listed as a midfielder, but Vidovich said he may not end up there. He led Mount Tabor in all offensive categories last season but also showed solid passing skills from the back line.
"He's Mr. Versatility," Vidovich said. "He's played everywhere but goalkeeper, and he said he'd do that if we asked him to. He'll play somewhere for us -- wherever the piece of the puzzle is missing, he'll fill it."
Along the back line, Pat Phelan and Julian Valentin are the stalwarts. The two sophomores both played with age-group national teams this summer and have returned to campus fit and ready to go. Fifth-year senior Wes Allen, who backed up Michael Parkhurst for much of the past three seasons, could get his first chance to start.
"Wes just keeps getting better and better," Vidovich said. "We'll be counting on him."
Junior Bobby Davis and freshmen Ben Ryan and Bobby Davis are emerging as favorites to see time in the back, as well.
Brian Edwards, who set a school record with nine shutouts last season, returns as goalkeeper. He'll be pushed by redshirt freshman Marcus Rein, a member of the U.S. Under-18 team.
Vidovich barely had more than two weeks of practice before the team's first game, set for Sept. 2 at national-champ Indiana. During that time, he and his staff are expected to find the best 11 guys, draw up a lineup that plays to each man's strengths, then teach them to play as a cohesive unit. But with a run of four consecutive NCAA tournament berths on the line, Vidovich is excited to see the results.
"They're working hard together, but playing well together is a different thing," Vidovich said. "They have the right attitude, and they know they have a big standard to live up to. They want to win."
