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Last Updated: Oct 16th, 2008 - 13:33:17 |
The arms -- or, in this case, the legs -- race is on for Metro's soccer
program, and head coach Ken Parsons has brought in 10 young guns for
the men's team.
"This was a year to stockpile a lot of kids," Parsons said. "It's a
little bit of a safety net in case there is no '09 recruiting class."
Parsons is playing it safe this year because he says he realized
Colorado's soccer recruiting prospects for the next year are weak. In
fact, Parsons adds that Colorado's current class isn't very strong
either, which is why many of the freshmen hail from surrounding
states.
"The '08 class in Colorado wasn't as deep," Parsons said. "So we had
to venture outside of Colorado to find these kids."
Included in the new roster are three players from Arizona and one
each from New Mexico, Nevada and Texas. With only four of the 10
additions from Colorado, the freshmen will help diversify a largely
in-state team.
The newcomers will also add depth to a team that lost five marquee players last season. Forward Phillip Owen finished his career at Metro as a terror to opposing goalies. In 2007 he had 19 goals, 14 more than the No. 2 scorer on the Roadrunners' team. Owen's partner at the front, Shaun Elbaum, is also gone. The forward led the team in goals in 2006, and although his production dropped last year, he was an integral part of Metro's attack.
Defense will also benefit from added depth after the Roadrunners graduated their top defensive players from last season. Andrew Donnely and Garrett Sadusky held the back line together last season and were essential to Metro's eight shutouts.
The final senior who left last season was center midfielder Mark Cromie, a defensive player who could both lock down opposing midfielders and also set up chances that, many times, led to Owen goals.
But the replacements for 2007's star senior class will most likely not be the incoming freshmen.
"Returning players have a lot of advantage already knowing the system," Parsons said on the steep learning curve the newcomers face.
Parsons' new freshmen instead will add depth to a team he believes has returning players who can step up and become the new stars.
The coach said soon-to-be seniors Kellen Johnson and Ola Sandquist, along with last year's freshman phenom Stephen Emory, can keep the offense tough. And the return of goalkeeper Ryan Vickery will keep a veteran presence in the backfield.
Parsons believes that a few newcomers, like Emory last year, will take to the collegiate level quickly, and he is excited to see some of them possibly break into the starting 11.
"If you're good enough, you're good enough," Parsons said. "It doesn't matter what year in school you are."
Losing five stars may not be enough to place the "rebuilding" label on the team, but Parsons is always building Metro men's soccer program.
"The standards have been set pretty high coming off this year," Parsons said. "We're always looking for the best players regardless of position. You can determine what you want in your system and go find the players that fit."
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