University of Massachusets Athletics
2001 Men's Soccer Outlook
August 22, 2000 | Men's Soccer
Not want to, Not can, Expect to.
That is the attitude that Koch will impart onto a team trying to defend its 2000 Atlantic 10 regular-season title.
And why shouldn't his players believe him? After all, he's already done something just as improbable. On Sept. 22, 2000, Koch raised his arms in victory for the 100th time on the UMass sideline. In 10 seasons at the helm of Minuteman soccer, he has transformed the once dormant program to a power in the Atlantic 10. In eight of his 10 seasons, Koch's teams have won more than 10 games, a feat accomplished only once in the 12 seasons prior to his arrival in Amherst.
This season, Koch expects more. And with nine starters and a bevy of contributing players returning, he has good reason to see promise in the 2001 edition of UMass soccer.
"We have a solid group of players returning," Koch said, "and we're coming off of good fall and spring seasons."
One of those "solid" players is returning All-Atlantic 10 goalkeeper Bryan O'Quinn, who played every minute in goal for the Minutemen last season. O'Quinn posted a school-record 0.91 goals against average in 2000, while recording seven shutouts, second-most in school history. His nine career shutouts stands just one shy of fifth place on the school's all-time chart.
"Bryan O'Quinn is an excellent goalkeeper," Koch raved, "and he should be better this year. He could be the best in the conference this season."
O'Quinn, a senior co-captain, is joined in the net by a trio of youngsters including promising junior Enzo Altomare and untested sophomores Colin Burns and Dave Doucette. Altomare, inconsistent at times, has the talent necessary to be a quality player. Burns played on a regional team that traveled to Switzerland and Belgium during the offseason, and Doucette is coming off of his best spring to date.
Defensively, UMass is coming off a season in which the team allowed a conference-low 19 goals in 20 games. Led by three-year captain and All-Atlantic 10 selection J.R. Pouncey, the backfield sees three starters return from last season's squad. Pouncey, a vocal leader on the defensive end, has been instrumental in the team's recent success. He has started a team-high 48 games in his career, including every game for the past two seasons. For his performance last season, he was named to the National Soccer Coaches of America/adidas New England Region team.
Along with Pouncey, experienced juniors Shawn Green and John Lytton return to the backfield this season. Green, who returned from an injury that forced him to miss the entire 1999 season, played in all 20 games last year and earned all-tournament accolades for his performance in the 2000 UMass Classic.
Lytton, who started all 20 games a year ago, is considered one of the A-10's best marking backs, and last season he often drew defensive duties against opponents' star forwards.
Senior Fred Kinateder is expected to make the move from forward to defender, freeing Lytton to be the team's central midfielder. Kinateder was the squad's second-leading scorer in 2000. His move to the backfield would bring a new athleticism to the position. If Lytton is successful in his switch to the midfield, Green, junior Bo Cassidy and sophomore Delvin Barnes could all make a push for the other marking back position alongside Kinateder.
"Moving Fred (Kinateder) back from a front-running position will give us some flexibility on the defensive end," Koch said. "There are a lot of things we can do back there that will affect what we do in the midfield, and Pouncey gives us the ability to do those things."
Koch has almost as many options in the midfield. With sophomore Andrew Eicher, and juniors Yuri Morales and Derek Rhodes returning after starting last season, a group of youngsters will attempt to grab the last starting spot.
Eicher played in all 20 games as a freshman, earning starting calls in the last 18. He was credited with three assists, including one in the Minutemen's overtime win over nationally ranked Rhode Island. Morales was a fixture at the attacking midfielder spot last year and led the team with five assists, while Rhodes scored a goal and posted two assists on the season. Rhodes has started 37 games in his first two seasons and is poised to become a leader on this squad.
The three returning midfielders will not be handed their positions, however, as competition will be fierce among the reserves from last season. Sophomore Ptah Myers drew four starts last season and spent the summer playing with his regional team in Italy. Senior Max Wolf, who transferred from Fordham two seasons ago, saw action in 15 games last season and scored the game-winning goal against Maine. Highly touted sophomore Dan Colwell also expects to see a great deal of playing time this season. The two-time Massachusetts all-state selection is looking to make an impact in the starting lineup after serving as a reserve on last season's squad.
On the offensive end, All-Atlantic 10 junior Jeff Deren is expected to continue to perform at a high level. His eight goals led the team last season, and his five game-winners were the third most in the conference. Sophomore Obie Gravely was the team's second-leading goal scorer a year ago despite not starting a single game, and has bettered his play during the offseason. Eicher and Myers also possess the skills needed to play on the offensive end, and both have seen action there in the past.
"If Jeff Deren stays healthy, he could provide an explosive force up front for us," Koch said. "But we need to find some depth at that position."
Highly-touted newcomers Travis Cooke, Jason Golesky and Jared Suhowski are also expected to provide depth up front. And incoming freshman Brent Plumley and Martin Burwell could also help at the forward position.
The 2001 edition of UMass soccer has all the ingredients necessary to defend its Atlantic 10 championship, but Koch has some questions that will need to be answered in the early part of the season.
The Minutemen open the fall season with an exhibition match against defending Atlantic Coast Conference champion, North Carolina before traveling to North Carolina State to face national-power Duke and host N.C. State in the adidas Wolfpack Classic. Although the early part of this season's schedule is not indicative of a team trying to find itself, Koch will use a tough opening stretch to see how his team is prepared.
"You'd like to have a set and mature team when you open up with three teams from the ACC," Koch said. "But that will be a good test for us in the early going to see if we'll be ready for the A-10 season, or if we have to go back and start over.
