Aug. 4, 2004
The Notre Dame men’s soccer team will enter the 2004 season in an unfamiliar role. The Irish have been one of the quick rising programs in the country since Bobby Clark arrived on campus four years ago, but Notre Dame took a giant leap forward in 2003. A top ranking of #3 in the nation, three straight impressive shutout victories to claim the BIG EAST Championship and a run to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Championship placed the national spotlight firmly on the Irish program. The 2004 Notre Dame team goals include staying in that spotlight while taking the next crucial developmental step. “As you get higher (in the national rankings), it gets harder to take it further,” head coach Bobby Clark says. “When I initially came here, it was a lot easier to make progress. Now, it is a bit harder, but that is the challenge that we relish.” Before the breakout 2003 season, the Irish coaching staff came up with the team motto of `Making History.’ The motto proved prophetic, as the Irish enjoyed one the greatest seasons in school history. The coaches quickly thought up a motto for the 2004 season – `Staying in the Spotlight,’ which leaves no doubt as to the team goal this year.
Bobby Clark has his team focused on staying among the nation’s top teams in 2004.
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Looking at the Irish team depth chart on paper, that goal might difficult. The seven-member senior class that walked off campus in May of 2004 contained two MLS draft choices (Justin Detter, Kevin Richards), a World Cup qualifying player (Richards for the Bermudan National Team), five all-BIG EAST selections and a three-time team captain (Greg Martin). Also among those five all-BIG EAST selections were 35 of Notre Dame’s 38 goals scored in 2004. Those outside the Notre Dame program might see replacing that offense as a daunting task, but Clark relishes the challenge for one important reason – it legitimizes the strength of his program. “Great programs need to continue to reload,” Clark says. “If you have a good program you should be graduating great players every year. If you are not, then you are not a very good team. Seniors are important and I think we will graduate another great group this season. I hope that will be the scenario every single year. We have to keep reloading and the young players will need to step up to the challenge every year.” Clark knows that the loss of players each year might get the most attention, but part of his vision for the future of Notre Dame soccer means that observers of the program will be having the same discussion before each season. “We lost a fabulous senior class,” Clark says. “We lost goals, leadership and ability. At the same time, that is what good teams should be losing each year. You can build a great team or you can build a great program. If you are really building a great program, you reload every year.” The ammunition in Notre Dame’s reloading project this season is a trio of players that Clark believes are the best at their position in collegiate soccer. Senior captain and goalkeeper Chris Sawyer, senior central defender Jack Stewart and senior leftback Kevin Goldthwaite are the immediate future of the Irish soccer program in `04. Sawyer enjoyed one of the top seasons of any goalkeeper in the nation during the 2003 campaign as he earned All-America honors from College Soccer News and Soccer Times. Named the ’03 BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year and Most Outstanding Defensive Player at the conference championship, Sawyer’s most notable accomplishment from last season included three straight shutouts during the BIG EAST Championship – blanking Connecticut, Providence and St. John’s to help Notre Dame claim its second BIG EAST Championship (and first since 1996). “Chris Sawyer is going to build on last season,” Clark says. “He was named the best goalkeeper in one of the strongest conferences in the nation – that is a tremendous testament to his ability.
Chris Sawyer has already been named the BIG EAST Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year and a first-team preseason All-American by Collge Soccer News.
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“Chris is a very good athlete and is adept at all the little parts of being a goalkeeper. His handling, kicking and footwork have all improved greatly. He is tough and brave, but very humble. It is terrific to have someone of that caliber as your last line of defense. You cannot say enough superlatives about Chris Sawyer.” Playing in front of Sawyer will the backbone of Notre Dame’s vaunted defense, Jack Stewart and Kevin Goldthwaite. Stewart was set to move up to the midfield last year to take advantage of his numerous skills, but found himself in the central defense when injuries sidelined sophomore Dale Rellas and freshman Ryan Miller. The shift back might have been the best thing for Stewart and the Irish defense. Notre Dame’s defense was among the best in the country last year, allowing just 16 goals in 23 games. Eight of those 16 goals also occurred in two games, which means the Irish defense allowed one or fewer goals in 21 of 23 matches last season. “Defense is where Stewart is going to play at the next level,” Clark says. “He is the best central defender in the nation. Jack is two-footed, very good in the air and fast on the field. There is not a lot that Jack does not have. He has a lot of talent and we will leave him in the back, it is just a question of who will be beside him.” While the loss of Kevin Richards on the right side is a concern, Notre Dame welcomes back experience at the other central defender position and the left side, which is patrolled by Kevin Goldthwaite. An attacking defenseman, Goldthwaite led the Irish in assists last season with nine and his lone goal of the year was a memorable one – giving Notre Dame a 1-0, overtime victory against eventual National Champion Indiana. “Kevin is the best at what he does – moving forward and attacking,” Clark says. “He plays an important role in both our offense and defense.” Goldthwaite and Stewart are fully established in the Irish defensive backfield, but the other two defensive positions feature a mix of talented players and experienced veterans. “Ryan Miller, who tore his ACL in the first week last year, is an obvious candidate to replace Kevin Richards (on the right side),” Clark says. “He was playing a lot of minutes in those first two games before he was sidelined and will be given a good look at that position.” Miller will be competing against sophomore Jorge Schippers and incoming freshman John Cavanaugh. Schippers observed from the sidelines last season and has four years of eligibility ahead of him. Cavanaugh, who hails from nearby St. Joseph’s High School in South Bend, Ind., was the area player of the year in 2003. Alongside Stewart in the middle, junior Dale Rellas and senior Christopher High will get the most time. High filled in admirably late in the season last year and ended up as a key member of Notre Dame’s late season suffocating defense. Rellas played every game on defense as a freshman before breaking a bone in his foot very early in `03. His return to the line up will strengthen an already strong defensive line.
Christopher High played a key role in Notre Dame’s late season surge in 2003 and will see an increased role for the 2004 campaign.
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Freshmen Andrew Benton, John Mousinho and Brian Sheehan also have the ability to play in the defense and provide the Irish coaching staff with a bevy of talented options. Moving up to the midfield, the middle will be anchored by two returning veterans. Sophomore Greg Dalby began his rookie year in the central defense, then moved forward for the final half of the season. For a majority of that time, he was flanked by senior Luke Boughen. “Greg Dalby will resume as one of our central midfielders,” Clark says. “He finished the season there and did very well. Luke Boughen should be able to partner with him in the midfield. That could be a very nice tandem.” Dalby missed the 2004 spring workouts due to an injury but is expected to be at full strength in the fall. Boughen has spent the last six months studying abroad in Brazil, reportedly playing soccer every day. John Stephens also is expected to push for minutes at central midfielder for the Irish. Stephens played in 13 games during the 2003 campaign, making three starts. On the outside in the midfield, the Irish welcome back three experienced players in junior Jon Mark Thompson and sophomores Ian Etherington and Nate Norman. “Jon Mark played in the center during the spring, but can play on the outside as well,” Clark says. “He has good experience and can give us some production on the outside. Nate Norman and Ian Etherington did a phenomenal job as freshmen last season. In the spring they were very exciting and both are talented young players. They are going to see a lot of minutes for us.” Providing extended depth in the midfield will be freshman Alex Youshinaga and Kyle Dulworth. Perhaps the most crucial position where players will need to step up is in the Irish attack. Justin Detter and Devon Prescod represented 26 goals from their attack position last year and the returning experienced players, junior Tony Megna and sophomore Justin McGeeney, have yet to post a single goal in their careers. “We graduated a lot of goals with Prescod and Detter,” Clark says. “But that pair was lucky if they scored 10 goals combined the year before, so I think that someone will be able to step up this season. Prescod and Detter did it last year and someone will need to do it this year. I thought Megna and McGeeney showed the talent and ability to be a great tandem up front during the spring. Two strikers should look to get 10 goals each and I think that is what these two will be looking at.”
Sophomore Justin McGeeney, who saw limited time during his rookie season last year, will be a key member of Notre Dame’s attack in 2004.
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Sophomore and local St. Joseph High School product Brian Murphy will return to the team this fall after missing the winter and spring semester workouts. Once Murphy works his way back into playing shape, the Granger, Ind., native might push for time at the front of the Irish attack. Two freshmen will also get a chance to make their presence felt in the Irish attack. “We have a couple of young boys, Joe Lapira and Kurt Martin,” Clark says. “They are both very talented and could get some significant minutes to spell McGeeney and Megna.” Also coming off the bench this year will be a battle at the back up goalkeeper position. Sawyer will see a majority of the action, but junior Justin Michaud and sophomore Chris Cahill will battle not only for the back up spot, but for the edge in the starting position which will be open next season. “Michaud was the backup last season, but Cahill gave up the right to the challenge due to an injury,” Clark says. “They are both in a position to fight for the right to back up Sawyer. Both of them will be viewing this season as a chance to establish themselves as number two and put themselves in position when Sawyer graduates next year.” With all of the ingredients in place, Clark and his staff expect the Irish to maintain their position as one of the top teams in the Midwest, the BIG EAST Conference and the nation. “I think the team has grown each year and it gets harder to grow,” Clark says. “There is still room to grow because we did not go as far as we wanted to last year. In men’s soccer, if you are a top-20 team you have a good chance of winning a national championship. If you are a top-10 team you have a great chance. We all want to be number one, but we also want to be in contention every season. Number ones go up and down, but we always want a shot at it.” As a member of the BIG EAST, the Irish automatically will face one of the toughest schedules in the nation. Never one to duck competition, Clark will also face a number of non-conference challenges which include defending National Champion Indiana on national television (College Sports Television) in Bloomington on Sept. 15. The Irish also face non-conference foes Oregon State (Sept. 3), Boston University (Sept. 5), Michigan (Oct. 13) and Michigan State (Nov. 2). The BIG EAST schedule also features a serious challenge with games at St. John’s (Oct. 16), at Seton Hall (Oct. 20) and at Rutgers (Oct. 23) within seven days of each other. Local Irish fans and those attending the Notre Dame – Michigan football weekend on campus will get a chance to see the Mike Berticelli Memorial Tournament on Sept. 10 and 12. The Irish will take on Evansville and CS Fullerton during the two-day event, with Indiana as the fourth team in the highly competitive tournament. “You don’t want an easy schedule,” Clark says. “You want a schedule that will prepare you for the postseason. If you have a weak schedule and some how get into the postseason, you will face good teams and not be ready for it. Looking through our schedule, it would be great to say we are going to go 18-0, but realistically you are going to take some bumps. That is part of team growth. I always say that how you handle those bumps is how you become a team.” The Irish return to the field Sept. 3 taking on Oregon State during a tournament at Indiana with one goal in the forefront of their minds. `Staying in the Spotlight.’ The `03 edition of the Fighting Irish followed their motto `Making History,’ and the `04 team will be challenged to do the same. “Some years will be very special, but every year has to be special,” Clark says. “Our motto is, `Staying in the Spotlight.’ I love this stage of it. You need to find that little bit of improvement that is going to take the team a bit further. Can we step up? Can we stay in the spotlight? I think we can do it.”