Editor's Note: This is the second installment in a series of articles profiling members of the Class of 2006 on varsity sports teams.
As most students-athletes enjoy a relatively light off-season season, the '06 men's soccer class has being kicking it into full gear, preparing for a reversal of fate in Fall 2004.
Great expectations surrounded the 2003 Dartmouth men's soccer team -- but they were largely left unmet.
As the reigning Ivy League champs, with six returning seniors, the Big Green anticipated a successful 2003 season. And Dartmouth certainly seemed up to the challenge, breezing through the early season. After six games, the Big Green held an impressive 4-0-2 record.
This was quite a turnaround from the Big Green's start in 2002 where the team went 0-4 before going an amazing run to win the Ivy Title.
Unfortunately, fate did not wear green in 2003. Stricken by lingering injuries, along with seven one-goal games in favor of their opponents, the Big Green suffered a devastating eight-game losing streak, puncturing their dream of a repeat Ivy Title.
In the 17-game season, only three players would prove healthy enough to appear in every game.
The turning point came against state rival, the University of New Hampshire. After swallowing their last opponent St. Bonaventure 6-0, the Dartmouth squad was confident. However, UNH edged out the Big Green in a gripping 2-1 contest.
Next on the schedule was Ivy rival Princeton, who just narrowly defeated the Big Green in overtime. In spite of their disappointing Ivy record of 1-6, five of the six losses were by one goal. Some defeats came in the last minutes of games, proving that Dartmouth is still a force to be reckoned with in the conference.
Despite the frustrating season, the up and coming '06 soccer class maintain high spirits this summer.
Camp Dartmouth has double meaning for these resilient athletes. A record ten returning players are currently on campus and busy training for the upcoming season.
The unusually large number of players around this summer has allowed the Big Green to build team cohesiveness and unity. In addition to a vigorous fitness program performed six times a weeks, the '06s, along with several other upperclassmen, participate in the Upper Valley Men's league. The team, dubbed Dartmouth United, has thus far boasted a 3-0 record.
The team's aim, in addition to strengthening team harmony, is to stay in one piece, as injuries proved to be the squad's Achilles' heel last season.
As sophomore goalkeeper Scott Feighner '06 reiterated, "Our goal is to stay healthy. We had a strong squad last year, but we were plagued by injuries."
Feighner started six games in goal, and looks forward to continuing to contribute in the net in the fall.
Midfielder P.J. Scheufele '06 also looks forward to the 2004 season and hopes to end last years' string of close games.
"We need to be a more lethal team around the goal, and put teams away early," Scheufele said.
Fellow midfielder Darnell Nance '06 agreed. "It will be important for us to take more chances up top, and put the ball in the net," Nance said.
While the Big Green will be losing an exceptionally talented '04 class, among them leading scorer Rob Daly, all-New England Damien Quinn and All-Ivy Seth Eaton, the club will be gaining a group of ten skilled '08s. In addition, Dartmouth welcomes back the talent of the '05 class, led by Oliver Harker-Smith '05, Justin Bain '05 and Scott Darci '05.
Dartmouth kicks off its season on Sept. 3 versus Cal State - Northridge.
