Men's Soccer Team Look to Have a Successful Year

1998 season outlook.

September 2, 1998

The burning question around the Clemson Soccer Program is "why not?".

After advancing to the NCAA Tournaments Final Eight last year, and with eight starters returning joined by a talented corp of newcomers reporting to camp, the question is, "why not go farther this year?".

"Obviously, having met with the players and the coaching staff the message is loud and clear," said Trevor Adair who is entering his fourth season as head coach of the Tigers. Last year he guided the Tigers to a 11-7-3 record overall and a 12th position in the final NSCAA poll. "With a few breaks last year we would have advanced to the Final Four. We could go there this year and beyond.

"Our first goal is to compete for a national championship. And if we compete for a national championship we should be able to be in the hunt for the ACC championship.

"This year is our best chance to achieve these goals and it is something that we feel we can do. This team has the talent to compete for the national title. Getting there is something we can achieve. Our goals are five tier.

"First, we must develop team chemistry similar to last year as soon as possible. Next, win the ACC regular season championship, and win the ACC Tournament. Our ultimate goal is to reach the final four and win the national championship.

"Those are lofty goals that are set in the sequence of the season, but that is what we are looking to achieve. That is what we play for each season, and I want all our players to have that desire every season."

Clemson advanced to the NCAA Tournaments Elite Eight last year and lost to eventual champion UCLA in the quarterfinals. After tough wins over UNC-Charlotte and South Carolina in the first two rounds, the Tigers lost to UCLA 2-1 in a tough battle at Los Angeles, CA. The postseason success was no surprise to Adair.

"It was not a surprise that we advanced that far and I dont say that boastfully. All along I thought we had the potential to go far. I felt playing against the toughest schedule in the country both at home and away had its advantages. The players had seen the best and seen the improvements they had made, and we knew they were in the position to be as good as anybody.

"Our players were extremely disappointed at the end of the season and they were hoping for another opportunity to play Indiana in the Final Four after getting beat 3-0 at Indiana earlier in the year.

"With us making so many improvements and progress it would have been interesting to see how that game would have turned out. I knew all along that if this team would gel and come together we would be very successful."

One of the questions for this years team is the position of goalkeeper after losing first-team All-American Matt Jordan.

"Obviously one of the keys will be replacing our goalkeeper Matt Jordan. Josh Campbell hasnt had a lot of game experience. We are doing everything we can to get him as many games as possible before the start of his junior year. We need him to be more consistent, get the players to have confidence in him and himself. If he plays up to his potential we will be in great shape. He has worked tremendously hard and he has been very patient. I know his patience will pay off.

"The second key will be to develop chemistry and team dynamics as quickly as possible. Its a new team from last year with quality newcomers. The dynamics will be different and we must work on developing a positive team attitude."

The Tigers have an excellent recruiting class coming in and according to Adair, "it could be his best yet at Clemson."

"There will be a lot of players pushing for positions and with the transfers and freshmen coming into camp, we have an experienced recruiting class. Its by far the best recruiting class we have had as far as numbers and quality since I have been here. These players can come in and have major impacts right away. We have six talented new field players on the squad. The competition for starting spots will make it very interesting in the preseason.

"We will have a lot of speed and attacking power along with balance. We attacked well last year. The way we played gives us a chance to move people forward. I think the recruits are not only going to add to the experience but elevate the experience level. We are going to be a deep team in the defense, midfield, and up front with more people able to score goals. Wojtek Krakowiak is not going to be the only one our opponents will have to key on this fall. Other players can get the job done.

"Scoring will be balanced. I expect John Wilson to step up and improve on his goal scoring. Bob Cavanagh had a great season as a freshman in 1997. Newcomers Scott Bower, Jon Magnusson, and Ross Goodacre give us plenty of weapons and speed to get the ball across the flank. We will have a lot of players going forward. We need to continue to improve our transition-getting people forward quickly into the attack. We can do this with our added speed.

"On defense we were very satisfied last year especially with the job Matt Elliott, Pablo Webster, and Mike Potempa did last year. Newcomer Alan Woods will be a great addition. We will have 10 defenders on the team this season, all of whom could see playing time. We have four starters returning and they know our style and what needs to be done."

GOALKEEPERS

Two players return for the Tigers in goal. Junior Josh Campbell played in four games and picked up one start in 1997. He played 133 minutes and gave up only one goal for a 0.68 goal allowed average. The other returnee is 6-5 red-shirt freshman Marc Paisant.

"We got Josh some valuable experience in the spring and we would like for his consistency to improve. We are convinced he will be a good goalkeeper because he has all the tools and he works hard. Josh is a good shot stopper and his range has improved. His ability to come out to take crosses has improved. He needs a chance to develop his psyche.

"Josh also needs to develop more confidence in his abilities. He is going to be pushed by Marc Paisant, who red-shirted last year. Marc is 6-5 and very athletic and quick for his size. He is a towering presence in the goal, and he is tough to beat."

Freshman Mike Savage is from Mauldin, SC. He is an Olympic Development Region III goalkeeper and is considered to be one of the top two goalkeepers in the region which encompasses 13 states.

"Mike is very athletic. He needs experience and we are hoping for him to make progress his freshman year. "Our group is very hard working, if they are going to play here they are going to work hard and pay the price. That is the characteristic and mentality of playing the position.

DEFENSE

Clemson improved tremendously on defense over the course of the year in 1997. Four starters, Matt Elliott (junior), Mike Potempa (sophomore), Jeff Bilyk (senior) and Pablo Webster (sophomore), all return giving Adair a solid wall in the back. Elliott started 18 games, while Potempa started all 21 games as a freshman. Webster was a starter in 18 games. The defense only gave up just 24 goals last year.

"Elliott, Potempa, Bilyk and Webster are all mainstays and did a great job holding the defense together as they covered for each other. They learned how to play man-to-man and zone defense. Bilyk also does a great job covering in the midfield as a defensive player."

Lars Fallang (junior) had a great spring and was very impressive in games according to the coaching staff. Fallang played in two games last year.

Nathans Rawlins (junior) was moved to the left side of the defense from the midfield during spring practice. He is a naturally left footed player and gives the team great balance on the left flank. Christian Baldwin (junior) also had a great spring and can play anywhere in the back. Andy Heck (sophomore) is expected to see action on the right side.

Newcomers to this position include freshman Zach Gotleib and junior Alan Woods. Woods is a transfer from Notre Dame. He was honored by being named All-Big East and All-Region. He is a member of the United States Olympic Team pool.

"Alan Woods is very athletic and can play either on the left or right outside positions. Gotleib is a big kid who could help us in the center. We have depth and can show many different combinations. The players are very flexible and can play left or right and this is something we havent had in the past. In the defense we have a lot of numbers size, speed, and aggressiveness. The confidence we picked up last year will carry over and this will also help our goalkeepers."

MIDFIELD

There will be much competition for starting roles in the midfield. The Tigers return three starters, Mark Lisi, Jeremy Iwaszkowiec (junior), and Wojtek Krakowiak (junior).

"Jeremy Iwaszkowiec has made great strides as a defensive midfielder and as an attacking midfielder. He scored some key goals for us at the end of the season. Krakowiak also had a great year. He is a great creator of goals. Krakowiak is flexible and is good at coming back and getting the ball. He is the playmaker on the team. This year we have some great players and with added depth can take the pressure off of Wojtek."

Iwaszkowiec started 19 games and had one goal and two assists in 1997. Krakowiak was the Tigers leading scorer with 11 goals and five assists for 27 points. Nathan Rawlins started 18 games for the Tigers in 1997.

Mark Lisi (sophomore) was a reserve midfielder last year and saw action in 18 games. He scored three goals and had six assists for 12 points.

"Lisi improved tremendously as a freshmen and proved to be one of the key players in the midfield for us last year".

Clemson added two players in Ross Goodacre and Mike Hill to the midfield roster this season. Hill is an attacking midfielder. He was heavily recruited and has great speed and skill according to the Tiger coaching staff.

"Mike Hill could very easily see some playing time this fall. He is fast, good with both feet and can score goals."

Ross Goodacre is from New Zealand and is a member of the New Zealand National Team and Olympic Team.

"Goodacre will play at the right flank in the midfield maybe as a forward. He has good speed and has great crossing ability. He goes to the goal quickly.

"There will be healthy competition for the midfield positions. What we are looking for are players who can come in and work with the framework of the team. We are looking for players who can attack, but can also defend when needed. It all goes back to transition."

FORWARDS

With the graduation of Jody DeBruin, John Wilson (senior) is the only starter returning, however Clemson has reserve Bob Cavanagh (junior) and an excellent recruiting corp to fill the voids.

Wilson scored four goals and had seven assists while starting 15 matches. He was Clemsons third leading scorer. Wilson was sidelined much of the year due to illness, but returned to action late in the year. Bob Cavanagh played in 20 games and was the Tigers fourth leading scorer with four goals and six assists for 14 points.

"John Wilson is going to be a key. Hopefully his health will be good and he can regain the form he had at the start of last year before he got sick.

"If Cavanagh continues to make progress he could see a lot of playing time. Last year he scored some key goals for us. At 6-4 he is an impressive athlete."

Jason Lake (junior) was moved from the back and played well at the forward position in the spring according to Adair.

Clemson added several newcomers to the forward position, They include: Scott Bower, Scott McIlroy, Jon Magnusson, Lee Ibrahim and Mike Butler.

"Scott Bower is expected to be a major threat on the attack with his great speed and scoring ability. He was on the Olympic Team this past summer and this was a great experience and competition for him.

"Scott McIlroy has experience and can score goals. He is great player who is both technically and tactically sound. He runs well off the ball and that is hard to teach, it is a very instinctive skill.

"Friar Magelson is a small player who has good speed. He can score goals from the left.

"This group of attacking players is both diverse and dynamic. They will be enjoyable to watch."

1998 Clemson Quick Facts
     Starters Returning:  Eight
          Starters Lost:  Three
Letterwinners Returning:  15
     Letterwinners Lost:  8
          Final Ranking:  Soccer America-16th, NSCAA-12th