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Outlook 2002Clemson had one of it finest seasons last year as the Tigers won the ACC Championship and advanced the NCAA quarterfinal round. With the return of seven starters and an excellent defense these two factors reinforce Adair's optimism.
"I believe one of our strengths will be that we will be hard to score against. Doug Warren is the best keeper in college soccer right now. He has played with the US U20 National Team and is in the pool for the next Olympic games. We have a solid defense returning and I feel our opponents will have to earn their goals. We lost two quality players in Keven Conaway and Oguchi Onyewu on the defense and lost Ian Fuller and Ross Goodacre up front, but we feel we can build on our success of last season with both returning players and incoming freshmen.
"The chemistry is a positive factor on this team and we had a good spring and are ready for the fall. One concern we have is the leadership and who will help Oskar Bringsved with the leadership role."
The Tigers finished the 2001 season with a 19-5 record overall, and a 4-2 mark in the ACC. Clemson finished fourth in the Soccer America poll and seventh in the NSCAA rankings. The Tigers return 16 letterwinners from last year's team.
Another concern for Adair is Clemson's performance on the road. "We need to perform better on the road and that will be a focus for us-to become better 'road warriors'. We played so well at home last year, but did not get the job done on the road. This must change if we are to have another successful run at a National Championship.
"We have the depth this year and the team knows it will have to work hard to defend the ACC Championship. Overall I am really confident we have a team coming back that has as good a chance as any team to win the league and get one of the top four seeds in the NCAA Tournament."
GOALKEEPERS
Clemson has two goalkeepers returning this season. Two-year starter and All-ACC performer Doug Warren (senior) finished the season with a 0.80 GAA and 76 saves. He started 23 games for the Tigers last season. Hunter Gilstrap (freshman) red-shirted last season, but saw some action in the spring due to the change in the red shirt rule. This helped Hunter from an experience stand point.
"Again, I personally think Doug is the best goalkeeper in the country going into his senior year. He is one of three goalkeepers in the Olympic pool. Doug is a very solid keeper and has matured over the past two years. Hunter Gilstrap benefited from his red-shirt season and gained playing time in the spring. He has played well and has all the tools to make a fine goalkeeper. He has good vision and range and we are hoping we can bring him along this season and gain more experience."
DEFENDER
Ricky Lewis (junior), Chase Hilgenbrinck (junior) and Nick Rivera (junior) are the three starters returning in the defense. Lewis made the All-ACC Tournament team and finished the season having started 20 matches, while Hilgenbrinck started 15 for the Tigers. Rivera, the defensive MVP of the Furman Invitational, started 17 matches last season. Grant Kevins (junior), Brad Gibson (sophomore), and Brett Branan (sophomore) could also see action in the back.
"I believe that one of the strengths of our team will be the defense. Ricky Lewis is one of the top defenders in the country and is in the Olympic Pool. He has excellent pace and is aggressive in the air.
"Nick Rivera had a solid year for us and he has a lot of desire and fight. He is what college athletics is all about. He has progressed so much through hard work, and is great in the air, and can come forward nicely on set pieces. No one works harder. "Chase Hilgenbrinck gained a lot of confidence in the spring. He is an organizer and will hopefully secure the spot on the left side of the defense."
Brad Gibson played in 22 matches as a freshman last season. He finished the season with one goal and two assists for four points. "Brad is a good technical player and had a great freshman season. We are expecting him to be a starter and improve on last season.
Brett Branan is another player who saw action in 13 games and may even see action in the back, or as a forward. Grant Kevins (junior) is a transfer from West Virginia who could play on the right side.
MIDFFIELD
Clemson has five experienced players in Paul Souders (junior), Fabio Tambosi (senior), Oskar Bringsved (junior), Kenneth Cutler (junior), and John David Brooks (sophomore) returning in the midfield. Souders started 20 matches last season had had seven goals and six assists for 20 points. Bringsved played in 23 matches and had one goal and five assists for seven points.
"Oskar Bringsved is a great ball-winner in the midfield. He disrupts the opponent's play in the midfield. I would hate to have to play against Oskar. Paul had a solid sophomore season. He plays in front of the goal and is a battler who fights and works hard. He is a good leader and always comes ready to play.
"Fabio will attack more from the central midfield. He will be the link between the midfield and forwards. This is what he is best at and is very hard to stop. He brings a good work rate and if he can stay healthy he is capable of being one of the top players in the country."
Fabio finished the season with three goals and eight assists for 14 points. His assist total led the Clemosn team even though he missed some time due to injury.
Kenneth Cutler had one goal and one assist for three points, but he scored the winning goal in Clemson's NCAA win over Kentucky. "Cutler has become stronger and has improved in the weight room He has one of the best soccer brains on the field and possesses great technical skills." John David Brooks will shuffle between the midfield and back. He played in five matches last season.
Charlie Roberts is a transfer from Coastal Carolina. Last year he scored two goals and had one assist for five points for the Chanticleers.
"Roberts is a technical player and will see time in the midfield and does a good job coming forward and scoring goals."
FORWARDS
Dimelon Westfield (senior), Steven Rhyne (junior), Brett Branan (sophomore), Sean Rhynard (sophomore), and Andre Borges (junior), return to the forward position.
Westfield played in 19 matches and was the team's second leading scorer with nine goals and five assists for 23 points. Steven Rhyne finished the season with seven goals and seven assists for 21 points. These two players were hampered with hamstring injuries during the NCAA Tournament. According to Adair, Clemson has lots of depth in this area.
"Steven Rhyne is capable of scoring goals, but he needs to be more consistent. Dimelon now knows our system and what is expected of him. He has a lot of tools and can be a big time player. He needs to improve in the air."
Borges played in 19 matches and finished the season with two goals and two assists for six points.
"Andre Borges has been hurt the past two years, but had a great spring. He is capable of being a great scorer if he is fit and is on the field. He is a left footed player and has good vision to set up other people."
Brett Branan played in 13 matches and had three assists, while Sean Rhynard finished the year with three assists as well.
"Rhynard had his peaks and valleys during his freshman year, as many freshmen do. He has good speed and can get around the final third. Brannon is excellent in the air, but must learn to combine quicker in the attacking area of the field. Clemson added freshman Dwayne Jones from New Orleans, LA. He was a NSCAA and Parade All-American.
"Dwayne has great speed and proved he can score goals on the junior level. Now we will see how he can score goals on the college level. His speed will cause a lot of problems for our opponents and it will also create a lot of space.
"Freshman Justin Moore will compete for playing time immediately as he possesses a fine tactical understanding of the game. His technical ability will allow him to adjust to the speed of college soccer right away.
"John Cooper and Eric Forbes both have national team experience and the pair will challenge for playing time, and they bring outstanding depth to our squad. John and Eric were the top two players coming out of South Carolina this year."
