PREVIEW: Bruins’ Hopes of Improvement in 2011 Hinge on One Goal - More Goals

NEWBERG, Ore. - Having suffered through an offensive drought that saw them score only five times all season and get shut out a school-record 13 times during a winless 2010 campaign, the number one priority for the George Fox University men’s soccer team in 2011 is obvious if the Bruins are to improve - score more goals. 

Head coach Tim Tsohantaridis believes he has addressed some of the Bruins’ offensive deficiencies, declaring that “our offense will definitely be improved this season.  We have some new guys who are natural forwards; they played up front in their high school days and know how to finish.  We simply didn’t have that last year, and wound up with several players out of position by necessity.”

If the improved offense kicks in, the Bruins can certainly expect to surpass last year’s 0-15-2 overall record and 0-13-1 Northwest Conference record that landed them in eighth place in the league standings.  That record left Tsohantaridis, who is in his second stint as the George Fox head coach, with a 57-67-9 slate in seven years with the Bruins’ program and 64-73-10 overall in eight collegiate seasons.

Forwards returning from last year include starter Nick Schoen (So., Sherwood, Ore. / Sherwood HS) and key reserve Sawyer Meek (So., Canby, Ore. / Canby HS), while Sean Daughtry (Sr., Battle Ground, Wash. / Battle Ground HS) and Brennan Altringer (Jr., Beaverton, Ore. / Southridge HS) are back after playing for the Bruins two years ago but missing all of 2010.  Daughtry claimed a medical hardship after suffering a broken ankle in the pre-season, while Altringer had transferred to Multnomah Bible College for a semester. 

“Sawyer and Nick have both really improved and will give us opportunities to create more scoring chances,” says Tsohantaridis.  “Sean would have been our top offensive threat last year and we missed his size and scoring ability after he got hurt.  Brennan was a scoring machine for us his first two years here and we are glad to have him back.”

Top scoring threats among the newcomers include Luke Hammer (Fr., Roseburg, Ore. / Roseburg HS), Myles Sorokovsky (Fr., Wilsonville, Ore. / Wilsonville HS), Luke Dickens (Fr., Cashmere, Wash. / Cashmere HS), Michael Graham (Fr., Roseburg, Ore. / Umpqua Valley Christian HS), and Evan Sabo (Fr., Woodinville, Wash. / King’s HS).  Hammer and Sabo come in as strikers, while the other three usually operate as offensive-minded midfielders with fine passing skills and strong shots.

Three starters return at midfielder with Sean Jany (Jr., North Bend, Ore. / North Bend HS), Brandon Zebarth (So., Des Moines, Wash. / Seattle Christian HS), and Luke Andrew (So., Enumclaw, Wash. / Enumclaw HS).  Says Tsohantaridis, “All three are strong defenders who can also get goals for us if the opportunity arises.  We will rely heavily on their skills and experience.”

Returnees Joseph Byrnes (Jr., Providence, Utah / Mountain Crest HS) and Golf Brooks (So., Oak Harbor, Wash. / Oak Hard HS) have shown much improvement in the middle and should see increased minutes.  Also battling for playing time will be newcomers Ryan Schoellkopf (Fr., Vancouver, Wash. / Skyview HS), Erik Davies (Fr., Vancouver, Wash. / Evergreen HS), Alan Ramirez (So., Beaverton, Ore. / Beaverton HS), and Austin Altringer (Fr., Beaverton, Ore. / Southridge HS), Brennan’s brother.  Ramirez is also capable of playing on the defensive line.

The Bruins’ top defender last year, Connor Campbell, has graduated to a position as an assistant coach, but Josh Couch (Sr., Roseburg, Ore. / Roseburg HS) and Steven Haga (So., Creswell, Ore. / Marist HS) appear ready to assume his mantle as defensive anchors.  Joining them on the back line will be returnee Christian Reed (So., Tulsa, Okla. / Jenks HS), who is shifting from offense to defense this season.

“Josh and Steven give us some good size defensively and will be hard for offenses to get past,” notes Tsohantaridis.  “Christian was an all-city defender in high school and that is his more natural position; he was playing out of position for us last year because we really didn’t have many other options.”

Taran Girard (So., Waikoloa, Hawai’i / Makualani HS), Jacob Guckenberger (So., Eugene, Ore. / Marist HS), and Andrew Vasilauskas (Jr., Ocean Park, Me. / home-schooled) have shown great improvement and will fight for starting spots on defense, along with rookie Conor Ike (Jr., Accra, Ghana / Lincoln Community HS).

“Our midfield play was not bad last year,” admits Tsohantaridis, “and I expect it to be one of our strengths this fall.  We are deep and have a lot of options.”

Elliott Davis (Jr., Canby, Ore. / Canby HS) returns at goalkeeper after leading the conference with 92 saves and 6.13 saves per game.  He will be backed up by Jacob Baker (Jr., Newberg, Ore. / Newberg HS), Arlo Powell (Fr., Rexburg, Idaho / Madison HS), and Aaron Van Gorkom (Fr., Lynnwood, Wash. / King’s HS).

“Elliott is a good one who will probably get most of the playing time,” predicts Tsohantaridis.  “Jacob has shown vast improvement and should see his first varsity experience this year.  The other two are young but will compete for some important first-year minutes.  Arlo has been hampered by a separated shoulder but we hope to have him back soon.”

With only two seniors on the roster, the Bruins will admittedly be young, but the ever-optimistic Tsohantaridis believes that “everything is in place for a successful season.  Our returning players survived a tough season and are battle-tested despite their youth, while our newcomers bring some fresh enthusiasm and will have plenty of opportunities to show us what they can do.”

The Bruins face their first test on the road Friday, Sept. 2, at 7:00 p.m. against the Oregon Institute of Technology before returning home to the Austin Sports Complex Monday, Sept. 5, at 2:00 p.m. against Trinity Lutheran College.