Soccer set to build on promising first year

By David Mosse

Daily Sports Writer

Like a young child taking its first steps, the Michigan men's soccer team stumbled at times and just plain fell on its face in others, but more often than not, played above expectations and set the course for a strong future.

Michigan concluded its inaugural varsity season with a gut-wrenching double-overtime defeat to Penn State in the opening round of the Big Ten tournament. The game was in some ways a microcosm of a season in which Michigan fell just short in several contests but showed encouraging signs.

"We had expectations of doing a little better in the win-loss department," Michigan coach Steve Burns said. "But we were in almost every game."

The Wolverines' final record of 6-10 (1-5 Big Ten) was not indicative of how well the team played. Michigan suffered three overtime defeats, two of them at the hands of the nationally rated Nittany Lions. The other came to Michigan State in a hotly contested match that helped christen a new rivalry.

"I thought we represented the school very well," Burns said. "We played to the best of our ability in every game and we did it for the most part with heart and guts."

Michigan understandably scheduled a fairly cushy nonconference slate in an effort to instill confidence in the young team before embarking through the rugged Big Ten.

The Wolverines won three of their first five games, highlighted by victories over Depaul and Detroit. But as the Big Ten season kicked off, the losses began to mount for a team comprised of mostly freshman and former club players. Michigan's lone conference win was a late season victory at Northwestern.

Yet Michigan proved it belonged by playing competitively in a number of games, and in doing so, helped develop players for the future.

Freshman forwards Kevin Robinson and Tom Gritter proved a strong combination up front and sophomore goalkeeper Brad King was solid between the posts. Fiery fullback Kevin Taylor anchored Michigan's defense and Ian Hirschfield was a capable midfield distributor.

The only truly humbling experience of the season was a 7-0 loss at the hands of the two-time defending national champion Indiana, in Bloomington. Yet even that defeat may serve as a positive down the road.

"That showed us what we're up against," Burns said. "In terms of their fighting power and spirit. It was like every pass and every tackle was the difference in the game. It is a mentality we have to teach our guys."

Burns also realizes the importance of increasing the talent level of the team and is already working on his next recruiting class. Though unable to comment on individual players, Burns promises he has signed some top notch talent and believes he is capable of luring others to Ann Arbor.

"We can offer playing time across the board," Burns said. "Being a new program, we don't have a lot of depth from position to position so we can promise guys they will start from day one, and that carries a lot of weight."

JEFF HURVITZ/Daily

Senior Ryan Yoder (10), a veteran of the men's soccer club, helped Michigan make the varsity transition in year one. He is one of five departing seniors.