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Competition heats up Owl men's soccer pre-season camp
KEENE, N.H. 8/20/09 - It might not be a coincidence that the start of the Keene State men's soccer pre-season camp coincided with a heat wave that has gripped the Monadnock region the past few days. The dog days of summer have brought with them heated competition for spots on this year's Owl team.
An unusually large group of 39 players, including 19 freshmen, have taken to the field in hopes of soothing the sting of last year's disappointing 6-10-3 season that saw KSC miss qualifying for the Little East tournament for the first time since joining the conference 12 years ago.
Set to start his 39th season on the sidelines, head coach Ron Butcher says last year is history. "You can't bring back last season," he said. "I want to go forward."
The large group of first-years had nothing to do with last year's uncharacteristic finish. They're more concerned with impressing the coaching staff and battling incumbents for highly coveted starting positions.
"I feel we push each other," said Kyle Levitt, a freshman from Plymouth, Mass., expected to battle for the starting nod at midfield. "Everyone is competing at a high level, so it's great for the team."
"Competition is competition," said RJ Walsh, a highly touted freshman striker from New Lebanon, N.Y. "You basically don't worry about anyone but yourself."
Veteran Peter Kersker, back for his final season as the Owls starting goalie, is excited to see some new faces on the field. "We have a lot of new guys this year, so I'm excited to see what they can do," he said. "The competition for spots is going to bring out the best in everyone."
"With the low number of upperclassmen, we're going to need the freshmen to step up," said senior midfielder Ross Stanton. "The whole purpose of this year's camp is to get the team together faster. That's what I think our problem was last year. The trip to Costa Rica was good, but it might have broken up some of the bonding time with the freshmen. This year, were going to start interacting with them from day one."
Pre-season camp is survival of the fittest. Veterans are faced with the challenge of mentoring freshmen, who could end up taking a vet's job.
"Everyone is fighting for the same spot," said Stanton, "In the end, it's a whole team effort to get some place, and we're only going to be able to do it as a team."
In the end, it's Butcher who makes the final decisions. "The first two or three days, I don't get excited, because it's more about getting the guys in shape, learning their names, and finding out where they can play," said the Owls long-time coach. "With such a large, young, group, you're going to find five or six guys who are going to rise. But are they going to stand out down the road? That's the key."
The key is also about returning to respectability in the LEC this fall. The remaining returnees like Stanton hope to use last year's disappointing season as motivation. "We'd like to go after some of the teams that really took it to us last year," said Stanton. "Keene State has always been known for having a strong men's soccer team, and it's important that we come back this season."
