The countdown to Columbus begins.

The 2001 NCAA Men’s Division I Soccer Championship is set for Dec. 9 in Columbus, Ohio. If healthy, the Saint Louis University men’s soccer team has the talent, depth, chemistry and leadership needed to reach the final.

“We have a lot of veterans and returning players back, and once everyone gets healthy, our goal is to win the national championship,” said SLU head coach Dan Donigan.

Donigan takes the reins of the soccer program from Bob Warming, who left to become the head coach and assistant athletic director at Creighton.

Donigan is only the fifth head coach in the storied history of Billiken soccer. He hopes to bring SLU its 11th national championship. The NSCAA coaches’ preseason poll has SLU ranked 15th in the country.

“It’s exciting, but probably one of the more challenging positions to take over in the country,” Donigan said. “I’m confident that we have the support of the necessary people to continue to move this program forward.”

Talent

SLU returns all but three players from the 2000 Conference USA championship team. National Player of the Year candidate Brad Davis will play a key role for SLU this year. In his freshman season, Davis nabbed Soccer America Freshman All-America, C-USA Freshman of the Year and first-team C-USA honors.

The central midfielder honed his skills this summer by playing for the Under-20 U.S. National Team in Argentina, where he competed in the FIFA World Youth Championships. Davis’ total of 28 points (11 goals, six assists) fell one point shy of former SLU and U.S. International star Brian McBride’s freshman record.

Pre-season All-American Jack Jewsbury should be ready to lead SLU’s attack when he returns from a foot injury in early September. As a sophomore, Jewsbury landed NSCAA third-team All-America honors, as well as being named C-USA Player of the Year and first-team All-Conference. Jewsbury led the Bills with 31 points (13 goals, five assists) last season. The Collegesoccer.com website also named Jewsbury to its pre-season All-America team.

Andrew Monfried from collegesoccer.com believes Davis and Jewsbury will be the keys to SLU’s success. “If the Billikens have strong seasons from Jewsbury and Davis, Dan Donigan could have something special in his first season at the helm,” said Monfried. “Davis has a ton of confidence in his game after playing so well this summer with the national team, and I think he is headed for a breakout year. As a sophomore, Jewsbury really opened some eyes, and if he keeps improving, he could be an extremely good college player.”

Goalkeeper John Politis is the backbone of an experienced defensive unit. Last season, Politis garnered C-USA second-team All-Conference honors.

Politis also set a Billiken record with 555 consecutive scoreless minutes. His 0.57 goals against average ranked third all-time on the single-season list.

“To have a top-10 program, you need an outstanding goalie. John fills that void on and off the field,” Donigan said. “If he can make one great save, that’s the difference between winning and losing.”

Depth

When healthy, SLU’s lineup is simply scary. In addition to Davis, Jewsbury and Politis, other key contributors from last season return. Jason Cole, David Beck, Andy Pusateri, Nick Gannon, Marty Tappel, Mike Hill, Nick Walls, Tim Sartori, Bobby O’Connell, Mike Kirchoff and Loren Reinhardt are mainstays from last season’s team. Following the starting 11numerous players could enter the game without a drop-off.

But injuries have hampered the squad since training started Aug. 16. With Jewsbury out, transfer Dipsy Selolwane will be counted on immediately. The senior forward transferred from Harris-Stowe, where he was a NAIA All-America last season after scoring 35 goals. Selolwane is also a member of Botswana’s National Team.

“Dipsy brings a whole other dimension to this team,” Donigan said. “He’s not just a great attacker, but a tenacious defender as well.”

While Jewsbury will be back soon, Joe Hammes is out indefinitely. The senior defender and captain sustained a thigh injury that required surgery earlier this summer.

Hammes was injured while playing for his Milwaukee club team in the U.S. Open Amateur National Tournament in Orlando, Fla.

He was kneed in the right thigh and was diagnosed with acute compartment syndrome. After being in the hospital for three weeks, Hammes began rehabilitation. He may be out until mid-October, if he returns at all.

“Rehab has gone well, and I hope to return as soon as possible. The doctors don’t know when I will be able to come back,, but I’m making progress every day,” said Hammes. “Right now, red-shirting is the farthest thing from my mind, and I hope to get back and help the team win conference and make a run to the Final Four.”

While no one will be able to replace Hammes’ toughness and leadership in the back, the 6-foot-2 Kirchoff is expected to step into the central defender’s position, opposite Mike Hill.

Sophomore Nick Gannon would have been a logical choice to play the position as well, but he had a double hernia in the spring and is out until mid-September. Once Gannon returns, Donigan will have yet another weapon on the field.

Chemistry and Leadership

The pieces of the puzzle are there. All they need is to fall into place. This year’s team is more experienced and physically mature, and the bitter taste of losing to Kentucky in the first round of last year’s NCAA Tournament remains strong.

Donigan noted that many of the players stayed in St. Louis this summer to train. On Aug. 1, players could begin training with Chris West, SLU’s strength and conditioning coordinator. According to Mike Hill, all the players attended, even though it was deemed “optional.”

This year’s squad is experienced. The seniors have won either the C-USA Tournament or regular-season title in each of their first three seasons. The eight seniors want to go out on a high note.

“As seniors, our goal is to go out on top,, and we have the experience to do that,” said Hill. “We’ve had some tough games in the past that have prepared us for whatever challenges may lie ahead this season. We have the ability to find a way to win when things aren’t going our way.”

SLU will find out if they can win without Hammes, Jewsbury and Gannon. They bring national powerhouse North Carolina to campus on Sept. 9. They also face Big East powerhouse Rutgers and regional rival SMU, as well as a rugged C-USA schedule.

The test begins on Saturday as defending national champion and preseason No. 1-ranked University of Connecticut comes to town. SLU takes on the Huskies at Robert R. Hermann Stadium. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m. Student admission is free with a SLU ID.

The Huskies return eight starters from their championship squad. Senior All-America defender Chris Gbandi won the Hermann Trophy last year, which is awarded to the best player in college soccer.

“They’re the best team in the country,” Donigan said. “There is no question. It will be a very good barometer to see how far we are at this time of the season.”

And so the countdown to Columbus begins. And it Donigan’s squad can get healthy, there’s a good chance they’ll be there.