As he enters his senior season as keeper on Saint Louis
University’s men’s soccer team, Martin Hutton finds himself in a
position that might seem rather unfamiliar to him.
In his two previous seasons at SLU, Hutton has been a stalwart
in goal for the Billikens, starting every game as a sophomore and
missing only three games as a junior.
Now, as the only returning senior on the team, the two-year
starter will have to begin the season on the bench as he rehabs an
abdominal injury.
In his sophomore and junior seasons, Hutton was among Conference
USA’s best keepers, sporting a record of 28-7-4 while yielding just
under a goal a game for Billiken teams that advanced to the NCAA
Tournament’s Third Round and Quarterfinals, respectively.
He has been honored for those achievements, being named to the
C-USA Third Team All-Conference as a sophomore and the Second Team
All-Conference as a junior.
He also garnered region-wide accolades last season, as he was
named to the NCAA All-Midwest Region Third Team. This season, C-USA
coaches voted him to the Preseason All-Conference Team.
Since Hutton is one of only two seniors on the team, and the
only one of the two to be a returning player, since defender Brett
Branan is a transfer from Clemson, he finds himself in a leadership
position, even more so since his injury makes him unavailable to
play right now.
Despite these situations, he doesn’t feel too much weight on his
shoulders because this year’s team has an abundance of leaders.
“People do listen to what I say a little bit more, but everybody
is real vocal, and everybody respects each other,” Hutton said.
“It’s just the role I was put into and I feel it’s not mine
solely.”
In preparation for his return to the field, Hutton is hoping to
develop consistency in his game as well through exercise and diet,
which he believes will help him realize his full potential on and
off the field.
“Individually, I would like to be more consistent and maybe come
out with a few more wins,” Hutton said.
The Billikens were ranked fourth nationally in College Soccer
News’ preseason poll, which shows that this very talented team
definitely has a good chance at making a run at the school’s 11th
national championship this season.
As is the case, most likely, within all of the SLU men’s soccer
program, Hutton wants to end his career as a Billiken in style by
winning a national championship this December.
This is an accomplishment that he thinks this team is in a good
position to achieve.
“If everybody can concentrate on their game and bring the
intensity to practice everyday, then I think we should be fine,”
Hutton said.
According to Hutton, it should be about three weeks before he is
able to return to the field in game action. At this time, the
Billikens will be doing battle with some top non-conference foes,
as well as beginning to get into the meat of their C-USA schedule,
before he is able to return to the field in game action.
He is currently undergoing rehabilitation for the injury, and
started running two weeks ago to build up strength.
“I’m just taking it day by day and I’m trying to get back as
soon as I can,” Hutton said.
Upon his return to the field, Hutton should be the vehicle that
takes this year’s Billikens to whatever greatness that might be
awaiting them.
In the meantime, Jeff Sackman and Pat Disbennett have yet to
stumble falling into the role of taking Hutton’s place.
Sackman started in three games last season, recording one
shutout. Disbennett comes in as a highly touted true freshman with
a great deal of potential.
Last night the two manned the net, splitting time for a combined
shutout in SLU’s 8-0 trumping of UMSL.
The defense made it easy on the two backups as the Rivermen only
managed one shot on goal with Disbennett recording the game’s only
save.
If both offense and defense continue to click in this fashion,
goalkeeping should be a non-issue until Hutton’s return, and if
lucky, he won’t be missing all too much.
