The six seniors on the men’s soccer team this year have a combined 16 years of collegiate experience between them.
This extensive experience, according to head coach Dan Donigan, is what will help the Billikens to contest not only an Atlantic 10 title but also an NCAA Championship title.
Donigan said that each senior has something unique to offer this season, and their veteran leadership has a calming effect on the younger players.
“The good thing about those six is that they are projected to start, and they’ll all be major contributors on the field,” Donigan said. “They set the tone in training for the younger players, keeping the level of intensity high in order to be successful.”
Senior Brandon Barklage said one aspect of leadership that the seniors embody this year, especially, is team chemistry.
“More than anything, us seniors are really good friends, and we try to pass that down to the younger kids,” Barklage said. “Socially, we are one of the strongest teams in the country; we don’t hold grudges. The captains resolve any conflicts, and we move forward.”
In the first two weeks of the fall season, senior Eric Sweetin said he thinks the team dynamic is better than previous years playing for Saint Louis University.
He said that leadership is best expressed on the field; players learn to lead through game experience.
“Depending on your position, each guy exerts leadership in a different way,” Sweetin said. “For the defense, you don’t always get the stats, but you lead organizationally. Offensively, leadership comes from clutch goals and assisting your teammates.”
However, team chemistry extends beyond what happens on or off the field.
Donigan said that chemistry begins with understanding the history of SLU’s program and taking pride in it.
Five out of the six seniors have played since freshman year, yet all seniors have something to bring to the table in terms of leadership.
“Pat [Disbennett] came back from a serious injury last year, and his maturity and mental physical toughness sets him apart,” Donigan said. “Last year Kyle [Patterson] was the offensive player of year and Cal [Angus] was the defensive player of the year.
“We have tremendous respect for Dado [Hamzagic] as a player because of his background and upbringing. [Barklage] has stepped in as a leader even though he wasn’t here his first two years, and the recognition that [Sweeten] has garnered despite his size says a lot about who he is as a player.”
With the beginning of the season approaching, Barklage said now is the time for seniors to step up as leaders to set the tone early.
“We know how SLU soccer is run, and we know Donigan extremely well,” Barklage said. “We know what needs to be done to win a national championship; it’s a matter of doing all the small things right so that we make it there.”
Now, the team must move forward into the season with two exhibition matches scheduled for this week. In its first match against DePaul on Aug. 20, the Bills won 1-0. The team’s next match will be Memphis on Saturday, Aug. 23.
The team has been selected to capture the 2008 Atlantic 10 Conference Championship, according to voting conducted by the league’s head coaches.
Additionally, the Billikens head into these matches ranked in the top 20 nationally. Soccer Times has the Bills at No. 11, while TopDrawerSoccer.com placed the Bills at No. 12 in the nation.
