Saint Louis University men’s soccer players Mike Roach and Michael Robson share more than just a first name and a position on the pitch. The Mikes have their eyes fixed on an Atlantic 10 title and a deep run in the NCAA Tournament. They are experienced enough to not get too far ahead of themselves.
“At SLU, you’re ultimately judged on how far you go in the NCAA tournament,” Roach, a senior and the team’s captain, said. “With this being my last year, I want to make sure we make a run and leave my stamp on this program, one game at a time.”
Roach and Robson, a junior, recognize the road to these lofty goals will not be paved with level asphalt. This fall campaign is more likely to ride like a 1982 Chevy Bronco with blown out shocks on a bumpy red dirt road. The pair of midfielders will do their best to play team mechanic and steer this year’s team to a successful season. The Mikes are up to the task.
“We’re a tight-knit group,” Robson said. “We hit a rough patch together here at the beginning of the season with a couple of losses, but we’re only going to get better.”
A team that includes five freshmen starters, as SLU’s does, needs upper-classmen leadership. When players make their first collegiate appearances and starts against nationally ranked opponents, nerves can creep in and affect play.
Robson and the rest of the team relied on an age-old tradition to keep the freshmen loose and relaxed on their recent road trip to Bloomington, Ind. With No. 18 Indiana and No. 10 Notre Dame awaiting, the upper-classmen shattered any nervous ice that may have been freezing over the bus ride.
“We have a little rite of initiation for the freshman,” Robson said. “We have all of them get up on the bus and do a little singing. It was all in good spirit.”
The impromptu a capella concert set list consisted of many rap songs and a couple renditions of Rick Springfield’s hit “Jesse’s Girl”.
No worries, SLU soccer fans. This class of freshmen will not be moonlighting for The Bare Naked Statues anytime soon.
“Terrible voices,” Robson offered, doing his best Simon Cowell impression.
Roach relishes in his role as the team’s head honcho.
“I have been through the rigors of three seasons, so I know the ropes, and I have a pretty good idea of how to direct these guys,” he said.
He leads through example and does not expect to be treated any differently than the rest of his teammates.
“Yeah, I’m the captain on the field, but I’ll listen to anything anyone has to say off the field,” he said.
This lack of a sense of entitlement from the team’s star player allows for everyone to contribute and grow. The team’s balance and developing chemistry is evident on the statistic sheets of the first three games. The team’s four goals were scored by three players. The only player to score two goals is freshman Raymond Lee.
Expect more players to join in on the goal-scoring fun with Roach and Robson distributing the ball and their even-keel vibes around.
