Men's Soccer — 2003 Season Outlook

Andy Stewart will be a key to the Tigers' success in 2003 as one the team's top midfielders.

The Wittenberg men's soccer program has been competitive with the best teams in NCAA Division III for a long time, but it has been seven years since the Tigers have advanced to the NCAA Division III Tournament, thanks in part to the tremendous strength of the North Coast Athletic Conference and its bevy of national powers. Veteran Head Coach Steve Dawson has high hopes that the 2003 edition of Tiger men's soccer will be able to get back over that hump by not only competing well with the best in the nation, but winning those tight games that in recent years have often gone the wrong way.

Minus six starters from the 2002 team that finished 7-10-1, Dawson will look to a trio of seniors to lead the charge this year. Steve Doring, Tim Fogler and Greg Zeller have all earned three letters and have been starters in the defensive backfield the majority of the last three years, with Doring being the most accomplished with two All-NCAC selections to his credit. They will start in front of either senior goalkeeper Matt Sharp, the 2002 starter, or freshman netminder Adam Horrocks.

In the midfield, the Tigers figure to be young but talented. Several sophomores saw extensive game action a year ago, and with a year of experience they figure to be ready to make even more significant contributions in 2003. Matt Berry has three goals in 16 games, including eight starts. Andy Stewart played in all 18 games and, along with Doring, is the team's top returning scorer with seven total points. Jesse King scored two goals in 13 games in 2002. Among the top newcomers in both the midfield and defense are sophomore Levi Van Reeth, who was on the team but didn't letter in 2002, and freshman David Caputo.

The forwards will all be new players in 2002, including sophomore Isaac Boye-Arthur and a host of freshmen, including Ian Acker, Sebastian Missura, Eduardo Missura and Jason Sucher.