THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, September 1, 1994 TAG: 9409010700
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C8 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JULIE GOODRICH, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 72 lines
According to Old Dominion men's soccer coach Ralph Perez, the Monarchs' goal this season is to make the next step.
``The last two years we've been so close . . . and yet so far,'' he said. ``We need to get back on track.''
After winning the Colonial Athletic Association championship in 1991, ODU lost in the semifinals the following year. Last season, the Monarchs survived shootouts in their first two conference tournament games before losing, 3-0, to James Madison in the CAA final.
ODU finished the 1993 season with an 8-8-5 record and was winless (0-4-3) on hostile fields. But with eight full-time starters returning, Perez has a squad that knows what it takes to be competitive.
``We've got a good returning base. Most of our seniors are players we're really counting on,'' said Perez, in his fifth year at ODU. ``We have some younger players who got excellent experience last year . . . we're hoping they will step up even more this season.''
Unfortunately, one of the few positions where the Monarchs don't return a starter is goalkeeper. Gone is all-CAA goalie Tim Figureido, who held the opposition to just 1.16 goals per game in 1993. Junior Nathan Olansen, who played only a half-game last season, has the edge on the starting job for 1994.
Also vying for playing time in goal is freshman Michael Rodriguez, a former member of the Under-17 national team.
``It's a hole that we definitely need to fill,'' Perez said. ``I'm sure all the other coaches will be focusing on our goalkeeper no matter who we start.''
To make matters worse, the defensive backfield is also a concern for the Monarchs' coaching staff.
According to Perez, Old Dominion ``conceded far too many goals last season, and we're working all the time on trying to prevent that.''
Senior tri-captain Jamie Reed and sophomore Randy Propster, out of Kempsville High, are back. And Perez is thrilled that junior Byron Mitchell has rejoined the team.
``Byron's going to be a big addition . . . he should solidify us,'' Perez said. Mitchell, a product of Cape Henry Collegiate, sat out the 1993 season because of academic difficulties.
Offensively, senior Milo Iniguez should pace the Monarchs. He scored 10 goals last season, the first time Perez has had a player score in double figures at ODU. Iniguez earned second team All-CAA honors.
``I'm hoping this year that (Iniguez's) production goes up. It's important for him to raise his level of play,'' Perez said. ``We're not just looking for him to score . . . we need him to set up the others. He has all the abilities, he just needs to put them together.''
Senior tri-captain Gene Bowman, a former First Colonial standout, earned first-team All-CAA consideration last season as a forward. As a junior transfer from Ulster Community College (N.Y.) last season, Bowman scored six goals.
``He's going to be a big factor. We're counting on him to step his game up and increase his number of goals,'' Perez said. ``We need him to be a force in a game for the entire 90 minutes.''
Sophomore Bucky Silva, out of Cox High School, put in seven goals as a freshman and will be counted on up front.
At midfield, Perez said he will be ``looking for some leadership'' out of senior tri-captain Geof Thompson. Tom Manning, Emilio Romero, and Raul Ovalle will also be strong. ILLUSTRATION: FILE PHOTO
Tri-captain Gene Bowman, who scored six goals last season, is one of
eight starters back at ODU. Questions are at goalie and back.
by CNB