“This year is about defense,” are now prophetic words spoken by junior midfielder Derek Boggs last week.
In their season opener Friday, the Pilots proved this was the game plan. A packed student section witnessed a grueling physical battle against the UC Davis Aggies. The defensive mindset of the entire team prevented the Aggies from scoring, leading to a 1-0 Pilot victory. Senior goalkeeper Justin Baarts who had back-to-back saves in the final two minutes of the game further exemplified the Pilots focus on defense.
After Friday’s exciting win, the Pilots suffered a heartbreaker on Sunday vs. Cleveland State. The Pilots took Cleveland into a second overtime before losing 3-2. Arguably, the Pilots outplayed Cleveland, dominating possession throughout the entirety of the first half and leading after an early goal for the first 40 minutes. The Pilots also far outshot Cleveland 17-8, making more than a few observers remark that a divine force seemed to be in Cleveland’s goalie box. Despite the tough loss, the Pilots still maintained a strong performance.
Eight freshmen joining the lineup this year could lead many to believe the Pilots are rebuilding. However, Boggs was clear this was not the case.
“Our goal for this season is to do something we haven’t done in a while: win the West Conference Championships,” Boggs said.
A young and exciting freshmen class paired with strong upperclassmen leadership makes this seem like a goal well within reach, especially after Friday’s thrilling win and the solid performance, despite the loss, on Sunday. The upperclassmen’s leadership was on strong display, especially in the goalkeeping of Baarts and the single goal drilled in by fellow senior Thomas Iwasaki off an assist by junior Steven Corbett on Friday. Four freshmen started on Friday highlighting the talent of the new class.
The new focus on defense is a necessity after last year’s frustrating season. The Pilots finished with a record of 7-9-3 and gave up a total of 35 goals, more than half of which occurred in the first half. Already, there is a noticeable difference of starting strong to not allow early goals and a far more cohesive team performance.
When asked about how the team has come together in the preseason, Boggs was excited.
“Our team dynamic and moral is the strongest I have seen,” Boggs said. “We love each other on and off the field.”
The Pilots hope to keep this strong bond going throughout the season and ride this energy all the way to a championship. The men’s soccer team will head to Washington on Friday to face off against the Huskies at Husky Soccer Stadium at 7 p.m.
