Context: Thinking about men’s soccer
Dylan Matthias, Sports Editor
Some would call it disappointing. I might be one of those people.
It certainly wasn’t a terribly convincing season from the Dal Tigers’ men’s soccer team. It started badly and didn’t get much better.
There’s been some pretty heavy criticism around the local media about the team, and I’ve been a part of some of it.
This is about context, though. Not excuses, not exactly, although I suppose some might call it that, too. Still, sometimes there’s a place for excuses and cliché, when it’s true.
The criticisms are fairly obvious: poor goal-scoring highlighted an occasionally shaky defensive line for the Tigers. Talk of team discipline issues never died down and while that was never really confirmed, disgruntled players weren’t exactly hard to find.
There are reasons for this — and there are positives. First, a season-ending injury to Hamzeh Afani in the NSSL finals meant Dal were without their number one striker. Take that player from any team in AUS and they’ll struggle to score. Tyler Lewars didn’t exactly light the league up — he was suspended as many games as he scored goals this year—but he did show a lot of promise for a rookie. He will be good.
Lewars’ recruiting potential shouldn’t be overlooked, either. Judging by the three former Ottawa Fury teammates that have toured Dal this year, Lewars has some influence amongst players at his former club. The Fury, a member of the Super Y-League are one of the best development teams in Canada. If Dal can convince even one of those players to Halifax, it will improve the team.
The main concern going into next year has to be that the main issues after the Tigers’ shock exit to UPEI in the 2009 playoffs at Dal are still unaddressed. The team is still one starting striker and one depth striker away from being a consistent goal threat. Ross Hagen led the team in scoring this year, and while he had a superb year, he is a midfielder and he’s also gone next year.
The team is still weak at fullback as well. It was a different face at right back every other game this year. Zach Fisher had pace but took ridiculous numbers of cards and was often out of position. He’ll improve, but whether he’s really starting material remains to be seen. Kieran Hooey looked promising but rarely played. Nathan Rogers looked excellent at right back, but he’s still not the fastest and he ended up getting hurt. Jordan Mannix is still a solid tackling fullback and useful against bigger teams. Put a speedy winger against him and there will be problems, although to his credit, there were fewer in 2010 than in 2009.
Dal’s disappointing finish to the season in Newfoundland led to a few questions about Pat Nearing’s ability. What it’s important to understand is that Nearing is one of the most well-respected and well-connected coaches in Canada. When Canadian soccer podcast It’s Called Football did a piece on the potential for a CIS draft into MLS a few weeks ago, they interviewed Pat Nearing. He’s well-connected in a country where soccer can be a bit tenuous politically, and he knows what he’s doing. Talented soccer coaches can be a bit thin on the ground in Canada. He’s been around CIS as long as he has for a reason.
Dal’s season was rough. So was 2007, and Nearing oversaw that, too. Recruiting can be a bit cyclical in CIS. It’s tough to stay ahead of the curve as your players leave. Dal will need some midfielders next year, and those striker and fullback holes still beckon. Hagen has done what he can for Dal, someone else will have to step up. Also out are Chris Haughn, Colin Power, Andrew Dalziel, Andrew Hutchison, Hussein Rajan and Nathan Beck.
Those are some pretty steadfast Tiger names leaving and the AUS showed this year that it’s getting better (CIS bronze medal, anyone?). Recruiting is on, now. Nearing’s work is cut out for him.
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