By Andrew Hornback
After an 11-8-2 record last season, not many Cardinal soccer fans would have predicted the success the team is having thus far in 2009.
“It’s the best team we’ve had since I’ve been here,” junior midfielder Austin Berry said. “And the best since Ken [Lolla] has been here coaching. We keep saying it’s the best team and that if we stay healthy it will be a good year. We don’t want to limit ourselves on our goals; we’d like a Big East Championship, tournament and regular season, and a national championship.”
The Cards continued their quest towards reaching their lofty expectations by defeating Southern Illinois University Edwardsville 2-0 in their home opener.
“It was a great game,” Berry said. “We put a lot of pressure on them and didn’t give them many opportunities. We looked well as a team and the pressure was really important.”
The Cards took a quick lead with a goal by forward Colin Rolfe in the eighth minute, with an assist by midfielder Paolo DelPiccolo. Mark Knight put the finishing touch on the Cougars in the 89th minute with a goal, and the assist going to Freddie Braun.
“It was a good team performance. We all worked hard,” senior midfielder/forward Othaniel Yanez said. “We have expectations and have to play as a team to meet them.”
After major success at Akron, second-year head coach Ken Lolla says that leading the Cards to the No. 17 national ranking and a 4-0-1 start isn’t enough.
“The rankings are wonderful from a media standpoint, but they don’t necessarily tell us where we are at from a team standpoint,” Lolla said. “We know we have a lot of growing to do and a lot to learn and we take it day by day.”
The high national ranking may not be as meaningful to Lolla as it is fans, but his feelings regarding his team’s potential are quite sound.
“We do have high expectations and goals,” Lolla said. “That’s why we work extremely hard every day. It’s all about how much we grow and learn that determines how far we go at the end of the season. And we’re working for that.”
The Cards will open Big East play Friday Sept. 18 at home against West Virginia, followed by another home game Sunday Sept. 20 against Pittsburgh. After that, the Cards will face their first Top 25 opponent, and defending Big East champion, No. 10 Notre Dame.
