The 2007 Preview

Welcome to the great unknown. That will be the theme for the 2007 Concordia men’s soccer team. It’s been three years and two head coaches since the Cobbers have posted a conference victory.

The 30-game drought has brought on a new head coach and a newly injected brand of enthusiasm. Cobber women’s soccer coach Dan Weiler was brought on to lead the men with the hopes that he will accomplish the same feat with the men. Weiler took a downtrodden women’s program and in the course of five seasons, brought them to the top of the MIAC by winning a regular-season conference championship and also a conference playoff title.

Weiler’s task with the men will have to take on the same step-by-step, steady as you go, tone that he used with the women. Not only have the Cobbers not won a conference game since the 2003 campaign, but this year’s team will also not have the top three scorers from 2006.

It is not all bad news for the Cobbers. Weiler brought in 13 new players who will infuse the program with energy and the lack of knowledge of what has happened in the past. CC also has a solid nucleus of talented players returning that will be hungry for conference success in 2007.

Weiler will stress defense first in 2007, hoping to give Concordia a chance in every game. That will fit the strength of the returning players as team captains Chad Morlock (Sr., Moorhead, Minn.) and goalkeeper Mads Schmidt (Jr., Rodding Denmark) will both provide key roles in putting together a much stingier defense. In 2006, the Cobbers allowed a league worst 29 goals. That will have to improve if CC has a chance at claiming any wins inside MIAC play.

Offensively the team could stumble in the early stages of the season before some of the newcomers get used to the fast pace and physical nature of collegiate defenses. Not returning from last year are the top four goalscorers, Brandon Root, Kwaku Opoku, Caleb Hussman and Lane Muzzana. The top returning point getter from a year ago is Mergim Vllahiu (So., West Fargo, N.D.) who netted only five points.

Weiler will have to take a little of the old and mix it with a heaping helping of the new to come up with any sustained offense. Genna Patselov (Jr., Fargo, N.D./Fargo North HS) and Matt Klein (Sr., Fergus Falls, Minn.) will both have a chance to get more scoring opportunities in 2007. They will also be called upon to help the first-year players adjust to a different pace of play.

If the Cobbers show patience and are able to stay close to conference foes throughout the game, then the end of the MIAC losing streak should become a reality and Weiler’s rebuilding process should be right on course.

2007 MIAC Coach's Preseason Poll
1. Gustavus (7)
2. Saint John’s (3)
3. Augsburg (1)
4. St. Thomas
5. Macalester
6. Hamline
7. Carleton
8. St. Olaf
9. Bethel
10. Saint Mary's
11. Concordia