Ivy season equals new slate for Tigers

A 2-6-1 overall start does not typically inspire confidence and optimism in a team. Yet, the 2007 men's soccer team, led by head coach Jim Barlow '91, appears to be a rare breed — the type of team that can put losses and disappointments behind it, focusing instead upon the games to come and what it hopes will be a brighter future.

Despite coming off a 1-5-1 league season, the Tigers have high hopes for the 2007 campaign. This Saturday marks the start of that journey when they travel to Providence, R.I., to face Brown (6-1-1).

Returning nine of its 11 goal-scorers from last year, the team appears to have all the necessary ingredients for a potent offensive attack. But Princeton's first three games did little to lend credence to that belief, as the Tigers failed to score an offensive goal against Loyola, American or Colgate.

The Tigers' Sept. 17 game against Seton Hall, on the other hand, told a different story. Princeton had its first offensive explosion of the season, scoring three goals and taking 20 shots, 10 of which were on goal. Despite the increased offensive production, Princeton fell just short when the Pirates scored a goal in the 83rd minute to stun the Tigers, 4-3.

"We play well at times, but we need to finish games off," senior forward and co-captain Kyle McHugh said before the game. "We gotta make it a priority to win games."

Though the Tigers were displeased with the outcome of the Seton Hall game — junior goalie Joe Walter said before the game that an 0-4 start would be "completely unacceptable" — the squad's potential was still apparent.

Their potential was finally realized two weeks later when the Tigers posted a 2-0 victory over Fairleigh Dickinson on Sunday night, their first of the year. The win, along with their 0-0 tie against Monmouth on Sept. 27, continued the Tigers' unbeaten streak since returning from the Stanford Tournament in California.

"The funny thing is that we're not intimidated at all," McHugh said. "[The] attitude of the team is ... we know we can be a very good team; we know we are a very good team. We just gotta get clicking."

McHugh will play a large role in getting the team clicking, as the Tigers will be looking to him and fellow senior co-captain Matt Kontos, a defender, for leadership throughout the season. Both McHugh and Kontos have started in each game that they've played for the Tigers.

McHugh and Kontos are joined by fellow seniors Dan Cummins, Mike Jester, David Metcalf, Robbie Morgenroth, Victor Noskov and Ted Wolfson. Cummins and Morgenroth help Kontos hold down the back line, while the other seniors line up at midfield.

On the other end of the spectrum, the Princeton roster boasts nine freshmen, giving their class the most representation on the team. Among those freshmen is undersized forward Brandon Busch, who has already seen major minutes this year, first as a sub and more recently in the starting lineup. Busch, who is listed at five foot, three inches and 130 lbs., tallied both his first goal and his first assist in the game against Seton Hall.

"It's been great," Busch said. "The whole team is really close already. The upperclassmen have done a really good job letting the freshmen get involved."

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In between the team's oldest and youngest members is an impressive group of sophomores and juniors. Chief among them is sophomore midfielder Devin Muntz who, along with McHugh, earned second-team All-Ivy League honors as a freshman. Muntz led the team in scoring, tallying four goals and 11 points.

"If we're going to win, [sophomore forward] Max Hare and Muntz need to score," McHugh said. "Plus I gotta get goals ... [against Colgate] I didn't do what I needed for the win."

Also returning to prominent roles this season are junior midfielders Brad Fechter, Jason Adams and Matt Care, as well as sophomores Danny Steiner and Ben Harms at defense and forward, respectively.

In spite of the team's experienced roster, Princeton has struggled with consistency early in the season.

"Some guys have played good one game, then poorly the next game," Walter said. "We really need some goals — it's much easier to play with a lead."

For all intents and purposes, Sunday night's game appears to have turned over a new leaf for the Tigers and at just the right time, with the start to Ivy League play just around the corner.

"Our absolute goal is to win the Ivy League championship," McHugh said. "My goal as a team leader is to make the team as good as it can be. My job is to take our potential and turn it into something real."

Princeton will have a tough road ahead of it, as three Ivy League teams seem to have set themselves apart during non-conference play. Like Brown, Dartmouth is also 6-1-1. More formidable, however, is defending Ivy League champ Harvard.

Despite losing two-time Ivy League player of the year Charles Altchek, the Crimson has surged to a 7-1-1 start this season. Of all the teams in the league, the Tigers have the worst record thus far.

"In the end, though, I don't care if we lose the rest of our non-conference games," Walter said, "as long as we come out on top in the seven Ivy League contests.

Despite the slow start, the Tigers remain focused on the goals they set at the beginning of the season.

"We still have the same vision for the season," McHugh said. "There's just a little more pressure now."