Photo by Eric Siegel
By Taylor Konyk
Elm Sports Editor
It’s soccer season yet again, and the Washington College Shoremen are eager to hit the ground running. This season marks the second year for Head Coach Roy Dunshee and the first fully recruited freshmen class by the new coaching staff.
Despite finishing 5-10 last season, Senior Forward George Gabriel expects “marked improvements from years previous.”
“Our strong suit this year is probably the team all being on the same page. Coach has instilled a winning mentality into this team and absolutely everyone is onboard,” said Gabriel.
Students should circle their calendar for the Sept. 4 tilt with longtime rival, the Salisbury Seagulls, and the Sept. 21 homecoming game versus Franklin and Marshall.
Last season, the Shoremen narrowly lost to Salisbury due to a late goal by Phil Bucheimer in the 79th minute of the game.
Similarly, the Franklin and Marshal Diplomats defeated the Shoremen in the latter stages of the game, scoring two goals after the 70th minute. WC would move on to lose two to one.
With a winning attitude and a new crew at the helm, this team is excited to charge out of the gate.
“There are a couple of tight conference losses from last year that we want to put right,” said Gabriel referring to many close games that narrowly slipped away as time expired.
The men will face the challenge of replacing the invaluable leadership and experience of seniors past like Goalkeeper Tyler Cabot.
“We lost a great keeper in Tyler Cabot, but all three of our goalies are having a great preseason, and it’s really encouraging to see them stepping up,” said Gabriel. “It’s clear to see that many of them can really make a difference for us this year. They’re confident in their abilities, so our job will be to help them stay on track in the classroom and get the most out of being part of what promises to be a great few years both on and off the field.”
The Shoremen have the talent to win big games—all that remains is the stage. This new and improved team will be tested at every turn. In fact, the first home-game against Salisbury is the perfect litmus test for how far they’ve advanced since last season.
Coach Dunshee did well to restock the talent on his team to drive success for seasons to come, but the core leadership on the team remains.
Gabriel noticed a difference in the team’s identity almost immediately.
“We have a lot of depth in a lot of positions, and it’s all about channeling these things into wins when the season starts.”
Many questions surround this new squad, but the future looks promising. The 2013 WC Shoremen have a healthy balance of talent, attitude and experience.
With all the preparation of an untested thoroughbred at the line, all that’s left for us to do is bear down and wait for the sound of the gun, because when the gate opens on this year’s soccer season, the action won’t cease.