Interview with acting president Neil Kerwin

BY MIKE UNGER

The goals sit facing each other just 40 yards apart, creating a whirlwind of frantic and spirited play where goaltenders can shoot and a defensive stand can morph into an offensive rush in the blink of an eye. Four teams comprising players from the temporarily divided AU men’s soccer team clash on two minifields parallel to one another at the far end of Reeves Field, taking part in this high stakes round robin tournament in which only the winning squad is rewarded with the ultimate prize: excuse from postpractice suicide sprints.
These seven-minute games were staged at the end of the AU men’s soccer team’s practice Wednesday, and the intensity of competition was evident on every player’s face. Chatter—not always cordial—was common, and every loose ball was aggressively pursued. The tournament is a new exercise in Coach Todd West’s refashioned practice routine, designed to boost individual competitiveness and help the Eagles win close games.

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A game can’t be much closer than AU’s Oct. 9 tussle against then-18th-ranked Lehigh, a thrilling 2-1 overtime victory that propelled AU toward the top of the Patriot League standings. West’s hope, that sharper, more intense practices in which players’ personal battles are paramount would translate into his men playing tougher in tight games, seemingly has come true.

“We focused a lot on the team stuff, and we were in tight games and not winning them,” said West, whose team got off to a 1-4-1 start. “So I started breaking things down to individual stuff. It’s a lot more competitive where guys can’t hide. That shows weaknesses that we can then address.”

Having just completed sprinting (his team came up short), senior Gordon Templeman was sucking wind after Wednesday’s practice. But the defender from Virginia Beach, Va., relishes the new spirit evident in practice and thinks it has helped AU to its solid 2-2 start in league play.

“The competitive nature wasn’t always constant,” Templeman said. “We’ve had glimpses of our potential, but at the same time, we’ve had lapses. Day in and day out the college season can be a grind, so I think [the scrimmages help] because people really get into it.”

Templeman played midfield until the Lehigh game, when coaches asked him to anchor AU’s defense. His solid play, along with that of freshman Phil Purdy, was a key to the victory, which came when senior Coco Del Rio tipped in a rebound with just two seconds remaining in the first overtime period. For their efforts, the triumphant trio swept the Patriot League Offensive Player, Defensive Player, and Rookie of the Week awards.

“If guys give it up for the team, individuals will get rewarded,” West said.

Del Rio is a freestyling offensive threat in his second season with AU, where he settled after transferring from UNC-Wilmington. He scored both goals in the win over Lehigh, which was considered a preseason favorite to win the conference.

West said the coaches decided to move Templeman to defense so he could provide some leadership.

“That was really the first time we put him in back,” West said. “I thought our back four was the best it’s been. He has the confidence on the field to talk and get things organized.”

Heading into the season West had been counting on Purdy, who impressed the coaching staff in preseason camp, to play a big role on defense. But in the second game of the year against Georgetown, Purdy suffered a scary injury in which he took a shoulder to his chest. After missing three games, it was unclear how he would perform when he returned to the field.

“We were obviously concerned when someone gets injured like that for his well being,” West said. “Coming back, you never know if they’re going to engage in the physical aspects of the game, but he’s come back strong. It’s like falling off a horse, he jumped right back on.”

The same can be said of the entire team. After that sluggish start, AU defeated top league contenders Lafayette and Lehigh before falling to Holy Cross 4-1 on Sunday.

“I’m pleased with where the players are,” West said. “Now we’ve just got to turn it into wins in the games.”