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1996 Outlook
A Season of Change: A New Era...
It is a year of change for the 1996 men's soccer team. This young squad facesthe challenges of working with a new head coach, a new focus and returningStanford to national prominence.
The direction this team takes will come from new head coach Bobby Clark. Clark,a native of Scotland, was named the Director of Soccer and Men's Head Coach onApril 8, 1996. Clark will oversee the operation of both the men's and women'sprograms in addition to his duties at the helm of the men's team. He brings along list of credentials to The Farm. In nine seasons at Dartmouth, Clark postedan 82-42-13 record. Most recently, he served as the New Zealand National TeamHead Coach and worked with the Senior, Olympic, Under-20 and Under-17 squads.Combined, Clark had a 21-12-3 record Down Under.
In addition to his list of credentials, Clark brings a new focus to his Stanfordteam.
"This 'Team' is not about 11 players. Rather the game we play is a reflection ofthe whole squad on and off the field," said Clark. "The Stanford Soccerstyle hasan increased work ethic and a solid team orientation in order to see success."
This new focus requires backing from the entire team. Clark began steering theteam to play as one unit with a common goal: concentrating on the task at hand.Clark taught this philosophy during the spring and was pleased with the team'sefforts.
"The permutations and combinations we as coaches have to choose from are many,but it is very important that all the players grasp the team concept and find apersonal role within the philosophy. That way they can contribute to making 1996a memorable year for Stanford Soccer," said Clark.
The majority of this team will have to overcome the memory of recent seasons.Last year, Stanford ended with a 5-12-1 record after starting the season 3-1-0.The 1996 schedule will not make this an easy task. The Cardinal does not havemuch time before testing their new focus on top teams. Stanford heads east toplay Creighton and Drake before traveling to San Diego State and the Universityof San Diego.
"I believe if we look after the little things and emphasize the fundamentals ofsoccer, there will be growth and satisfaction within the team at the end of theseason," Clark said.
The Cardinal squad is full of youth, with 15 underclassmen, of which six are newto The Farm. Here's a breakdown by position of the 1996 Stanford Cardinal.
Goalkeepers
The most contested position this year, Stanford is very deep at goalkeeper.Senior Ryan Craig and sophomore Jon Bruck saw all the action in goal last year.The two combined for a 1.80 goals against average and four shutouts. GrantBrown, who sat out last year with an injury, returns to challenge for the numberone spot. The Cardinal also adds two top freshmen to the goalkeeper list: BobbyRandolph and Adam Zapala.
"There will be a lot of interest in this position at the start of the year.Players will not only be competing for the starting spot, but they'll fight tomake the travel squad too," Clark said.
Defenders
Of Stanford's six defenders, only one is new to The Farm. This veteran depthgives Clark the opportunity to find the combination that fits together best.Junior Jason Roeder, senior Jon Manchester and junior Daniel Wytock saw most ofthe action last year in Stanford's last line of defense. Additionally, theCardinal is looking forward to the return of senior co-captains Brad Davies, whosat out most of last year with an injury and Matt Foley. Other key players inthe back combination are sophomore Jeff Szekeres and freshman Gerard Davis.
"Stanford's style is to use the whole team defensively, not only the backs,"said Clark. "The defenders must show ability to stop players, but they alsoserve as the first line of creativity when we have the ball."
Midfielders
Like the defenders, Stanford has a variety of options in the lineup. The depthof eight midfielders gives the coaching staff tactical alternatives on thefield. The Cardinal will look to junior Shan Gaw and sophomore T.K. Inbody tocontinue creating opportunities in the midfield. Senior Erik Morrison, sophomoreA.J. Sauer and sophomore Aaron Jones will also add to the mix. Sophomoretransfer Jamie Clark and freshman Andy Hemmerich will compete with the Cardinalveterans for playing time. Junior Eric Vandevelde, the team's leading scorerlast season, is questionable for this year after suffering a knee injury in thespring.
"This is an exciting challenge for us to find the right lineup and identify thealternatives to create a strong midfield," Clark said.
Forwards
The forward line is led by fifth-year senior Steve Kirschbaum. Two sophomores,Dan Traylor and Adam Siegman, return poised to make a major impact on theoffense. Stanford also adds freshman Brandon Garinger to the forwards.
"This is an important area for us this year. The team's success depends a lot onhow this group performs," said Clark.