The Wake

Flash lights popped and fans cheered. The glowing lights of Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium shined on the freshly cut grass still showing mower lines.

And as the men’s soccer club posed for pictures at midfield after a 3-1 victory in its last regular season game against the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, players tried not to get caught up in the moment. Instead they shifted their focus from the regular season to a much grander stage: the national tournament.

But this year’s squad is different than those of the past. With a host of new players, including some that have never played in a national tournament, it’s easy to be uncertain about how the players will get on the field come tournament time. Last year’s squad lost in the quarterfinals at nationals, but players and coaches aren’t worried about another disappointment. They like the chances of this year’s team because of the depth and cohesion that exists. Especially in players with a soccer resume stocked with years of experience and competition.

Defenseman Rasmus Hyltegard hasn’t competed in the national tournament but came to the team with roughly 22 years of soccer experience. Given the team’s 13-3-1 overall record, Hyltegard knows maintaining focus between the regular and post season is crucial to the club’s success.

“I’m a little worried because we have a break for a couple of weeks [between tournaments] and the weather is going to be cold so we can’t practice outside and don’t have access to arenas,” he said. “This could be problematic because we could lose some momentum. We need to remain focused by working out on our own.”

Coach Alan Merrick understands how physically demanding tournament time can be because a team may have to play multiple games on a single afternoon. Some teams don’t have the ability to substitute different players and still maintain the skill level and intensity to compete with the best teams in the country. But the Gophers are covered. They often institute mass substitutions and still apply pressure making opposing goalies sweat.

“We found a way to play that uses all the talents we have in the squad,” Merrick said. “There are different characteristics for each player but the skill level and physical attributes meld well for success and that has been proven in the results we have achieved.”

Despite the confidence Merrick has in his players on and off the bench, he said they can’t afford to get complacent. Good teams overcome adversity, like the injuries and fatigue that occur when teams have to play more than one game a day, he said. The players also need to maintain their disciplines in their approach to the game, physically and mentally.

There is a keener level of confidence that is making its was down from the leaders of the team to the younger, less experienced players. Viktor Adamshek, an unfazed veteran of national and international competition, believes he’s responsible for keeping the team together not only through his actions, but also with his words.

“I was pretty confident last year…but the team cohesion wasn’t as good as this year’s team,” Adamshek said. “There’s not as big of an age range between these guys so we may stick together and fight for each other more than last year’s team.”

Players like Adamshek, Dan Spakowicz and Brady Eichhorn-Hicks have to not only perform but also produce, Merrick said. When they take on leadership roles, it’s easier for the other guys to form the supporting cast, he said. When they face conditioned, technique-oriented teams from California and other traditional powerhouses, Merrick expects his Big Three to form the backbone of their tournament run. But the problem for this teams in the past hasn’t been finding good leadership, but putting the ball in the net.

The team is stronger and has more depth than last year, but come tournament time, the bottom line is scoring goals, he said. The team that scores first and most often will usually come out on top because many of the games are decided by one-goal differences. And when you talk about scoring goals, you have to talk about Nick DeMeuse.

“He [DeMeuse] can score and create because he’s got blistering speed, he’s got good size and decent skills,” Merrick said. “He’s really a player who we look to give us that edge.”

All the talk about confidence, leadership and goal scoring means nothing unless the team gets through the first round.

“When we get into the more elite teams, I think our standard of play will go up a few notches,” Merrick said. “This team is learning how to play with a little intensity but not to be overrun by it and that will put them in a good position…these guys are really ready for it.”

And if all things fall just perfectly into place, the players hope the next time they’re posing for pictures at midfield, they will be holding a national tournament trophy in their hands.