2008 Woodie Awards
Men's Soccer Posts Two Shutouts
Evan Xenopoulos
Issue date: 9/9/05 Section: Sports
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With a new head coach and a crop of great young players, the Colgate men's soccer team kicked off its season with a win against Fordham and a tie against Rider.
The team may have lost six key players from last year's team, but the Raiders have many returning players and a new coach who hopes to build a great team.
Head Coach Mike Doherty coached the men's soccer team for the last 20 years, before stepping down as head coach after last season. When a search went out for a new coach, the team chose a familiar face, Colgate alumnus Eric Ronning.
Ronning graduated from Colgate in 1997 and assisted Doherty for four years. After working at Northwestern for another four years as an assistant and associate coach, Ronning jumped at the chance to coach his alma mater.
"I am very happy to be here and I always enjoyed Colgate," he said. "I graduated in 1997 and I enjoyed being an assistant under Coach Doherty. I was very excited when I heard about the job opening and I hope to build this program up."
Not only is there new blood in the coaching staff, but Colgate men's soccer program also welcomes 10 first-years whom Ronning hopes to mold into the future leaders of this program.
With a large team of 27 players, it is clear that Ronning will have tremendous depth this year and many options to work with. The team also has a great captain in senior Sean O'Sullivan who, although currently nursing a leg injury, will soon be back to bolster the team from the midfield position.
After an intense preseason, the Raiders were ready to begin their season at the Bronc Fall Classic, as they faced off against Rider University.
After 90 minutes of intense play and two tight overtimes, Colgate and Rider finished in a scoreless tie.
"I felt we played a solid first half, but we were a little sluggish in the second half," Ronning said of the first game. "I was very impressed with the play of our central defenders, [sophomore] Dan Belke and [first-year] Glenn Volk. I was also happy with our goalie, [junior] Doug Litvack, who did not let anything by. It is great that our defense played well and I thought our midfield played a well organized game."
The team may have lost six key players from last year's team, but the Raiders have many returning players and a new coach who hopes to build a great team.
Head Coach Mike Doherty coached the men's soccer team for the last 20 years, before stepping down as head coach after last season. When a search went out for a new coach, the team chose a familiar face, Colgate alumnus Eric Ronning.
Ronning graduated from Colgate in 1997 and assisted Doherty for four years. After working at Northwestern for another four years as an assistant and associate coach, Ronning jumped at the chance to coach his alma mater.
"I am very happy to be here and I always enjoyed Colgate," he said. "I graduated in 1997 and I enjoyed being an assistant under Coach Doherty. I was very excited when I heard about the job opening and I hope to build this program up."
Not only is there new blood in the coaching staff, but Colgate men's soccer program also welcomes 10 first-years whom Ronning hopes to mold into the future leaders of this program.
With a large team of 27 players, it is clear that Ronning will have tremendous depth this year and many options to work with. The team also has a great captain in senior Sean O'Sullivan who, although currently nursing a leg injury, will soon be back to bolster the team from the midfield position.
After an intense preseason, the Raiders were ready to begin their season at the Bronc Fall Classic, as they faced off against Rider University.
After 90 minutes of intense play and two tight overtimes, Colgate and Rider finished in a scoreless tie.
"I felt we played a solid first half, but we were a little sluggish in the second half," Ronning said of the first game. "I was very impressed with the play of our central defenders, [sophomore] Dan Belke and [first-year] Glenn Volk. I was also happy with our goalie, [junior] Doug Litvack, who did not let anything by. It is great that our defense played well and I thought our midfield played a well organized game."