Brian Armstrong, pictured at left, is one of the team's top returning scorers.

The 2002 edition of the Tiger men's soccer team has high expectations after back-to-back 10-win seasons. Bolstered by the return of nine starters, the Tigers must first compete well against a brutal non-conference schedule and then find a way to win consistently against the upper echelon of one of the best soccer leagues in the country, the North Coast Athletic Conference.

Stability at the top is a key, and the Tigers are led once again in 2002 by Head Coach Steve Dawson, who has compiled a 200-130-16 record over his career. Offensive production will be expected from junior forwardTaggart Suddes (Ostrander, Ohio/Dublin Coffman), the NCAC's leading scorer a year ago, and senior forward Brian Armstrong (Delaware, Ohio/Dublin Coffman).Suddes, a first-team all-conference selection, led the Tigers with 12 goals and 10 assists in 2001, while Armstrong contributed seven goals and two assists. Also pushing forward to aid the offense are senior midfielder Matt Lapish (Grosse Point Farms, Mich./South), sophomore forward Cliff Cannon (Gahanna, Ohio/The Wellington School), junior midfielder Mike Walsh (Springfield, Ohio/North) and senior midfielder Stefan Christman (Dublin, Ohio/Coffman). Lapish was an honorable mention all-conference selection, while Christman ranked third on the team in points with 13.

Defensively, the Tigers must tighten things up in the backfield to compensate for the loss of goalkeeper Danny Carman, a 2000 all-conference selection, who recorded 98 saves and 3.5 shutouts last season. Senior Josh Curtis (Dublin, Ohio/Coffman) and juniors Steve Doring (Dayton, Ohio/Wayne), Tim Fogler (Chagrin Falls, Ohio/Kenston) and Greg Zeller (Springfield, Ohio/North) will be counted on to lead the way. Curtis and Doring have both earned all-conference accolades in their careers, while Zeller was honored as the team's most improved player last season. Junior goalkeeper Matt Sharp (Mainville, Ohio/Middletown Fenwick) saw limited action in the goal last season, but is expected to get the bulk of the time in net in 2002.