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After a tough rebuilding season in 2009, the Wittenberg men's soccer team looks to not only turn things around but to make a return to the top of the always-challenging North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) in 2010. Head coach Steve Dawson welcomes a relatively experienced team back for his 28th year at the helm, a group he hopes learned important lessons during its 3-13-2 campaign of a year ago.
On paper, the Tigers' strength appears to be its defense, which includes co-captains Spencer Hogue (Dublin, Ohio/Jerome), a senior, and Daniel Broidy (Bexley, Ohio/Bexley), a junior who missed most of the 2009 season due to injury. They are backed by junior goalkeepers Michael Lambeck (Dublin, Ohio/Coffman), the team's primary starter each of the last two years, and David Rea (Rocky River, Ohio/Rocky River), who appeared in nine games in 2009.
Hogue came on strong in 2009 to earn honorable mention All-NCAC honors while starting every game after struggling with injuries early in his collegiate career. Broidy was a force early in 2009 before suffering an injury against Allegheny and taking a medical red-shirt. Also back after solid inaugural collegiate seasons are sophomores Brock Hicks (New Albany, Ohio/New Albany) and Alejandro Garcia (Toledo, Ohio/St. Francis).
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Spencer Hogue
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In the midfield, senior co-captain Merrick Austin (Westerville, Ohio/Central) returns in the middle as one of the team's most experienced players after starting all 18 games for the Tigers in 2009. Senior Nate Ayres (Hilliard, Ohio/Davidson) added two goals and an assist in 2009, his first collegiate season with regular playing time. On the outside, senior Robbie Farquhar (Bexley, Ohio/Bexley), junior Declan McBride (Surrey, England/Tasis) and sophomore Marshall Rowland (Pewee Valley, Ky./South Oldham) are among the top returners.
Offensively, senior forward Tom Fisher (Ridgefield, Conn./Ridgefield) and junior forward Stefan Latham (Springfield, Ohio/Catholic Central) are the top returning players. They combined for five goals and five assists a year ago, and in the absence of leading scorer Brian Glenn will be asked to step up their production in 2010.
In addition to a solid recruiting class that includes numerous players who will see action in 2010, three other letterwinners are also back in the fold in junior midfielder Steven Fitzpatrick (Hilliard, Ohio/Davidson), sophomore forward Christian Stringer (Delaware, Ohio/Hayes) and Brian Hertzog (Champaign, Ill./Centennial). Fitzpatrick started in 11 games in 2009, while Stringer and Hertzog made 15 and 14 appeareances, respectively.
Written By: Tom Fisher '11