Last year, the Oregon club soccer team had the reputation of coming up just a little too short, but the team members think they can finally get over the hump this season. Though there are only eight returners to the team this season, a record 55 athletes tried out for the squad, with 18 players selected. There was such excitement and buzz over tryouts that a B-team roster may be in the works for next season.
A flux of new talent should be on the field this year, with Brianna Joseph and Erica Midttveit joining the team. Joseph, a sophomore center midfielder who played at the Stevens Institute last year, will look to be one of the Ducks’ best players. Midttveit, a graduate student and Oregon’s new goalkeeper, already had a storied college career, playing Division-III soccer and making it to the Sweet 16. The top returner for the Ducks looks to be forward Rachel Micklas, who scored more than half the goals for Oregon last season. Kat Bloomfield and Alle Macleod will take the backfield and make it tough for any opponent to score.
A year ago, Oregon placed second in the UCLA tournament, losing in the championship game to UC Santa Barbara — who went on to win the championship for the qualifying national tournament. The team will travel to Los Angeles again this year for the UCLA tournament, hoping to bring the title back to Eugene this season. The Ducks also placed second in the fall nationals in Phoenix, Ariz. They will be heading back to Phoenix this year on November 18 for another appearance in the nationals tournament.
The Ducks have established themselves as one of the best teams in Oregon, beating club teams from Willamette, Oregon State and the University of Portland. Last Saturday, in the first game of the 2010 season, Oregon dominated Willamette 5-0. The Ducks will face steeper competition this season against Gonzaga and University of Idaho, who should test the limits of how far the team can go.
Dave Peterson is back for his second season as the head coach and looks to keep working to improve the club soccer program. Peterson coaches three other teams and shows incredible drive to give 100 percent to all his teams.
“Coach Peterson’s dedication, focus and extreme commitment to the team has been very good for us and is a big reason for our tremendous growth as a team,” Kristina Lekas said.
Peterson, a former coach at Churchill High School, received the Division 5A Coach of the Year in Oregon in 2008.
Club sports are unable to participate in an official league, and must schedule their games themselves, while covering their own expenses for trips. The team has no statistics, but schedules a rigorous 40 games per season. If any players become injured throughout the season, the team also keeps four practice players on the team. The team practices from 6:15 a.m. to 8 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and spectators are always welcome.
Although a strong senior class graduated last year, the growth of returning players and addition of new talent this year should make this season a successful one for the Ducks. The team has the necessary tools to win games and has a good chance to win one of their major tournaments at UCLA and nationals. On paper and on the practice field, this team seems able, but they must find a way to gel as a team with so many new players.
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