Zachary Spicer Athletes everywhere seemed to have routines they went through before each game in the hope they would emerge victorious. The men's soccer team had its own superstitions . Some members performed their own rituals before each game. "The team goes out to eat before the game," Dan Moorhead said. A warm-up session followed the meal. "Players make up tapes with different songs on them," explained Nick Igel, one ofthe team's co-captains. "If we win a game after listening to a particular tape, we play it before each of the fol-
lowing games." The team also said a prayer. "We start with the Hail Mary," Tim Baechle said. "But if we start losing we switch to the Our Father. And if we're still losing, we switch back to the Hail Mary." Mike Reynaert added, "On our way to the field, everyone on the team takes a drink from the same water fountain. It' s the fountain in the PAC next to the training room." Some players had individual rituals they performed before a game. Baechle put his left sock and left cleat on before he put on his right sock and right cleat. "I always wash my
gloves and call my brother to see how he' s doing," said Joe Lehmann, one of the goalies. Co-captain Scott Schaeper taped his ankles over his socks, and he always warmed up with teammate Rob Plunkett. Some might discount such routines as superstitious nonsense, but something turned the season around for the team. After a 1-8-1 start, the men had a series of wins. They beat the No. 2 team in the conference, Memphi s State, 3-0. They also beat the Philadelphia Textiles, 2-1 , scoring the winning goal in the last seven minutes of the game. They ended the season with a 10-9-1 record.
photo by Jennifer Brown
The starting goalie, Joe Lehmann, works on his goalkeeping. Opponents averaged only 1.90 goals per game against Lehmann over the entire season. Front Row (L-R): Joe Lehmann, Aaron Turano. Second Row: Mike Reynaert, Scott Downing, Kevin Rudolph, Rob Plunkett, Scott Schaeper, Nick Igel, Bill Friday, Tim Gugerty, Scott Rooney, Tim Baechle. Third Row: Team Trainer Marv Pollins, Assistant Coach George Demetriades, Cory Aldrich, Tim Ross, Walt Barf , Fred Schmalz, Dan Moorhead, Head Coac)l Roy Craig, Mark Schaeper, Tom Chestnutt, John Woods, Mark Phillips, Josh Chicoine, Tom Fitzgerald, Assistan Coach Walt Slade, James Collins.
72 Sports
In soccer, the ability to pass the ball through the opponents' defense is of the utmost importance. The Flyer men ran passing drills to practice for game situations.