Soccer vies for better season behind a more unified team
August 17, 2008
Junior Jackie Barath prepares to make a pass in a game against Bowling Green last fall. FILE ART BY REBECCA MOIDEL
Credit: DKS Editors
The Kent State soccer team will look to improve on its 2007 season and compete for the Mid-American Conference title.
The 2007 season ended in the first round of the MAC Tournament after a 4-3 loss to the eventual champion Toledo Rockets. The Flashes will now focus on becoming a better team in 2008.
| 2008 SOCCER SCHEDULE
Aug. 24 at Youngstown State Aug. 29 at Wright State * Aug. 31 Southern Illnois-Edwardsville Sept. 5 at LSU Sept. 7 vs. South Florida (Baton Rouge, La.) Sept. 12 at Pittsburgh Sept. 14 at Michigan State Sept. 19 at Eastern Kentucky * MAC Sept. 26 Ohio * MAC Sept. 28 Akron MAC Oct. 3 at Miami MAC Oct. 5 at Ball State * MAC Oct. 10 Central Michigan * MAC Oct. 12 Eastern Michigan * MAC Oct. 17 Western Michigan * MAC Oct. 19 Northern Illinois MAC Oct. 24 at Bowling Green MAC Oct. 26 at Toledo * MAC Oct. 30 Buffalo Nov. 2 MAC Tournament quarterfinals Nov. 7 MAC Tournament semifinals Nov. 9 MAC Tournament final * Home game MAC Mid-American Conference game |
“We just look to the future,” coach Rob Marinaro said. “The one thing we’re really working on this year is to make sure that we become a unified team.”
Marinaro said having a more unified team will improve the team’s chances for success, and he wants the individual players to contribute to a team concept.
“We can’t look for just one player to carry the majority of the weight,” Marinaro said. “Everybody has got to carry their own weight and make sure that it’s a smooth running team.”
The Flashes will have to overcome the loss of six senior players from last season, including the Flashes’ all-time leading scorer Kimberly Dimitroff. Dimitroff was also named to the All-MAC First Team.
Two returning players who also received awards last season include junior Catharine Marosszeky (All-MAC Second Team) and sophomore Josee Charron (All-MAC Freshman Team).
Marinaro said it is up to the remaining players to step up in place of last season’s seniors.
“We got a fantastic group of seniors that will help us lead,” Marinaro said. “The rest of the (players) that have their maturity understand that being a team sport you need to be as unified as possible.”
Marinaro said he saw improvement in individual skill and team interaction during the team’s spring training.
The Flashes will once again face a challenging test from the other teams in the conference, but their expectations are still high.
“We always strive for excellence and we’re not going to be satisfied unless we’re at the top of the conference,” Marinaro said. “That’s what we build for every day and that’s what we work for.”
The Flashes start their season at Youngstown State on Aug. 24.
Contact sports reporter Nick Walton at [email protected].
