WALLA WALLA, Wash. -- With a new coach at the helm and possibly its strongest senior class in history, the men's soccer team at Whitman College is ready to turn the tables on last year's losing season. A total of 10 seniors, seven of whom are four-year players, will lead the comeback this fall.
"The seniors are hungry for a winning season," first-year coach Mike Washington said. "Their work ethic this past summer shows they are committed to achieving excellence this season. We hope to have the most successful season the men's program has had for a decade."
Forwards Hollis Erikson (Kennewick WA) and Scott Siler (Hillsboro OR) provide speed and scoring ability in the front line. "Scott has impressive speed and a great nose for the goal," Washington said. "Hollis has great technical ability with the ball at his feet and a canon for a shot."
Attacking midfielders Damian Hoffman (Redmond WA), Andy Yates (Mercer Island WA) and Brandon Wright (Redmond WA) add more punch to the offense. "Hoffman is very intelligent with the ball, and he plays both midfield and forward," Washington said. Yates plays with the same intelligence and adds a skillful first touch, while Wright is known for his creativity with the ball.
Two seniors who provide additional depth and skill are Jamie Dietenhofer (Los Olivos CA) and Travis Zigler (Grapevine TX). "Dietenhofer has a never-say-die attitude and goes hard on every tackle," Washington said. "Zigler is both a speedy defender and outside midfielder."
Senior defenders are red-shirt senior Mike Zotter (Portland OR), John MacKay (Portland OR) and Mike Horn, (Puyallup WA). "Zotter is excellent receiving the ball in the air, and he is a great leader on defense," Washington said. "The team will look to him for leadership."
MacKay, the most athletic person on the team, has the ability to play any position on the field, while Horn has made his mark as the hardest worker on the team and the player most hungry to learn.
Impressive juniors to watch this fall include goalkeeper Garth Giles (Portland OR), midfielders Rob Tonnsen (Billings MT) and Ryan Wiedemann (Meredith CO), and defender Dan Millikan (Marysville WA).
"Giles is an excellent goalkeeper and was the biggest factor in keeping games close last year," Washington said. "Tonnsen is speedy and skillful with the ball, and he has a great work ethic. Wiedemann dedicated to learning and winning, and Millikan is a very versatile player who is great at winning balls out of the air."
Returning sophomores expected to make a big impact this season are goalkeeper Joe Capp (Yakima WA), midfielders Olaf Lakin (Minneapolis MN) and Ben Boynton (Pasadena CA) and forward Yoshi Ashikaga (Seattle WA). "Capp is a talented goalkeeper who is fighting with Giles for the starting spot," Washington said. Lakin brings an aggressive and skillful approach to his game; Boynton has his sights on a possible starting position; and Ashikaga gives the squad another creative forward.
More than 20 freshmen and first-year players are also competing for playing time this fall.
Once the season gets underway, Washington said his team will focus on defending as a group. "By combining a disciplined defense with fast and creative forwards, we hope to surprise many of our opponents," he said.
The Whitman men lost seven Northwest Conference games by two goals or less last season. By turning those narrow losses into victories this fall, the Missionaries hope to reward their new coach by finishing in the top half of the final conference standings.
The conference promises to be just as strong as it was last season, which ended with Seattle University winning a national title.