WALLA WALLA, Wash. -- The men's soccer team at Whitman College has shown steady improvement over the past few years, and fourth-year coach Mike Washington expects that trend to continue this fall.
Whitman returns nearly all of last year's squad, which came ever so close to a .500 season, finishing 9-11 overall and 6-8 in the Northwest Conference (NWC). The Missionaries placed fifth in the final conference standings, coming within a victory or two of overtaking Willamette University (6-6-2) and Whitworth College (7-4-3) for fourth and third places.
"Each year I see better depth and talent in our returning and incoming players," Washington says. "Our freshmen class this year has some very strong players."
Breaking into the NWC's top three is a realistic goal for this fall's team, Washington says. "This is one of the top (NCAA Div. III) conferences in the country, so making the top three would be great. As a team, if we stay focused on our long-term goals, I think we can finish near the top."
Last fall, Whitman's relatively young team gelled near the end of the season, winning four of its final five games. Of the team's eight NWC losses, four came by narrow 2-1 scores.
Washington, a native of London, England, and a former player in Europe's club ranks, came to Whitman just in time for the 1998 fall season. After struggling to a 2-15 record that season, the Missionaries improved to 5-13 overall in 1999, setting the stage for last year's 9-11 campaign.
Two key players in last year's resurgence were forward Niels Larson (Portland OR, Lincoln HS) and goalkeeper Travis Exstrom (Issaquah WA, Redmond HS).
Playing as a freshman, Larson led Whitman in scoring with nine goals and two assists, finishing eighth in the conference scoring race. He was one of only two first-year players to earn a spot on the All-NWC First Team.
Exstrom capped his sophomore season by earning honorable mention all-conference recognition. He led the NWC in saves, averaging 6.4 per game, while shutting out the opposition six times. He surrendered just one goal (on a penalty kick) in his last four starts.
Junior Nate Davis (Higganum CT, Haddam-Killingsworth HS) and sophomore Eric Dottarar (Beaverton OR, Catlin Gabel School) give the Missionaries two solid back-ups in the goalkeeping slot. Davis was slowed by injury for much of last season, while Dottarar joined the squad after enrolling at Whitman at the start of the spring semester. "We're going to be very strong and competitive in goal," Washington says.
Larson, last year's team MVP, is just one of several returning players at the offensive end of the field. Jeff Waggoner (Coeur d'Alene ID, Coeur d'Alene HS), who booted four goals last fall as a freshman, is poised for a break-out season. Brian Logan (Golden CO, Golden HS) and Vico Rust (Mt. Vernon WA, Mt. Vernon HS) also gained valuable experience as first-year players, and should bring greater strength and fitness to this year's group, Washington says.
Calder Hughes (Portland OR, Lincoln HS), a junior, will help "bolster our attacking team," Washington adds. "We're going to have much more depth and versatility." A second junior forward, Ross Good (Mukilteo WA, Kamiak HS), is injured and will sit out the season.
Whitman's returning experience in the midfield includes seniors Scott Burns (Redding CA, Enterprise HS) and Nate Hoffman (Redmond WA, Eastlake HS), and junior Charlie Schneider (Davis CA, Davis HS). Hoffman played his first two seasons at Whitman but then sat out last year.
The Missionaries are equally well stocked with seasoned players on the defensive side of the field. Seniors Dan Gestaut (Bothell WA, Inglemoor HS) and Josh Weissman (Redmond WA, Eastlake HS) are joined by juniors Matt Butts (Yakima WA, W. Valley HS) and Dave Andresen (Kent WA, Kentridge HS), and sophomores Will Hallifax (Woodinville WA, Woodinville HS), Tyler Chisholm (Coeur d'Alene ID, Lake City HS) and Pat Flanagan (Snohomish WA, Monroe HS). "That group brings back good athleticism and great heart," Washington says.
At least a handful of Whitman's freshmen class could see significant playing time. Topping the list of newcomers are midfielders Jonathan Stebbins (Kalispell MT, Flathead HS) and Brad Bowen (Bozeman MT, Bozeman HS), who sharpened their skills for a traveling club team based in Montana. That team played in tournaments held throughout the U.S. and Europe.
"Jonathan will play center-midfield for us," Washington says. "He has good size and the skills to match. He's been hobbled with nagging injuries (during early workouts), but he's starting to look like the player we expected him to be."
Bowen will play outside-midfield and give the Missionaries some needed depth at that position. "Brad has shown great promise, good speed on the outside and a willingness to take people one on one," Washington says. "He can shoot or cross the ball on the move with equal ability."
Freshman Adam Yadon (Federal Way WA, Decatur HS) also comes from a strong club program and helped his high school win a state title, Washington says. "Adam gives us more size up front at the forward position. He is responding well to new ideas and learning to play better with his back to the goal. He's also adapting to the speed and physical nature of play at this level."
Washington says another of his first-players, Bryce Andrews (Seattle WA, University Prep), will see significant playing time in the middle of the field. "Bryce had worked hard coming into camp and was champion of our fitness test. He's been working very hard and takes a great attitude toward learning."
Three freshman defenders -- Andy Shanstrom (Tacoma WA, Stadium HS), Harris Essary (Walla Walla WA, Walla Walla HS) and Brian Stater (Eugene OR, Marist HS) -- have also caught Washington's eye.
"Andy is a marking back who looks good in one-on-one defending situations; he doesn't get intimidated when defending, and he does a good job playing the ball forward," Washington says. "Harris is another marking back who shows great promise. He's also a strong defender who looks comfortable going forward."
Stater combines "great size with very good technical skills," Washington adds. "He also looks very comfortable on the ball. He needs to play a little more direct at times, and at a little faster pace, but he shows great promise as well."
The non-conference season starts on Saturday, Sept. 1, against Warner Pacific College in Portland, followed by a Sunday, Sept. 2, home game with Albertson College.
Other non-conference games will see the Missionaries travel to Occidental and Whittier colleges in the Los Angeles area and host Colorado College and Montana State University-Billings.
Whitman plays its first three NWC games at home, starting with Whitworth College on Wednesday, Sept. 19.