WALLA WALLA, Wash. -- Niels Larson and Jeff Waggoner, a pair of first-team all-conference forwards, lead a group of seven seniors as the Whitman College men's soccer team sets its sights this fall on finishing among the conference leaders.
"This is a good, strong group," Whitman coach Mike Washington says. "We're going to be disappointed if we don't finish near the top of the standings."
The Missionaries finished at 8-9-2 last fall, which included a 4-8-2 mark in the Northwest Conference. That was good for fifth place, one game out of fourth.
After winning two of three non-conference games last fall, Whitman stumbled to an 0-5 start in league play, losing two of those games in overtime and three by a single goal. Righting their ship, the Missionaries finished with four wins and two ties in their last nine games.
"We've had 13 overtime games in the last two seasons," Washington notes. "We need to be more consistent with our play this fall. We need to do a better job of setting the tone and controlling games. We definitely need to get off to a better start with our conference schedule."
After playing a pair of Labor Day weekend exhibitions, Whitman opens its season on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 5-6, with games against University of Mary (Bismarck, N.D.) and Bethel College. Both games are set for the Bethel campus in St. Paul, Minn. The Missionaries begin NWC play with a Sept. 24 home game against Whitworth.
Whitman's offense boasts plenty of firepower, returning all but one of the goal-scorers who combined to outscore opponents by a 41-40 margin last season.
Waggoner, a 5-foot-11 athlete from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, led the way, booting nine goals to go with two assists. Larson, 6-foot-2, 180-pounder from Portland, Ore., added six goals and four assists. Over the past three seasons, the duo's scoring numbers are almost identical. Larson has 17 goals and nine assists during that span, while Waggoner has 16 goals and seven assists.
Both players earned first-team all-conference honors last fall. Larson also made the first team as a freshman and second team as a sophomore. Waggoner was a second-team pick as a sophomore.
Larson, who also earned second-team all-region recognition last season, is a "bit bigger and stronger this year, which will help his ability to hold the ball for us so others can join in," Washington says. "His ability to finish should also improve."
Waggoner, who garnered second-team all-region honors last year, looks to "run and work even harder this season, if that's possible," Washington says. "Jeff's one-on-one play looks good and he can finish with his head and either foot."
Two more seniors, Vico Rust (Mount Vernon, Wash.) and Brian Logan (Golden, Colo.), are back to anchor the midfield. Rust earned All-NWC honorable mention recognition last fall. "Brian and Vico will again share the center of our midfield," Washington says. "Vico continues to get better and looks to run what is a very fast midfield group. Brian is stronger and maybe a step quicker. We're hoping to get more goals from that position this season."
Two seniors, Tyler Chisholm (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) and Pat Flanagan (Snohomish, Wash.), also return to lead the defense.
Chisholm, Whitman's strongest player at 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, was named to the All-NWC Second Team last fall. "Tyler has recovered from the broken ankle he suffered at the end of last season," Washington says. "If anything, he appears to be even stronger.
Flanagan is moving to outside defender to fill one of the few losses we had to graduation.
Whitman's seventh senior is Ross Good, a forward who has yet to fully recover from injuries suffered two summers ago during a team trip to England. Good, who led Whitman in scoring as a freshman, sustained multiple injuries when he fell over a seawall during a robbery attempt.
The Missionary seniors are backed by a number of other returning starters.
Sophomores Peter Avriett (Seattle, Wash.) and Cody Fierro (Kalispell, Mont.) add speed and talent to the midfield. "Both will see time as outside players," Washington says. "Both can cross the ball and have the ability to finish. Fierro looks more comfortable this year and should do well."
Junior Brian Stater (Eugene, Ore.) and sophomore Harris Esarey (Walla Walla, Wash.) return on defense. "Brian continues to improve and he's bigger and stronger this season. Harris is back at left defender, a position he shared last fall with a senior."
Brad Bowen, a junior from Bozeman, Mont., gives Whitman another scoring threat at forward. "Brad gives us more speed up front," Washington says. "He strikes the ball well and has a knack for getting behind defenders."
Eric Dottarar, a 6-foot-3 junior from Beaverton, Ore., has big shoes to fill at goalkeeper. He replaces the graduated Travis Exstrom, who earned all-conference honors the past three seasons. Dottarar did not play last season but was a backup keeper as a freshman.
Also playing keeper this season is Zach Steel, a sophomore from Chico, Calif. "Dottarar has more experience at this level, but Steel has great athletic ability and will continue to improve," Washington says.
Three more returning veterans are juniors Andy Shanstrom (Tacoma, Wash.), who moves from defender to midfield; Bryce Andrews (Seattle, Wash.), also a midfielder; and John Stebbins (Kalispell, Mont.), who will play a central defender position.
Also back from last year are Ryan Porter, a sophomore defender from Redmond, Wash., who got a late start on training camp, and Adam Yadon, a junior forward from Federal Way, Wash., who has been slowed by injury.
While Washington is confident in his returning players, he is thrilled with his crop of newcomers, starting with sophomore transfer Peter Randall. "His ability to take on defenders is impressive," Washington says. "He has good speed and a great shot. He could play a lot this season, either at outside midfield or up front." A graduate of Colorado's Pine Creek High School, Randall played his freshman season at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minn.
Dan Beekman, a freshman from Seattle, has had a great training camp, Washington says. "Dan is big and strong and can play different positions. He should play this year, either in the midfield or central defense."
Another freshman from Seattle, Sam Morris-Rosenfield, has shown early promise at an outside defender, Washington says. "He moves forward from the back with confidence, and he can finish."
Kirk Thorson, a freshman from Kirkland, Wash., has "speed to burn and a great chance of pace," Washington says. Greg Phillips, a first-year player from Sandy, Utah, is a central midfielder who "has shown he's ready to challenge for a chance to play."
Five more freshmen -- Egan Brinkman (Alamo, Calif.), Abe Smith-Groening (Langley, Wash.), Thomas Miller (Seattle), Chris Dorough (Portland, Ore.), and Mike Brown (Port Orchard, Wash.) -- are also pushing for playing time. A sixth freshman, Alex Shearer (Seattle, Wash.), has been battling injury problems.