WALLA WALLA, Wash. – The numbers don’t lie. A total of 17 athletes are back from last season, including nine starters. Add several talented newcomers, including some with previous college experience. If Mike Washington, head coach of the men’s soccer team at Whitman College, is doing his math correctly, that adds up to depth, versatility and experience.
"We’re excited about the depth of talent we have on the team this year," Washington says. "It isn’t enough to have to 12 to 14 quality players, which has been our limit for much of our recent past. Once the back-to-back conference games begin, and a few injuries start piling up, a team needs to go deeper into its roster. We can do that this year season. We can bring in fresh players who can enhance rather than detract from our game."
Whitman kicks off its season this Saturday in Nampa, Idaho, squaring off against non-conference foe Albertson College. The Missionaries then host two more non-conference games, one this Sunday and one next Tuesday. That sets the stage for the start of the Northwest Conference (NWC) season on the weekend of Sept. 16-17, when Whitman welcomes Willamette and George Fox to Walla Walla.
A year ago, the Missionaries got off to a quick start in the NWC, posting shutout victories in three of their first four games. Headed into the final two weeks of the season, Whitman was 6-4 and still in line for a top four finish. But a season-ending four-game losing streak sent the Missionaries skidding into fifth place in the final standings.
Whitman is forecast to finish fifth again this fall, according to a preseason poll of NWC coaches. "I’d really hope that we can finish higher than fifth this season," Washington says. "Of the four teams that finished ahead of us last year, we matched up well against all but one of them. Linfield is the one team that gave us trouble, and we hope to fix that this season."
On the other hand, Washington notes, "we had (eventual NWC champion) Whitworth on the ropes early in the
game on our field. Had we punched in a few of our early opportunities, we could have won that game."
Forwards Andy Huntington, a junior, and Stephen Phillips, a sophomore, are back to lead the Whitman offense.
Huntington, who led the team in scoring last fall with five goals and two assists, was named to the All-NWC Second Team. He was one of only three underclassmen to make either the first or second team. Huntington also led Whitman in scoring during his freshman season. "Andy likes to play with some freedom, and he’s a natural when it comes to finishing, which he can do with either foot or his head." Washington says. "He’s a deceptively quick player."
At 6-feet-1 and 180 pounds, Phillips brings size and talent to the Missionary attack. He also sharpened his skills this summer playing with the Ogden (Utah) Outlaws, a team in the Player Development League of the United Soccer Leagues. He had the winning goal, in fact, in Ogden’s summer-ending 2-1 victory over Brigham Young. Last fall as a freshman at Whitman, he had two goals and four assists.
"Playing in the PDL has added more physicality to Stephen’s game, and he actually plays better when the game is more physical," Washington says. "He was by far one of our best attack players last season, and his added experience will help him finish more opportunities. He played well during our exhibition trip to England, and he has continued to look sharp in our training."
Washington, a native of England, took his squad on a two-week tour of his homeland in August. They played five games, winning two and finishing with ties in two other contests.
Chris Dorough, a senior forward who has been hampered by injuries the past few years, also looked good in England, scoring a pair of goals. “It would be great to see Chris stay healthy this season,” Washington says. Dorough booted four goals as a freshman, when he played in 18 games and started six.
Others slotted for time at forward are sophomore Marc Nabelek and freshman Jasper Lipton.
Nabelek had five goals last season, three of them coming against cross-town rival Walla Walla College. "Mark got some goals for us last season when no one else could," Washington says. "He’s quick and fast and gives us another look on offense."
At 6-feet-1 and 185 pounds, Lipton adds more size to the Whitman offense. "Jasper is another big boy, and he’s very similar to Stephen Phillips in his style of play. He uses his size and strength very well. He adds depth now, and he’s someone we hope can continue to develop as a player as the season goes along."
Senior captain John Rue leads a deep cast in the center midfield. "We are blessed with a lot of options, but John is one of our key players because of the leadership he gives us, his ability to score goals, and his defensive play in the back," Washington says.
Seniors Dan Beekman and Mike Brown, along with sophomore Jason Shon, also return talent and experience to the center midfield spots. Greg Phillips, older brother of Stephen Phillips, played at Whitman in 2003 as a freshman and is back after a two-year mission for his church. "Greg looks even better than he did as a freshman," Washington says. "He has great skills with the ball and in passing."
Newcomers at center midfield are junior Max Weber, who played the past two seasons at Walla Walla Community College (WWCC), and Sam Chasan, a freshman. "Max has a great passion for winning, and he has the personality to fire up his teammates," Washington says. "Sam will be an understudy this season, but he’s going to be a good player."
For his outside midfielders, Washington can mix and match with returning veterans Brett Rawson and Simon Quay and transfers Jesus Reyes and Joe Johnson.
Rawson, a senior, and Quay, a sophomore, are "good players who started for us at times last season," Washington says. Johnson, a sophomore, attended Western Washington University last year but did not play on the soccer team, while Reyes was out of school last year after playing the two previous seasons at WWCC. "Joe is very quick, and Jesus is quite the physical specimen – a very strong lad and a good left-footed player."
Washington’s central defenders are 6-foot-2 Cole Sherman, a senior captain, and 6-foot-3 sophomore Kevin Sigley. "Both players have good size and strength," Washington says. "Kevin looks stronger than ever, and Cole has continued to improve his footwork."
Starters at outside defender are junior Craig Yuen and senior Egan Brinkman.
"We can use Craig as a sweeper or outside marking back," Washington says. "He has a lot of experience, and we’re expecting a great season from him. Egan has played in the front in past seasons, but we’re moving his size and speed to the back this fall. He has good, all-around soccer skills, and he’s going to help our defense a lot."
Adding depth to the outside defender spot are returning sophomore Mike Mckenzie, freshman Andrew Moiseff and junior Jay Davidson, who rejoins the team after a one-year absence.
Washington is thrilled with his two goalkeepers, Brett Axelrod and James Millikan.
Axelrod, a sophomore, was the starter last fall, posting four shutouts and making 85 saves in 18 games. "Brett is a phenomenal goalkeeper," Washington says. "He’s a game winner in that he can make saves when you have to have them. He definitely has the potential to be an all-conference player."
Millikan, a junior with sophomore eligibility, also can hold his own in goal, Washington. "We’re lucky to have two very good keepers."
A roster stocked with talent does more than keep fresh legs in the game and guard against injury, Washington says. "It gives us the flexibility to play different formations and different line-ups, depending on who we are playing and how a game might be developing."
Washington also likes the character and mental toughness of his team this year. "They’ve shown a willingness to make sacrifices and give up things individually for the good of the team," he says. "We want to focus on the strength of the team rather than on the strength of the individuals."
To follow through and win more games this season, his team needs to work on its resiliency and perseverance, Washington says. "We need to do a better job of bending without breaking, and we need to learn to win ugly. We’re starting to get there on both of those counts. We managed to win one of our games in England even though we didn’t play especially well."
Dave Holden, Whitman Sports Information,
(509) 527-5902; holden@whitman.edu