Sophomore forward Sean Dreybus runs past Mercer midfielder Stefan Wingo Friday. Photo by Tommy Penick

by BRYAN LAIL
Intern Sports Reporter

Upon returning from a disappointing 1-3-1 road trip, the Appalachian State men’s soccer team may have put the worst behind them.

With the games ahead of them now, the experience Appalachian’s 12 starting freshmen took from that trip may have been more valuable than its final record.

The Mountaineers have made huge strides on offense as Senior Arie Muniz, Appalachian’s leader in shots attempted and goals scored, has received some help in recent weeks from newcomers Tyler Regan and Nate Latigue, as they begin to construct a powerful offensive front.

“Arie [Muniz] helped me a whole lot, just playing up top with him through practices I’ve started to speed my play up,” Regan said. “I think as you play faster you play more effectively, and all the freshmen are starting to get that.”

Also, a consistently solid defense over the past two seasons will return at least two inactive key players to the field just in time for conference play.

“We have to keep getting zeros at the back and then the goals will come,” Muniz said. “You’ll get your chances, maybe only one or two a game, but you can’t give any [scores] back.”

It is only in person this young team’s potential becomes most evident.

In only his second year as head coach, Shaun Pendleton has managed to successfully mold a large group of new and unfamiliar faces into a tight-knit group.

The Mountaineers appear relaxed and ready for the test they now face: six consecutive games against Southern Conference opponents beginning Wednesday with visiting Wofford.

Even after beating Mercer 3-0 in their first game back in Boone in nearly a month to put the Mountaineers at 3-4-1 entering the conference stretch, they may find plenty of reason to worry with just one glance at the SoCon standings.

“The schedule we have played has prepared us for conference,” Pendleton said. “We’re disappointed with [our record], but realistically we’re probably where we should be with such a young team.”

Four teams sit above Appalachian at press time.

Davidson is at the top with a record of 6-1. Wofford, who has yet to lose, follows with a record of 4-0-2. Next, College of Charleston at 6-3-0 and finally, Furman, with a record of 4-2-2.

By no means can the Mountaineers be counted out before conference play even begins. But in a year when Appalachian has been forced to field so many first-year starters, 2009 is not being shaped in their favor as the team begins a gauntlet of games against what appears to be one of the strongest and most experienced group of SoCon teams in recent memory.

Pendleton obviously recognizes the pressure his young players face, and has done an admirable job keeping their minds from wandering, as evidenced by a leisurely and fun-filled practice held Tuesday evening.

But that all changes when the games that count towards Pendleton’s goals for this team begin.

Eight teams will vie for four spots in what is now a condensed SoCon playoff format.

“We are the youngest team in the SoCon, if you were going to put us somewhere it would probably be in the lower four, but its our job as coaches to prepare the team and get us into the top four,” Pendleton said. “It’s now time to step up and get one of those top spots, and then we’re only two games away from the NCAA [Tournament].”

Pendleton has spoken of an NCAA Tournament spot for his Mountaineers squad on more than one occasion. Through these next six games, he may learn if that lofty aspiration is indeed a realistic one.

Photo by Tommy Penick  |  The Appalachian

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