By Aime Rutayisire, Sports Editor
Newman’s men’s soccer team has started its season in the win column.
As of press time on Wednesday, the team was sitting at a 4-1-2 overall record and it was on a two-game winning streak. (The Jets will face Southern Nazarene at 7 p.m. today in Bethany, Oklahoma, then take on Rogers State at 1 p.m. Saturday in Claremore, Oklahoma.)
One of the team’s coaches, graduate assistant Victor Machado, said that the team dynamic seems to be good this year.
“We have good chemistry and connection,” he said. “We’ve been pushing each other each day in practice.”
Machado said that there is room for improvement on the defensive side of the ball: The Jets have had only one game so far with a clean sheet, meaning that they prevented their opponent from scoring all game.
The team has seen standout performances from a few specific team members, Machado said.
Senior Daichi Saito, kicked a goal against William Jewell on Sept. 9 and had an assist against Oklahoma Christian on Sept. 6. Senior Gabriel Dias Juliani kicked three goals against Oklahoma Christian on Sept. 9, as well as two goals and an assist against Northeastern State on Sept 27. Junior Yohsuke Ono kicked a goal and had two assists against William Jewell on Sept. 9 and a goal against Midwestern State on Sept. 11.
Juliani and Ono have each received Offensive Player of the Week honors from the Great American Conference. Soccer plays in this conference because the MIAA conference does not support men’s soccer.
Machado said that many other members of the team have also been playing well.
“Each one of them has their own skill they put on the table for the team,” Machado said.
Jacob Brown, a sophomore on the soccer team, said that the team has set big goals for itself.
“We just raise the standard every day,” he said. “Every day we come in and raise the standard, and we never want to go below that.”
The team lost several seniors to graduation last season and has also gotten several new members who transferred to Newman. This means that there has been a lot of roster turnover.
Brown emphasized the importance of increasing the already great chemistry and connection the team has. He said that for the team to reach its full potential, its existing members still need to work on meshing with the new teammates.
Last year, the team finished 8-10-1. This year, it has already racked up half the wins it had all of last year, and there are still 11 games left.
Brown said that members of the team know exactly where they want the season to end.
“Nationals,” Brown said.
Nationals begin on Nov. 20 in Indianapolis. To qualify for nationals, the team would have to win the conference tournament, which runs Nov. 13-15.
PHOTO: Courtesy, Newman Athletics
