Strikers First Scot Team to Make 2006-07 Debut

For The Week Of:
August 28, 2006

Written by Hugh Howard
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Tim Presto

The College of Wooster men’s soccer team will be the first athletic squad to officially begin the 2006-07 academic year, as the Fighting Scots welcome Heidelberg College (9-7-1 in 2005) this Friday, Sept. 1, to Carl Dale Memorial Field for a 5:30 p.m. start. Wooster, poised to continue a highly successful run that has seen the squad accumulate a 49-10-10 overall record the previous four seasons, holds a commanding 11-3 advantage over Heidelberg in the all-time series, with the most recent victory being a 1-0 overtime affair last year. The very next afternoon, Saturday, Sept. 2, the Scots will host Lake Erie College (10-8-2 in 2005) at 3 p.m. The Scots are 3-0 against the Storm previously, including a 6-0 shutout in the most recent match-up (2002).

2006 Preview Notes: With 17 returning letterwinners, Wooster aims to recover from 2005’s disappointing ending, which refers to going winless in its final four matches (0-2-2) to miss out on the four-team North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament for the first time since 2001. The biggest hurdle to overcome may be the graduation of three-time NCAC Player of the Year and All-American honoree Brian Conaway … Offensively, without Conaway, the Scots will likely be more balanced. Sophomores Brenton Allen (Newark, Ohio / Granville), with two goals, and Nick Waychoff (Cleveland Hts., Ohio / Cleveland Heights), with one goal and two assists, came on strong during their rookie seasons, while senior Steve Schott (Mt. Vernon, Ohio / Mt. Vernon) brings significant experience to the frontline via 46 career games played. Several of Wooster’s 11 newcomers are expected to earn significant action at forward … The midfield could have a similar look, with a senior in Derek Schook (Marshall, Mich. / Marshall) being complemented by a number of talented sophomores and freshmen. Schook was a starter for the first time in his career last fall, while second-year players Nate Florian (Medina, Ohio / Highland) and Rob Snowden (Kenton, Ohio / Kenton) worked their way into the lineup with 10 and five starts, respectively … Defensively, the Scots’ backfield returns primarily intact after not allowing an opponent to score more than two goals in a game all of 2005. That group was anchored by senior Tim Presto (Wadsworth, Ohio / Wadsworth), and will be again this season. Presto, who contributed offensively as well with two goals and an assist, is coming off second-team All-NCAC honors. Also back are senior Adam Chapman (Denver, Colo. / Kent Denver School), who received honorable mention on the All-NCAC Team in soccer last fall and is a two-time all-conference awardee in lacrosse, as well as juniors Jason Bowie (Delaware, Ohio / Rutherford B. Hayes) and Warren Swegal (Swickley, Pa. / Quaker Valley), giving Wooster an experienced and talented set of defenders, whom will limit the opposition’s scoring opportunities against a new goalkeeper … Two upperclassmen will contend for the starting goalie job, vacated by David Treleven, a four-year starter. Junior Erik Larson (El Paso, Texas / Stony Point) is the favorite.