2007 Men's Soccer Season Outlook

Youthful Scots Look to Stay Among Best in Region

Jason Bowie will look to be the leader of the Scots' defense in 2007.

A predominantly young, but talented squad will look to maintain The College of Wooster’s reputation as one of the top men’s soccer team’s in the NCAA Div. III Great Lakes Region, as the Fighting Scots possess a winning percentage above .750 through the last five seasons with a record of 59-14-12 (.765).

Wooster, with a 2007 roster sporting 10 sophomores and 13 freshmen as well as nine upperclassmen, is also hoping to make up for last fall’s late-season slump which saw the Scots go from 8-1-1, including a tie against eventual national semifinalist Ohio Wesleyan University, to 10-4-2 and a fifth-place finish in the North Coast Athletic Conference.

That group was led by the defense, allowing just 10 goals through the first 15 matches before giving up an uncharacteristic four in the season finale, and Wooster’s backfield should be a strength again. The Scots lost all-NCAC defenders Adam Chapman and Tim Presto to graduation, but it is an area where they still have a core of experienced players.

Seniors Jason Bowie and Warren Swegal could play significant roles, having started 25 and 13 matches during their respective careers, along with junior Aaron Oster-Beal and sophomores Jay Keener, Josh Madson, and Chase Beach. Oster-Beal has been a key contributor the last two years when healthy, while Keener earned a starting role in 10 of 16 matches as a freshman.

Among the newcomers on defense one sticks out in 6-6 senior Tim Vandervaart, who joins the team after four highly successful years on the hardwood. He was three-time all-conference in basketball and scored 1,053 points, while helping lead the Scots to the national semis of the NCAA tourney last March.

Together, Wooster’s group of defenders will limit the opposition’s scoring opportunities on a new goalie. Three newcomers will contend for that spot.

Offensively, the Scots will aim to improve on their 20-goal season from a year ago. Sophomore midfielder Karl Ruter is the top returnee, having totaled 12 points on five goals and two assists, despite missing four games due to injury. Also back in the midfield is junior Brenton Allen, who has already started 21 matches and notched seven career points, and sophomore Trevor Day, a part-time starter as a rookie. Juniors Chris Chapman and Garrett Dennett, with 32 and 19 matches of experience, respectively, also have the potential for key roles.  

Wooster’s front line returns primarily intact. The group is led by junior Nick Waychoff, who has 13 career points to his credit, including three goals and three assists last season. Scott Buckwald returns after a productive first year, starting all 16 matches and tallying one goal and three assists, while junior Nate Florian and sophomore Davis Bates are formidable veteran scoring threats.