Jeff Yoder | Echo
You may think being a FISPer (student in the Freshman Ireland Studies Program) would be cool because you get to travel to Ireland . . . one time. Try telling that to a men's soccer player.
Head coach Gary Ross' squad made its preseason trip to Northern Ireland on Aug. 10-18 for the fifth time since 2005.
"It's a long-term plan on our part to take our players every other summer to Dundrum in County Down. . . ." Ross said. "Using sport as a way to share Christ is something I am passionate about and it's something that I believe has proven to be impactful for our program in many ways.
The men take the trip every other August to increase team bonding while using their gifts and talents in sports ministry on the field and at a local youth house. They were able to compete with some Northern Irish teams like Linfield FC, one of the top clubs in Northern Ireland. The Trojans played a mixture of youth squad members and first teamers from Linfield.
"it's interesting to see the different style or language of soccer played," said senior defender David Maldonado. "Different cultures just have a different way of playing."
Ross emphasized that the trip was impactful for both his players and the people they came into contact with in Northern Ireland.
"The most beneficial part is that we come face to face with the gospel in another culture and we come face to face with who we are as individuals and as a team," Ross said.
The self-proclaimed TUFC (Taylor University Football Club) bring in a handful of new faces after graduating five seniors last season. Defense said goodbye to a strong contributor, Eric Salley, and a starter, David Pfeifer. Midfielders Joel Ritz and Kris Schonewill departed as well. Jordan Grant finished up his playing days a Trojan but will be on the sidelines for this year's campaign as an assistant coach.
2013's roster is loaded with seven seniors and a host of juniors playing crucial roles.The back line boasts a plethora of experienced seniors in Ryan Beachler, Kevin Miller and Matt Poland. Each recorded more than 1,000 minutes of playing time in 2013, totalling 12 to 14 full games' worth of action apiece. Donning a new jersey for 2013 (No. 4) and a new position on defense, Maldonado also played over 1,000 minutes last season. Also on the back line is sophomore Josh Urban, who recorded the most minutes played of any Trojan last season with 1,429--nearly 16 full games worth.
A quintet of juniors will lead the push up front and on the wings for the Trojans. Team captains and juniors Devin Moore and Tim Daniels return to the pitch for their third season in the midfield alongside junior Tim Miller. The pair of international speedsters in Danny Cawley and Giovanny Guthro return to the wings, where Cawley led the Trojans last season with nine goals and eight assists.
This year, the Trojans booked a tough non-conference schedule that includes matches with No. 13 Hastings, No. 15 Ashford and Wheaton College."I am really excited about the season," Ross said. "We have purposefully scheduled for ourselves a difficult schedule out of conference to prepare us for our conference play. . . . Our team is united and believes in one another and I am excited to see what this season has in store."
The Trojans begin regular season play tomorrow on the road against Marygrove College at 3 p.m.
