EWING – The College of New Jersey’s men’s soccer team displayed both bursts of speed and stamina as they took the field against Manhattanville College on Wednesday, Oct. 4.
The Lions were aggressive as they made physical contact with Manhattanville players in determined pursuit of the ball.
Even throughout the close match, which ended in a 2-1 victory for Manhattanville, the Lions remained focused as they worked up to scoring their lone goal with 10 minutes left in the game.
Take away the context of a soccer game, and these characteristics can be applied to athletes in a variety of
competitions.
“Right now, we are dealing with a lot of athletic kids that have a little bit of soccer in them, where in years past you basically had soccer players that had some descent athleticism,” said TCNJ head coach George Nazario.
The Lions are now 4-6-2 overall and 0-2-2 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC). They have competed in numerous close games, including four that have gone into overtime or double overtime. Lions’ players, such as junior midfielder Joerg Jauk, have noted that tight games like these often come down to more than just pure soccer skills. General athleticism and strong mental concentration are also vital components of success.
Though the Lions were only able to score one goal, they did not fail at creating opportunities for themselves. The College of New Jersey team took a total of 18 shots, while Manhattanville took 15.
“At least we created chances, if we’re not creating chances then I think we’re in trouble,” said Nazario. “But, in this situation, it’s still about sticking the ball in the back of the net. We need to become more dangerous inside the box.”
With a team of true athletes, Nazario is aware that close games are inevitable, and that his team must fully execute plays in order to come out victorious.
Nazario reflected on how changes in the game of soccer in recent years could be affecting his teams.
“I think a lot of it has to do simply with the highlight shows and ESPN, because it’s really not about the soccer part or the buildup and the lead up to a good play anymore,” said Nazario. “Its usually about the finish and being able to beat somebody one on one, so a lot of it has become more athletic than soccer oriented.”
Moving forward, the Lions will look to use both their athleticism and experience playing the game to carry out more plays from start to finish. Their late game goal against Manhattanville was a glimpse of that. The goal also showed that the team can push through the second half without losing focus, which has been a struggle of theirs throughout the season.
“We always talk about a good honest effort, the attitude, and the execution,” said Nazario. “If you win all three categories against the guy you’re playing against, you usually have a positive day.”
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