With two more
wins under their belt, the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps men’s soccer team (6-1-1,
6-1-1 SCIAC) is ready to take on a tough upcoming week. The Stags played
Whittier College (4-3-1, 2-3-1 SCIAC) Sept. 27 and Occidental College (6-4,
3-4 SCIAC) Oct. 1 and added to their winning streak.
The team finished with a final score
of 4-0 against Whittier, an impressive win against a difficult
team.
“Whitter is always a tough team and a big game,” Taylor Lemmon
CM ’16 said. “It felt like a close game, but we played super hard and kept
going and the goals just kind of came.”
Lemmon led the game with two of the
four CMS goals, scoring the first in the 14th minute of the game and the fourth in the 83rd minute. The team capitalized on their scoring opportunities
with three goals occurring in the last 12 minutes of the game.
“It was something we were capable
of, something we had in us, so it was good to see the potential we had in us
come through,” Interim Head Coach Sam Ullman CM ’12 said.
The Stags earned another win Oct.
1 against Occidental with a final score of 4-1. Michael Crowley CM ’17 and
Michael Wagenveld CM ’18 each scored two goals in the game. The efforts of the
team are earning them recognition within SCIAC and an increase in the
standings.
“We have a more long-term goal to win
SCIAC,” Lemmon said. “But all we can do is take it one game a time.”
For Ullman, each game is just another
team to play against and another attempt to win.
“I don’t
really prepare for any opponent any different than any other,” Ullman said. “I treat every
game the same; it’s a process for us to play at the highest level we can. So
regardless of the opponent, we try to get better every day.”
While the entirety of the team does not
look too far ahead in their schedule, each game is thrilling enough on its own.
“I haven’t been here for that many
games, so it’s just exciting for me to see what the boys can do, and it’s a real
opportunity for us,” Ullman said.
The transition to a new head coach has
been going smoothly for the team. Despite a different coaching style than his predecessor’s, Ullman
has lead the Stags to three more wins in SCIAC.
“Guys have been able to settle in with
the new coach,” Lemmon said. “He has a different style, but it’s an exciting style. He’s much
more of an attacking-minded coach, which is good.”
This emphasis on attacking has proved
beneficial for the Stags, who have been able to capitalize more on
their scoring opportunities in front of the goal.
“Our first couple of opportunities don’t
really connect, but towards the end of the game the boys start finding each
other,” Assistant Coach Jonathyn Lomeli said.
Despite the tendency of the team to
score many of their goals in the last few minutes, both players and
coaches are confident in the team’s ability to score at any point in the
game as the season moves forward.
“With soccer, it’s kind of a momentum
game,” Lemmon said. “We just have to capitalize when the opportunities
come. We can definitely come out and score goals in the first half, but when
you score the next five minutes is the most important.”
While the Stags have a busy schedule, they are not letting the slew of upcoming games get to
their heads.
“We just want to keep the streak going
itself and want the boys to come out and perform every match,” Lomeli
said.
After an upsetting loss to Chapman
University (4-4-0, 4-3-0 SCIAC) Sept. 20, the team has a chance to turn the
tables and attempt a win later this week.
“It’s going to be a big game; I really
want to beat them,” Lemmon said. “We’ll have to approach it like it will be a
tough game. We can’t expect it to be easy.”
The Stags will play next against
University of Redlands tomorrow, Oct. 4, and Chapman University Oct. 6.
Facebook Comments