Friday, August 31, 2001

Men's soccer looks for revenge against Vanderbilt
By Dan Smith
skiff staff

After losing 4-0 last season to Vanderbilt, the men’s soccer team is looking for payback tonight against the Commodores, players and coaches said.

“We’d like revenge,” assistant coach Blake Amos said.

The men’s soccer team will start its 2001 season against the Vanderbilt Commodores 8 p.m. tonight at Vanderbilt Soccer Field. The Frogs play the Belmont Bruins at 6 p.m. Sunday at Garvey-Rosenthal Stadium.

Amos said the players are ready to get off the practice field and onto the playing field.

“We are tired of playing each other and we are ready to play someone else,” Amos said. “This will be the first game that counts and our goal is to win two games this weekend.”

Vanderbilt is coming off of a preseason win last week, knocking off Lipscomb 2-1. Its lineup has all but one starter returning. The Commodores’ two leading scorers, forwards Charlie White and Jimmy Stone, will be returning to the team’s 2001 lineup.

TCU players and coaches have anticipated the start of the new season after last year’s 7-11 finish.

“From top to bottom we have improved,” junior midfielder Nick Browne said. “As a team we have bonded and learned a lot.”

The preseason Conference USA coaches soccer poll has the Frogs ranked ninth.

The team has prepared by having many physical practices over the summer to get ready to out hustle their opponents, coaches said.

Vanderbilt is ranked sixth in the Missouri Valley Conference coaches preseason poll, and will be playing its season opener against the Frogs as well.

Vanderbilt finished last season with a 9-11 record and a 4-6 record at home.

Amos said the team is unfamiliar with Vanderbilt.

“Since this is the first game of the season, it’s hard to do a scouting report on them,” Amos said.

Former Vanderbilt starter Mike Diaz was released from the team last Friday and will not play. Diaz led the Commodores in assists and was a Missouri Valley Conference honorable mention last season.

TCU’s roster will be missing four players due to injury and ineligibility. One of the newest additions to the team, sophomore defenseman Justin Franklin, is out for the season with a broken leg received in practice.

Dan Smith
d.r.smith@student.tcu.edu