Oklahoma City University coach Brian Harvey believes the Stars men's soccer team will be a work in progress in 2011.
OCU has been picked to finish third in the Sooner Athletic Conference. The Stars went 11-6-2 and made it all the to the SAC Tournament championship match, losing to Oklahoma Baptist 2-1.
The Stars begin their new season 7 p.m. Saturday against Oklahoma Christian in an away, nonconference contest.
“Our goal is obviously to win every game, but we are a work in progress at the moment,” Harvey said. “The expectations at OCU are very high because of the high standards that we set every season, but to be realistic, we are a work in progress.”
The cupboard is not bare for OCU in the 2011 season. Team co-captain Steven Short returns for his senior campaign. The defender from Durban, South Africa scored three goals and passed out five assists as a junior.
“Steven Short is probably one of the best, if not the best, fullbacks in the conference,” Harvey said. “He has great speed, a great left foot and can get forward at important times and score goals, so he is a big asset to us.”
Ryan Hunter started every game in '10 and returns as team co-captain to head up the midfield. Hunter, a junior from Tulsa, Okla., scored two goals and tallied two assists last season.
“A lot of the midfield responsibility will fall on a player called Ryan Hunter,” Harvey said. “He's the team captain, a good playmaker and capable of scoring big goals. He works tremendously hard, ties the defense to the offense and we're expecting a big year out of him.”
A position-by-position look at OCU:
Goalkeeper
Transfer Joe Shulberg,asophomorefrom Huntingdon, England, will take over in goal.
“He's got good size, a good wingspan and he's a good communicator,” Harvey said. “We just have to sharpen him up a bit, and hopefully he will be a good replacement for Andy Fitzpatrick.”
Jay Howard, a junior from Oklahoma City, is expected to push Shulberg at the goalkeeper position.
“Howard is a tremendous shot stopper and has great speed and athleticism,” Harvey said.
Defense
Joining Short in the backfield is junior and team co-captain Nathan Doll, of Tulsa, Okla. Doll started 18 games last season and is expected to be an important player this season.
He's a steady player,” Harvey said.”He strikes the ball very well and is a good header of the ball.”
Transfer David Kamali, of Sachse, Texas, will get playing time on the defensive end.
“He's a steady, left-sided player,” Harvey said.”He's got good size and is a very aggressive player.”
“He's got good speed,” Harvey said. “He worked really hard in the off-season and made himself a lot stronger.”
“We've got to cover at the back, and we've got a couple of players that can step in and cover,” Harvey said. “We feel like we've got adequate cover on the back line.”
Midfield
“He's a utility player,” Harvey said. “He can be a defender, a central midfield player and in a push can play as a forward.”
Preston Cox, a junior for Edmond, Okla., scored one goal in 18 games a season ago and will see action in the midfield this season.
“He's a wide player,” Harvey said. “He was the Gatorade player of the year in high school, and has good technical skills.”
Forward
Sophomore Drew Hall and senior Francis Malalou netted six goals and had one assist each last season. Malalou, a tall striker from and Gabon, Africa, and Hall, of Edmond, Okla., will head up the forward position.
“Although he was only a freshman last year, Drew Hall had a big impact on the team,” Harvey said. ”We look for big things from him.”
Joining Hall and Malalou up front are a pair of freshmen in Adam Black, of Liverpool England, and Nick Lovett, of Edmond, Okla.
“We expect to see a lot of goals from Adam Black this season,” Harvey said.
The Stars may begin the year lacking experience, but OCU could still challenge for conference and national honors.
“I think we'll be okay,” Harvey said. “It's a young side and I think getting to a final or getting to the regional or national tournament this season will be a big bonus for us. I expect us to be competitive, but we are still very young.”
