University of North Carolina Athletics
1998 Men's Soccer Season Outlook
June 21, 1999 | Men's Soccer
September 1, 1998
With at least five new starters on the field and a new soccer office complex to be completed in January 1999, this will be a year of both literal and figurative rebuilding for the University of North Carolina soccer program. The 1998 Tar Heel squad features just one senior and a bevy of young players hoping to return Carolina to the elite of the Atlantic Coast Conference.
"We've recruited big recruiting classes in the last two years and the majority of the team is freshmen and sophomores," head coach Elmar Bolowich says. "I'd expect that four or five freshmen could step on the field at any time. What is important for me as the head coach is to find the right mix of players and see what strengths they have so I can formulate a style of play suited to their skills."
After 13 new players joined the program for the 1997 season, Bolowich has recruited another large class of 15 newcomers for 1998. The task now is to integrate the new players into the Carolina system and recapture UNC soccer's winning tradition, one which has produced 40 .500-or-better seasons in the last 41 years.
"We will have our hands full in terms of getting our young players matured quickly and getting them ready to contribute on the field," says Bolowich. "I think that's a positive challenge to have. We are regrouping the program and it's nice to have young guys who are very enthusiastic about getting our program back where it belongs. We need to do better in the ACC and we look forward to pursuing that goal. We've got a good non-conference schedule that will let us know what we need to work on to compete in the ACC."
Eighteen of the 26 players on the 1998 roster are freshmen or sophomores, so a youthful exuberence will have to overcome Carolina's lack of experience.
"I think eventually the strengths of this team will be its work ethic and comraderie," Bolowich says. "Only working hard and playing together can get this young team to where it wants to be. We can't rely on individuals. Right now we don't have the superstars - they need to emerge out of this group. One thing that will help is that we have more speed this year.
"We have been blistered by injuries the last couple of years," Bolowich continues, "and if we can remain healthy then we'll have much better depth than we've had. Depth will let us compete in practice and no one's job will be secure. Everyone will have to work hard to earn playing time, and that kind of work ethic will lift our level of play."
Injuries crippled the Tar Heels' already small group of upperclassmen in 1997, with seniors Anson Ashby, Daniel Kulenic and first-team All-ACC and third-team All-America Carey Talley missing games or significant time. In addition, senior Brian Mascia and sophomore Greg Danielson missed the entire season due to injuries. Talley was a second-round choice in the 1998 Major League Soccer draft and now is a member of league powerhouse D.C. United's talented squad.
Says Bolowich, "Certainly we can't hope to immediately replace the talents of our graduated seniors, particularly Carey Talley, who was one of the top players in the country. Our youth could hurt us early, but we hope to come together as the year progresses. Goalkeeping will be a question mark with three keepers who all could start for us. As far as positions, I couldn't tell you who will play where because we have so many new faces. I have an idea of what everyone can contribute and a picture of what our best 11 would look like on the field, but it's easily changeable."
Where players will fit on the field may be unclear, but Bolowich is reassured by the presence of several individuals who have proven they can be top Division I players. One such talent is top returning scorer Caleb Norkus, a forward who entered Carolina as one of the top recruits in the nation a year ago and struggled initially before scoring 20 points in his final 12 games of the 1997 campaign.
"Norkus could become a real impact player in the ACC, somebody that all our opponents have to pay attention to when he's on the field," Bolowich says. "It depends on how well he handles that kind of pressure and how focused he will be. It was a little overwhelming for him coming into Division I last year with so many expectations, but once he caught on he just blossomed. I hope that he is the kind of player that we go to in the front, who will be making things happen around the net and scoring goals."
Another high-quality player upon whom Bolowich will rely in 1998 is defensive midfielder/sweeper Matt Laycock, a sophomore who serves as a co-captain of this year's squad with Mascia, a fifth-year senior.
"I'm looking forward to Matt Laycock stepping into a leadership role this year," Bolowich says. "He is a cerebral player. He's the one that can see things, can bring things together and understands the game well enough to be able to make adjustments that you can't make as a coach from the sideline since we don't have the luxury of timeouts."
Also returning is third-year starter Joe DiSalvo, a midfielder who is Carolina's most experienced player with 35 starts in his first two seasons.
"Joey is probably our most experienced player and has the potential to be one of the best midfielders around if he remains focused and in shape," says Bolowich.
Carolina's 1998 schedule includes five teams ranked in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America preseason poll and features the always-challenging ACC slate. To compete in the top half of the conference, Bolowich knows that he must continue to bring in talented recruiting classes like he has in the last two years.
"We want to continue to bring in quality players," he says. "We want to get into the upper echelon of the ACC and stay there. To do that we have to have those types of players because the rest of the ACC isn't resting on their laurels. We're looking for quality players and quality individuals for Carolina soccer."
The following is a position-by-position look at the 1998 Tar Heels.
Goalkeepers
With the return of junior William Woodroffe and the arrivals of top recruit Michael Ueltschey and transfer Brad Thomas, Carolina's goalkeeper's job will be up for grabs in preseason practice.
Woodroffe started seven games last season and has 11 career starts. Ueltschey played in goal for the under-18 U.S. National Team last year. Thomas made nine starts for UNC Charlotte in 1997. Bolowich believes any of the three could earn the starting job.
"Woodroffe comes in with some experience playing for us already for two years," Bolowich says. "He was a backup keeper for us for those two years, but he always played well when he got into the net. Michael Ueltschey is a recognized talent, being the keeper for the under-18 U.S. National Team. He's a big kid, he's athletic and has a very positive, very competitive style. Brad Thomas is a transfer from UNC Charlotte who has had some playing time for them, so he knows what Division I soccer is all about. We have some experience in the goal, whether it's someone with Division I experience or National Team experience, but who emerges remains to be seen."
Defenders
Twelve of Carolina's 19 games in 1997 were decided by one goal, and a strong defensive core returns for the Tar Heels this season. Marking back David Popp and sweeper Laycock return, although Laycock could also see action at midfielder. Mascia, who is recovering from knee surgery that forced his redshirt last year, and Michael Bucy, who started 15 games in 1997, have the experience to make solid contributions on the back line.
"Laycock is our coach on the field and he needs to play in a central position to do so, whether that's as a sweeper or a central midfielder," Bolowich says. "Certainly, with his size and skill, he's technically a very skilled player. He's very smooth and composed. If we play him in the back, we'll be looking for him to develop our attack from the back, keeping the ball on the ground and getting it started forward. Playing him in the midfield, his size makes him great in the air and he can help us maintain ball possession and initiate our attacks. At either position he's going to be very valuable to our team."
A strong group of freshman defenders, including John Wean, Daniel Jackson, Chris Leitch and Ryan Schumacher, also will be added to the mix.
"We're looking at playing three defenders, that is two outside marking backs and a middle defender, with one free man," says Bolowich. "We will most likely end up with a John Wean and a David Popp as marking backs and possibly Matt Laycock or Daniel Jackson in the central defensive position. A Brian Mascia could be an option at marking back, depending on the health of his knee, as could Carson Porter, Chris Leitch and Ryan Schumacher. And of course, Mike Bucy, who did a great job for us back there last year, will help us a great deal on defense."
Freshmen Marshall Insley and Brandon Helms will also fight for playing time on defense.
Midfielders
DiSalvo returns as an outside midfielder who can also play inside. Also returning is sophomore defensive midfielder Eddie Robinson, who redshirted last season.
"Where DiSalvo and Robinson fit depends on where everyone else fits," says Bolowich. "From what I saw in the spring, Eddie is very excited to get back to playing again. If he can stay focused, he certainly can be a quality marking back or defensive midfielder. Eddie is a player who needs to be on the field, and we need to find a position for him.
"DiSalvo has all the attributes but he needs to be more result-oriented in terms of going forward," Bolowich continues. "When you play on the left flank like Joey does, your job is to get a quality pass into the middle or to play a final pass to the box that can create good shots."
Highly-rated recruit Nozomu Yamauchi, a U.S. under-17 National Team member, could start as a midfielder.
"I can see Noz making things happen as an offensive midfielder," Bolowich says. "Noz is a very, very technically sound player. He can play the unexpected pass, the pass that no one else would think of, and get our forwards involved in the play if not do something himself."
Junior Vincent Velez, junior transfer Bryan Grant and freshman C.J. Steffen could also contribute in the midfield.
Forwards
Norkus will start at one forward position and has proven that he can score and make things happen up front. Freshman Chris Carrieri could start alongside the Raleigh sophomore.
"Norkus showed what he can do with his scoring in the second half of last season," explains Bolowich. "I can see Chris Carrieri playing next to Caleb up front because he has the potential to put the ball in the net."
Also set to battle for playing time at forward are junior Greg Danielson, who suffered from a persistent hamstring injury and did not play in 1997, and junior Eric Cole, a transfer from UNC Charlotte.
