With consecutive 2-0 losses to Virginia Tech and James Madison University at last weekend’s JMU/Comfort Inn Invitational, the Northeastern University men’s soccer team now finds itself 0-2 on the young season.
Although they have zero goals to go along with their zero wins, the Dogs aren’t panicking yet, as both JMU and Virginia Tech are ranked in the top 40 in the nation, and as NU head coach Ed Matz pointed out, “are funded to win championships.”
The Huskies played valiantly against JMU Sunday, but had their offense smothered by the Dukes’ stifling defense. The Dukes were able to out shoot the Huskies 14 to six and made it extremely hard for NU to maintain any offensive possessions.
“Right now we need to get the ball out of our end,” said junior forward Jeff Gannon. “Despite the tough competition we faced, the fact that we still have no goals should be cause for some concern.”
Obviously, without goals you can’t win, but a familiar trend has started to surface early this season that dates back to the Huskies’ failed Cinderella championship run in last year’s America East conference tournament. Junior keeper Sergio Saccoccio, who became a brick wall in the last year’s tournament, giving up just one regulation goal on his way to All-tournament honors, is playing unbelievable ball behind Northeastern’s defense this season.
Although he’s yet to earn a win, his coaches and teammates feel he’s becoming the star keeper he’s shown signs of in the past.
“He gives us a chance to win every game,” said senior co-captain Joey Parrish. “We just need to play better team D in front of him.”
The team was overmatched against JMU, with all parts of the team doing their best to earn the win for Saccoccio but he was on his own against Atlantic Coast Conference powerhouse Virginia Tech in their season opener.
“On Friday [Saccoccio] was amazing. We basically rode his shoulders all night,” Matz said. “He gave us a chance to win, and that’s about all you can ask of your goaltender.”
Saccoccio was forced to make 10 saves in his first live game action in almost 10 months as his Huskies were out shot 22-6 by the number 22nd ranked Hokies in their first round match up in Harrisonburg, Va.
While great play in net is going to win games, no team wants to start a season 0-2. Seeing as the adjustments made after Friday’s disappointing showing helped the Huskies play ball, the odds of the record improving in the next few weeks have to be in the Dogs’ favor.
“We didn’t play well Friday, but we played better Sunday. We’re getting better every time we play,” Parrish said. “We know the goals will come, and we’re definitely confident in [Saccoccio]. He’s the best goalie in the conference.”
The Huskies return this weekend for their home opener at Parsons Field Saturday at 6 p.m. against the University of Rhode Island.
