Aug. 26, 2002
In its four seasons under coach Paul Krumpe, the Loyola Marymount men's soccer team has made tremendous strides in becoming a force in the West Coast Conference. After a record-setting season a year ago, the 2002 Lions appear on the verge of becoming a force nationally.
After finishing the regular season with a winning record (9-7-2 Overall/2-3-1 WCC) for the second consecutive year (and the second time in school history), the 2001 Lions did something no LMU team had ever done before - make the NCAA Tournament.
Now once-modest goals of respectability and a winning record are expectations. With the top eight scorers form last season returning, the goals are now a lot loftier.
"I fully expect us to jump into the (national) rankings," said Krumpe, whose team returns 19 players from last season's squad. "I think we're capable of winning the West Coast Conference. "
"The other goal is to get past the first weekend of games in the (NCAA Tournament), and I think we are capable of doing that."
Krumpe's confidence stems mainly from his core group of players who have been together - and shared in the team's successes - for years now. And with that success has come opportunities never-before experienced by LMU players.
"This seems to be the busiest off-season for (the players)," Krumpe said. "Most of the guys have been playing with outside club teams and they've trained together through the summer."
And two of this year's Lion defenders, sophomore Matt Kovar, the WCC Freshman of the Year in 2001, and incoming freshman Will Roraff, were invited to the U.S. Under-20 Team camp in the off-season.
But when it comes to on-the-field success, the big man on the LMU campus is senior forward Arturo Torres.
In his three seasons in Westchester, Torres has re-written the LMU record books. He holds the school's single-season records for goals (16), assists (10) and points (36), along with the career marks with 38 goals, 17 assists and 93 points. Before Torres, no Lion had ever scored more than eight goals in a season. He's tallied at least 11 in each of his three campaigns.
Now in his final year, Torres is poised to catch the attention of more than just his opponents.
"He's shown all the signs of being one of the top players in the country," Krumpe said. "He's one of the top 20 players in the nation. If he has the season I know he's capable of, he'll make a name for himself."
Another senior who will be key for the Lions this season is midfielder Andres Murriagui, the playmaker. He tied for the team lead with five assists last season, and his 12 career assists have him tied for fifth in school history entering 2002.
"He brings a totally different aspect of the game to the field than Arturo," Krumpe said. "He's certainly the creative genius behind our offense."
On defense, senior Jeff Kovar is the Lions' backbone. He's started 53 of the 55 games in the first three years of his career, and had a career-high six points in 2001.
But as with any successful program, LMU relies on more than just seniors. Eleven of this season's non-seniors started at least 11 games in 2001.
Sophomore Matt Kovar headlines that list after starting 17 games alongside his brother on defense in 2001.
"I thought he would need to adjust to the Division-I level'" Krumpe said. "But he showed right from the start that he's capable of marking anyone, scoring against anyone and defending anyone."
After a strong showing at the Under-20 camp, Kovar figures to improve upon his freshman performance in 2002.
Also, juniors Kevin Novak and Michael Erush, third and fourth respectively in team scoring in 2001, will join Murriagui in the midfield again in 2002.
And to ensure the program keeps its course, Krumpe has brought in a new class that's very capable of making an impact this season. Heading the recruiting class are Roraff and midfielder Salvador Diaz, a junior college transfer. Both are slated to start at the beginning of the season.
GOALKEPER
This is the Lions' biggest question mark entering the season, with junior Adam Sthay, who played in all of three games in 2001, the most experienced returner. Fellow junior Shaun Kalnasy, who played in two games last season, is also back.
Though the starting job is Sthay's to lose, Krumpe has confidence in that either one can do an effective job in front of the net. Krumpe also addressed the position's future by bringing in freshman Robert Flores.
OFFENSE
There's no secret the offense goes through Torres. And while he's one of the most dangerous weapons in the nation, finding a compliment to the striker is Krumpe's goal. That should be easier this season with so many players having spent years in Krumpe's system.
"We're going to be very similar (in terms of offensive approach) to what we were last season," he said, "knowing that we've found a formula that's successful."
Overall, more than 90 percent of the Lions' offensive production in 2001 is back for this season. Along with Torres, Murriagui, Novak and Erush, Pat Parker and Yuji Teranishi each started more than 10 games in 2001, with Parker tallying five points. Julian Gaitan and Armando Melendez, who combined for seven points in 2001, also return. Michael Coakley, Eric Kim, Derick Stickel and Alejandro Torres also saw action in 2001.
The compliment to Arturo Torres could come from a new crop of talent that Krumpe is very high on. Diaz had a highly decorated career at Harbor Junior College, where he was South Coast Conference Player of the Year twice. He's also a long-time friend of Arturo Torres.
"I'm excited to see how that combination of forwards plays out on the field," Krumpe said.
Another source of offense could be freshman Brian Vestal, who Krumpe calls "the biggest sleeper of the newcomers."
Said the coach of the left-sided midfielder from Fullerton: "I'd be very surprised if he's not running the flank for us at the end of the year and terrorizing opponents."
Fellow freshmen Joseph Stoakley and Javier Cabrera could also see playing time this season.
DEFENSE
Nationally, this group of Lions has gotten the most recognition, with Matt Kovar and Roraff's Under-20 selections.
It's also the Lions' strongest group on the field. Jeff Kovar joins his brother and Roraff in the starting lineup, and Michael Brewer started 13 games as a freshman in 2001.
Along with senior Philip Arias and sophomore Danny Williams, the Lions' defense brings plenty of experience to the field.
Despite losing four-year starter Nick Resich to graduation following last season, the LMU defense has 134 games (111 starts) under its belt entering 2002.
In 2001, when the Lions went on a seven-game win streak which put them in the national ranks, LMU's defense posted five shutouts. On the year, they held opponents under two goals in 11 of the 18 games they played.
SCHEDULE
The Lions open the season Aug. 30 against Wisconsin-Green Bay in the LMU Fall Classic, then close the tournament two days later with a huge game against Cal, an NCAA Tournament team that the Lions defeated in 2001. After that early test, LMU will get an even bigger test later in the year with national power UCLA.
The Lions split their games with the Bruins in 2001, winning at Westwood, 1-0, in the regular season, but dropping a 3-2 decision in double overtime in the NCAA Tournament. Revenge will definitely be on the minds of the Lions, who feel they should have beaten UCLA both times last season.
The biggest - and best - change in the schedule for LMU in 2002 will be when conference play begins. In 2001, the Lions opened WCC play with three consecutive road games, going 0-2-1 in that stretch before salvaging the season with three home games to end the season. This year, LMU's first two WCC games will be at home. If they get off to a good start, the season finale at Santa Clara could be one of the most meaningful games in LMU men's soccer history.
There's no doubt LMU men's soccer is headed in the right direction. All the pieces are in place for sustained success.
"We're not going to fall apart when this senior group leaves," Krumpe said. "We are more than capable of reloading when they leave and we will continue to get better and better."
But those seniors still have one year left to leave their mark on LMU soccer. And considering the heights to which they have taken the program thus far, the sky should be the limit for them in 2002.
