By Joseph Zuniga
It’s the start of a new season for Dominican’s Men’s Soccer Team, and one of the challenges that the team faces this season, compared to the rest, is a complete rebuild of their squad.
The Stars currently have a total of 19 freshmen on the roster this year. More than previous years in recent history.
Coach Erick Baumann, who has been coaching Dominican Men’s Soccer for the past 31 years, mentioned that the last time Dominican has gone into a full rebuild year was 20 years ago in 2004, heading into 2005.
This season, eight out of the 11 regular starters from last season either graduated or ran out of eligibility, which has resulted in a major rebuild in the starting roster.
However, Coach Baumann says, regardless of how the team changes, the goal always stays the same.
“The ultimate goal never changes, and that’s to win the NACC conference tournament championship,” he said. “Regardless of who’s returning, regardless of who comes in, it’s a program standard that we always try to achieve.”
Last season, Dominican lost in the NACC semi-finals to MSOE.
Coach Baumann highlights the two senior captains, Ryan Gutierrez and Brendan Gavin, for their preparedness and commitment to this season.
“They really came fit, prepared, and really came committed to being captains and to leading the group and having a positive influence on the group and our environment,” he said. “I’ve been very happy with those two in particular.”
Gutierrez and Gavin have a strong bond, having played the last four years together.
Gutierrez said, “You know we came up together in the program, so it’s always nice to see how much we’ve improved together in our time here,” he said. “I can’t wait to finish off my season and my college career with him.”
Gavin stated, “Guti and I have been playing together, going on our fourth year now, but we’ve definitely developed that relationship,” he said. “I know that he’s got my back and I’ve got his back as well.”
One concern with the squad this season is the varying fitness levels between each player.
Coach Baumann mentioned, “We didn’t come as fit and prepared with our entire roster as we should have, so it’s a little challenging in that we’re trying to, unfortunately, get some players caught up for what they didn’t do or come prepared with while we try to advance players that came prepared and are ready to go.”
“We’re still establishing fitness with some guys (and) establishing matchday fitness with some guys.”
Gavin highlighted the fitness levels as a key concern as well. He gives credit to those who passed the fitness test weeks prior but urges others to catch up.
“They have stuff going on in the summer, they have a life, but you can’t forget about soccer because we’re here to win.”
Gutierrez, much like his co-captain, also has a winning mindset for this season with his own goals and has already envisioned how he wants the season to go.
“Win the NACC, win the regular season, win the conference tournament, and make it to the national tournament and hopefully make a run,” he said. “That’s always the winning mindset for this program, so I mean no less than that.”
As the season begins, Gavin realizes how special this season is as it is his last season to play collegiate soccer with a coach he looks up to and a group of guys he’s close with.
“We’re one big family, and I don’t want to disappoint them or my own personal family out there,” he said. “We gotta get back up on top. I want to win, this is my last year, and I’m gonna leave everything out there.”
