Britons developed leadership skills to prepare for 2011 season

Posted by Cody Chalmers on Thursday, June 23, 2011 · Leave a Comment 

Albion College men’s soccer coach Jerry Block believes soccer is the world’s most popular sport because of the emphasis it places on the players on the pitch. Outside of halftime, there are no timeouts or other breaks for coaches to communicate strategy or encourage the players to give their best effort.

After his team was stung in six contests decided by a goal in 2010, Block brought in a consultant to lead led the returning players in a series of sessions which culminated in the development of team goals for the 2011 campaign.

“We learned from last season that it takes more than physical skill to be a good team,” Block said. “We’ve got a number of returning players that I think will step up to take these leadership positions. I think the guys are ready to hold each other accountable to reaching their best potential.

“Soccer is a players’ game in that an individual gets the ball and has to choose the right option from seven or eight available to him,” Block added. “We have to build that team collective in training so that the players on the field are an extension of the coaching staff.”

Block said that while goalkeeper Brian Greathouse (Dearborn/Divine Child) and defenders Alex Crkovski (Shelby Township/Utica) and Denny O’Dowd (Virginia Beach, Va./Bishop Sullivan) have been installed as captains he expects a large senior class to provide leadership.

“We finally have a lot of juniors and seniors in the program meaning we won’t have to rely on first-year players to be stars,” Block said. “The seniors realize this is their last go round, and they tend to sacrifice more and they know what’s expected even if they haven’t played a lot of minutes.”

Albion yielded just two goals in its first four matches as it jumped out to a 3-1 start last season. O’Dowd was sidelined with an injury and the Britons went on to pocket three more wins the rest of the way. Greathouse did his best to keep opponents from scoring as he ranked among the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association leaders in saves, averaging nearly four per contest.

“Losing Denny was a huge blow because his and other injuries forced us to change the team shape (on the field),” Block said. “We were not an eighth place team in the league, but there was a perfect storm of things that didn’t go well.

“It is possible for us to make the jump (in the MIAA standings),” Block said. “It’s not going to be easy because all of the programs are approaching a very high level.”

Offensively, Block is hoping forwards Tom Dickmann (Battle Creek/Lakeview) and Dimitrios Tomaras (Ioannina, Greece) and midfielders Eric and Robby Clark (Bridgman) can strike often. Tomaras is a two-year starter who dished out five assists in 2009. Block noted Dickmann played well in the spring and the offense could take off if he produces, and Robby Clark is hungry to experience success after three injury plagued campaigns.

“We have a lot of interchangeable guys,” Block said. “We don’t have a star player who must be on the pitch for us to do well.”

Block added the challenge for the program is to develop balance to between a large group of upperclassmen and newcomers. He added the Britons will need contributions from first-year players and that will assist in giving everyone on the roster a sense of satisfaction that they are a piece to the success of the unit.

Albion opens the season with a flurry of activity as it plays matches on consecutive days the first two weekends of September. The Britons have a Sept. 2 home date against Marian (Ind.) University followed by a trip to Tiffin, Ohio, the next day for a contest against Heidelberg University. After a Sept. 6 home date against Manchester (Ind.) College, the Britons visit Spring Arbor University and Siena Heights University.

The Britons’ MIAA opener is Sept. 17 at Trine (Ind.) University.

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