The past is usually a good indicator on what the future will look like. If that holds up come soccer season, the men’s squad will be looking at another disappointing year.
FIU soccer is fresh off a tumultuous season full of ups and downs. Under first-year Head Coach Kenny Arena, the squad was picked to finish poorly in Conference USA.
Falling under the radar, FIU stormed out of the gate to begin the season and started a fierce 5-0. But all success pretty much stopped there.
The team would struggle for the remainder of the year, playing like the low-caliber team everyone thought they were. The struggles reached an all-time high when the squad finished their season without a single conference victory, yes you read that correctly, not a single conference W. The Panthers finished the season 8-8, while going 0-7 in conference with one tie.
As indicators of the future go, a winless season last year in C-USA does not pan out well when looking toward this season.
FIU will have to raise their level of intensity in order to keep up with the level of competition C-USA has to offer.
Heading into the new year, FIU will depend heavily on junior Quentin Albrecht to continue to dominate on the field and hope that his stellar play can turn into some victories. Albrecht is coming off a sophomore campaign where he lead the team in almost every statistical category. He led the team in goals (10), points (23), shots (70), shots on goal (29) and game-winning goals (3).
Albrecht will look for help in junior teammate Colby Burdette. Beside Albrecht, Burdette was the next go-to player on the team last year. He was second in goals scored with seven and points with 18. The two will have to form some sort of dynamic duo in order to shine in their new playing grounds.
If Albrecht and Burdette can’t shape up and form a early 2000’s Shaq and Kobe combo, Albrecht will have to look a little closer to home to find a counterpart on the field. Albrecht, from Germany, formed a tight bond with teammate and fellow countryman Robin Spiegel. Spiegel, who plays goalie, was the line of defense behind Albrecht’s aggressive play. The freshman started all 18 games for the Panthers last season and was named to the C-USA all-freshman team.
FIU will be picked toward the bottom of the barrel in C-USA this upcoming season, much like last season, but this time around a roller coaster ride of a season most likely will not end in a .500 year. Looking back to the future, men’s soccer is likely in line for lousy ride again C-USA.
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