Men's soccer sluggish in victory

by Sarah Segal on September 2, 2009

Although the U.S. Men’s Soccer Team won this afternoon’s scrimmage against the National Chung Cheng University varsity soccer team, head coach Ken McDonald was far from impressed. From the opening minutes of the 4 p.m. game, held on the NCCU campus, until it ended at 6-0, the players looked agitated, sweaty and worn out. McDonald, in hopes of boosting team morale, encouraged the players to “make the most of today” and to view the opportunity to play against the local team as a bonus. Team captain Mike Lawson added his own constructive criticism to the mix by offering insights on how to better pass the ball. However, the men appeared to pass up that bonus today. With some players arguing about which players on the opposite team to cover on the field and others sitting on the bench, injured or sick, the team appeared disunited and unfocused. Assistant coach George Danner, infuriated with some of the players for missing five open goals, laid out the consequences for the players’ actions. “There’s no way you’re going to get on that field if this is the way you perform,” he said. McDonald said the men know the game well, but just didn’t have the right mentality today. “Even the great teams have bad days,” he said. Allison Galoob, a defender on the women’s team who was watching the game, said the game was a wake-up call. “They now know not to play badly against a team of lower standards,” she said. “I have to give them credit for working hard, though. They will be a great team to watch.”

A member of the men's soccer team eludes defenders during a recent scrimmage at National Chung Cheng University in Chia-Yi, Taiwan. (Photo by Hugh Carey)

Men's soccer sluggish in victory

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