Position Previews with the Lads: Midfield
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – This is the first of a four-part series that will break down the 2014 Carson-Newman men’s soccer team position by position. Today’s review focuses on the Eagles’ midfielders with seniors Jake Fielder (Talbott, Tenn.) and Wade Collins (Knoxville, Tenn.).
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – This is the first of a four-part series that will break down the 2014 Carson-Newman men's soccer team position by position. Today's review focuses on the Eagles' midfielders with seniors Jake Fielder (Talbott, Tenn.) and Wade Collins (Knoxville, Tenn.).
"We're pretty much the same as last year," Fielder said. "Johann was ineligible last year. Now he's in and that's a huge aspect to the game."
The Lads return all midfielders from last year's nationally ranked second place team and add to the group a number of quality transfers and freshmen.
"With our game style," Fielder said, "it helps a lot having the depth that we do out wide."
At winger, Fielder finished last season with two goals and was tied for third in assists with five. He started 17 of 22 games played and supplied his team with one game winning goal.
Collins started 20 of 22 matches at defensive center midfield where he helped the team to five shutouts.
"The midfield," Fielder said, "was really solid last season."
Junior winger Sindre Welo (Trondheim, Norway) was a first team All-SAC preseason pick this year.
Last season, Welo started 22 of 23 games played, scored seven goals and had eight assists. He provided two game winners including an overtime goal against C-N rival Tusculum.
"The cohesion we had with me and Speake and Frame in the center," Collins said, "helped us on our run [in the national tournament]. Whoever is in there with me and Speake this year, whether it's Sindre or Johann, we need to establish that same unity."
The team will have a lot of experience on the field with its midfield with returners Fielder, Collins, Welo, Kristian Speake (Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, United Kingdom), Nick Skoda (Knoxville, Tenn.), and national semifinal game-winning goal scorer Joao Dowsley (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) among others.
"We have a lot of new guys who came in," Collins said, "and they found out real quick what we're about… the hard work, the battle that goes into every day. That's what we've built our team around… never quitting."
Likewise, similar talent is being brought in by new players including, but not limited to, Johann Pereira (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) and Lukas Jokish (Germany).
"We have plenty of options," Fielder said. "After this preseason, it's clear to see that the team is very strong."
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