NKU’s Chris Thompson

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Northern Kentucky University men’s soccer team is hoping experience will be the key to success this season as the Norse return 10 starters from last year’s 12-6-2 squad.

“We have the experience of having played one year together already,” said NKU head coach John Basalyga, who guided his team to one of the nation’s biggest turnarounds in 2004 (from a 4-9-3 record in 2003 to 12 wins last fall). “We only lost one player from last year’s team, and that was Nate Madden, who was our goalkeeper and the Great Lakes Valley Conference Player of the Year.”

Basalyga, however, welcomes back the nucleus of the defense from last season. A year ago, NKU started as many as eight freshmen in some games. Basalyga, entering his third season at NKU, expects that experience to pay off in 2005.

“The players have to take ownership of the team. The team needs to lead collectively, not just one person but the whole team,” Basalyga said. “We have two seniors this year, Randy Walters and David Lies. They should be able to step up and be an example for the others because they have been around the longest.”

Last season, Walters finished with four goals and five assists while Lies added two goals for the Norse. Lies, a four-year standout in the defensive backfield, started every game for the team last season.

NKU senior David Lies

In addition to the two seniors, NKU also returns All-GLVC performers Chris Thompson and Andy Bacon. Thompson, a sophomore forward, led the team last season with seven goals. Bacon, a sophomore defender, was a key player on defense for the Norse.

Two other players who started all 20 games last season also return for NKU. Sophomore midfielder Kyle Roberts finished last season with three goals and four assists. Tony Capurro, a sophomore from Cincinnati, added a goal and two assists.

The Norse also welcome back Dan Impellizzeri, a sophomore defender who added one goal and one assist while being a key part of the Norse defense that only allowed 12 goals all season.

Other key returnees include Jason Larkin, David Botos, Tyler Rowlette, Tony Cullum and Kevin Holder. Basalyga added a solid recruiting class for depth, and he has four goalies on the roster battling to replace Madden.

Basalyga’s goal for the team this season is no different than any other year.

“My goal for the team every year is to always win one or two more games than the previous year,” Basalyga said. “We want to advance one more game in the conference tournament and win more games. With our schedule that is going to be a handful.”

NKU is picked sixth by the coaches in the GLVC preseason poll. The Norse finished last season with a 6-3-1 GLVC record, which was good for fifth place.

The Norse will take on defending conference champion and national runner-up Southern Illinois at Edwardsville at home on Oct. 14. SIUE was picked to finish first in the conference. Last season, the Norse fell in overtime, 2-1, to SIUE.

The Norse will also face Wisconsin-Parkside on Sept. 23 and Lewis two days later at home. They were chosen to finish second and third, respectively. NKU tied Wisconsin-Parkside last season and upset Lewis, 2-0.

“We proved last year that anybody can beat anyone on any given night,” Basalyga said. “We need to not let complacency set in. You need to go out and prove yourself every night.”

NKU will begin its season against Lincoln Memorial on Aug. 27 at the Town & Country Sports Complex in Wilder, Ky. at 4:30 p.m in the John Toebben Classic presented by National City. The following day at 2:30 p.m., the Norse will face Mercyhurst.