Spring Break
The Daily OrangeMSOC | Hall brings Olympic qualifying experience back to SU
By Michael Bonner
Posted: 8/29/08, 12:09 AM EST Section: Sports
Hall tacked on a fifth goal against Guatemala, which might seem insignificant, but after tiebreakers, the goal allowed Canada to leapfrog Mexico for a spot in the third place game.
"He came in, and the whole staff every single day, we analyzed who did what," Dasovic said. "And every day we had him he got better and better. He went from who's this kid, to 'Hey he might be starting against Mexico.'"
Opportunities like that don't come around too often, so Hall wanted to take full advantage of the situation. Dasovic said Hall was the only player to ask him what he specifically needed to work on to get better. From Syracuse head coach Dean Foti's perspective, mission accomplished.
"When he came back from the Olympic team, he was as sharp and a better player than I've ever seen him," Foti said.
Hall's numbers fell off at the end of last year. The forward had seven points in six games to start the season, but he only scored two points in the final 12. Down the stretch, Hall battled mental and physical fatigue. Even with that in mind, Hall still wanted a chance to go to Beijing and went full tilt, full time.
Foti didn't mind. He said the team will need the priceless experience Hall gained playing Olympic-talent teams.
After facing pro-type players, Hall learned the days of trying to dribble through opponents are finished, and he is now much happier making the highlights due to a pass.
"You don't want to be dribbling. You just want to play quick," Hall said. "I kept that in my head so when I went to play I just played quick and played fast because I didn't want to be the one on ESPN who's getting schooled or getting taken out because I was holding the ball too long."
mibonner@syr.edu
"He came in, and the whole staff every single day, we analyzed who did what," Dasovic said. "And every day we had him he got better and better. He went from who's this kid, to 'Hey he might be starting against Mexico.'"
Opportunities like that don't come around too often, so Hall wanted to take full advantage of the situation. Dasovic said Hall was the only player to ask him what he specifically needed to work on to get better. From Syracuse head coach Dean Foti's perspective, mission accomplished.
"When he came back from the Olympic team, he was as sharp and a better player than I've ever seen him," Foti said.
Hall's numbers fell off at the end of last year. The forward had seven points in six games to start the season, but he only scored two points in the final 12. Down the stretch, Hall battled mental and physical fatigue. Even with that in mind, Hall still wanted a chance to go to Beijing and went full tilt, full time.
Foti didn't mind. He said the team will need the priceless experience Hall gained playing Olympic-talent teams.
After facing pro-type players, Hall learned the days of trying to dribble through opponents are finished, and he is now much happier making the highlights due to a pass.
"You don't want to be dribbling. You just want to play quick," Hall said. "I kept that in my head so when I went to play I just played quick and played fast because I didn't want to be the one on ESPN who's getting schooled or getting taken out because I was holding the ball too long."
mibonner@syr.edu
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