Spring Break
The Daily OrangeFreshmen earn starting nod in midfield for Orange
By Matt Ehalt
Posted: 9/9/08, 12:50 AM EST Section: Sports
With Meister, Foti said the experience he brings to the table has helped him earn his spot. Meister, who is from Sprockhoevel, Germany, is 20 and played for the U-19 and U-20 Westfalia regional soccer teams, along with being the team captain for the TSG Sprockhoevel youth soccer team.
Foti said Meister is a polished player technically who reads the game well. Meister already has two assists as well on the season for the Orange. In the first game against Canisius, Meister assisted on a goal by Tom Perevegyencev, and on Sunday against Florida Gulf Coast, Meister's free kick led to junior Hansen Woodruff's second goal of the season.
Perhaps more impressive, though, is Meister's acclimation to American style of soccer. He said he has to work more on defense while playing midfield at Syracuse, compared to what he used to play in Germany. In Germany he said there were two midfielders, but here, he is alone in what he called the holding midfield.
"I didn't know what to expect with the opportunity, and then I came here and saw there are good players, and I am proud to play with the first team," Meister said. "I talked a lot to the assistant coach Jaro (Zawislan), and he said we expect you to play in the midfield and have that role and it was quite clear."
While Olivetti and Meister have been stalwarts in the startling lineup, that could change at any time. Foti brought in several midfielders this season including Kevin Chan-Yu-Tin, David Neumann and Charles Schoening along with returning players such as seniors Isaac Collings and Pete Rowley.
But for now, both are helping the Orange to a 3-0-1 record, and their teammates are taking notice.
"It's good they've stepping up," Woodruff said. "Nick has definitely developed into a good player, and Raoul is a great player as well. They bring a lot of the team so it's good having them on the field. I think in time they're really going to flourish."
mrehalt@syr.edu
Foti said Meister is a polished player technically who reads the game well. Meister already has two assists as well on the season for the Orange. In the first game against Canisius, Meister assisted on a goal by Tom Perevegyencev, and on Sunday against Florida Gulf Coast, Meister's free kick led to junior Hansen Woodruff's second goal of the season.
Perhaps more impressive, though, is Meister's acclimation to American style of soccer. He said he has to work more on defense while playing midfield at Syracuse, compared to what he used to play in Germany. In Germany he said there were two midfielders, but here, he is alone in what he called the holding midfield.
"I didn't know what to expect with the opportunity, and then I came here and saw there are good players, and I am proud to play with the first team," Meister said. "I talked a lot to the assistant coach Jaro (Zawislan), and he said we expect you to play in the midfield and have that role and it was quite clear."
While Olivetti and Meister have been stalwarts in the startling lineup, that could change at any time. Foti brought in several midfielders this season including Kevin Chan-Yu-Tin, David Neumann and Charles Schoening along with returning players such as seniors Isaac Collings and Pete Rowley.
But for now, both are helping the Orange to a 3-0-1 record, and their teammates are taking notice.
"It's good they've stepping up," Woodruff said. "Nick has definitely developed into a good player, and Raoul is a great player as well. They bring a lot of the team so it's good having them on the field. I think in time they're really going to flourish."
mrehalt@syr.edu
Be the first to comment on this story