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For men's soccer team, success is relative

Their season over, some Lions look to next year while the others reflect upon collegiate careers gone by

Jessica Lander

Issue date: 11/9/06 Section: Sports
Ryan Poliseno (in white jersey) is one of eight players on the men's soccer team who will be seniors next year. This year's team finished a surprising 12-6-1 but lost in the first round of the playoffs. Next year, the Lions will hope for much more.
Media Credit: Greg Townsend
Ryan Poliseno (in white jersey) is one of eight players on the men's soccer team who will be seniors next year. This year's team finished a surprising 12-6-1 but lost in the first round of the playoffs. Next year, the Lions will hope for much more.
[Click to enlarge]
It wasn't supposed to end like that. The Emerson men's soccer team had just spent two months rolling over their competition, on a march to a conference championship. But then their first-round playoff game with Suffolk University went into overtime.

Then there was the goal, Suffolk players celebrating and it was all over.

But while they might not have made it as far as they had hoped, the Lions made it miles further than they did last season.

They not only improved their record but also joined the ranks as one of the top teams in their conference.

The Emerson men kicked off preseason with an overwhelming 40-plus players fighting for a spot on the team. After two weeks of grueling three-a-day training sessions, Emerson men's coach, Jared Scarpaci, settled on an unusually large roster of 25 players with an additional six to make up a practice squad.

Along with hopeful veterans was a talented freshman class ready to help the Lions come back from last year's disappointments, when a lack of senior leadership was at the root of the men's struggles. This year was different.

"Last year, we had no seniors, so everyone could play knowing they had another year to make up for it," said senior Co-Captain Cody Schram of the team's newfound motivation. "This year, however, we had a great group of seniors who knew that this could be their last year playing ball, so we accepted nothing less than a successful season."

The Lions' first loss in the season opener against Eastern Nazarene College last year remained vivid in the players' minds, and, having to once again face the team in their opening game, the Lions refused to get off to another poor start.
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