Soccer team suffers
Frogs battle injuries, look for standout scorer
All season, the men’s soccer team has been searching for a standout offensive weapon, assistant coach Blake Amos said. But with seven games left in the season, the team is now also left searching for a cure for its injuries.
Sophomore defender Todd Bates said the injuries have definitely affected how the team plays.
“Players can play through injuries,” Bates said. “But many people on this team are going to have to step up and assume leadership roles. Our injuries just show us that we will have to continue to play really good defense to win games.”
Bates has missed the last two games because of a hamstring injury he suffered at the end of the Oct. 1 game against Bradley. Although he was disappointed in missing the team’s recent matchups against Tulsa and then No. 11 Southwest Missouri State, Bates said he is looking forward to returning to action this weekend.
“With fatigued legs, it’s so easy to pull a muscle,” Bates said. “By doing many light-weight exercises and hamstring massages and using ultrasound and a lot of ice, trainers say I have a good chance to play this weekend.”
Besides Bates, senior defender Mike Martin, junior forward Aaron Grieshaber, freshman defender Andrew Porteous and junior defender Davis Bland have also been slowed by injuries.
Amos said the injuries have added to the team’s struggle to find a true goal scorer.
“At the beginning of the season, we realized we didn’t have a big goal scorer,” Amos said. “But we are very strong defensively, and we have a bunch of guys stepping up and scoring for us. As long as they keep stepping up, I’ll take it.
“Putting people in a position where they can score, giving them opportunities and putting those chances away is really what helps the situation.”
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Krystal Powell/SKIFF STAFF
Sophomore midfielder Nick Browne prepares for a shot against Tulsa Saturday. TCU lost to the Golden Hurricane 2-0. For the season, Browne is tied for the team-lead in goals scored (3) and leads the team in points with eight. |
Amos highlighted Grieshaber as a player the Frogs have missed offensively.
“(He) is the most legitimate goal scorer we have,” Amos said. “Because of his three (knee) surgeries, he is only playing 15 to 20 minutes a game. We have recognized and know he can score goals, but he isn’t fully healthy right now.”
Amos said sophomore midfielder Nick Browne has helped fill the void of his injured team by playing consistent soccer.
“(Browne) has played the most minutes in almost every game,” Amos said. “He is playing three to four different positions right now and that’s not easy to do. Besides just playing the positions, he is playing them all especially well.”
Bates said he agreed that Browne’s presence has been crucial for the team.
“He comes ready to play for every game,” Bates said. “He
puts in great effort and never goofs around.”
The Frogs’ two losses in conference have come to unranked opponents,
while their two wins have come against ranked teams.
“Because we have won against the two ranked teams in our conference play so far, but lost to the two unranked teams we have played, we have to play with greater intensity and stay more focused,” Bates said.
Kelly Morris
k.l.morris@student.tcu.edu