By Olivia Daugherty
The Bluffton University Men’s Soccer team is cementing its place in history.
The team is currently tied with the 2008 team as the most winning team in Bluffton history. The men also have a chance to do something no other Bluffton team has done — qualify for the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament.
“For them, it’s something new,” said head coach Rob Richardson. “I think it’s exciting for them in terms of having the opportunity to get in [the tournament] … The guys have something to play for. They know what it means. Really, it’s up to them to perform.”
The team is 7-7 for the season and is 3-5 for the conference, which is the most league games won in Bluffton history. If the team beats Manchester University on Oct. 27, the Beavers will have a PCT above .500 in the regular season for the first time in school history.
“Really for us [the coaches], we just want the success for the guys,” said Richardson. “We want them to see the rewards for the effort they put in the last few weeks, and months, and over summer.”
The Beavers are led in goals by senior forward Dalton Taynor. Taynor, who was named HCAC Offensive Player of the Week earlier in the season, has scored 12 goals so far and is in fourth place for Bluffton’s all-time career goal list with 34 goals.
“A lot of the credit for the successes goes down to the players who are already here, who wanted to move the program forward,” Richardson said. “They put the hard work and effort in last spring and this year to move it forward.”
Goalkeeper Angel Velasco-Urbina kicks the ball after a save vs. Franklin College on Oct. 20. Photo by Olivia Daugherty
The young team has 16 freshmen making up half of their roster. One of the freshmen, goalkeeper Angel Velasco-Urbina, was named HCAC Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts against conference rivals Mount. St. Joseph and Transylvania, where he only allowed for one goal.
“I definitely did not expect to get an achievement this early on,” said Velasco-Urbina, an exercise science major from Lexington, Ky. “This just made me driven to get it again”
Defender Maximilian Pierce throws the ball back into play against Franklin College on Oct. 20. Photo by Olivia Daugherty
For Richardson, only one word could describe coaching a freshman-heavy team.
“Fun,” Richardson stated. “When you get that many young guys at the same time, they bring an energy. They’re very dynamic, which is fun to work with.”
Even without the college soccer experience, the freshmen on the team is seen as a benefit for Richardson, as they are all motivated to achieve success.
“They fit in well with the guys that were already here,” said Richardson. “It’s just a good group that gets along together and they want to see each other succeed and they want to see the program succeed.”
Looking to the future, the Beavers are already thinking about the potential successes next season may hold.
“I think the guys know what is possible now, and I think their expectations and their drive are going to be higher next year when they come back,” said Richardson. “I think they know they can see the finish line and I think they know they can get there.”
