Aug. 20, 2003

ABILENE, Texas - Any time a team goes through a coaching change, player turnover is expected. How quickly the players that do return meshes with the newcomers to the program often determines the quickness of the team's success.

The Cowboys return just seven players with college experience. However, that limited experience has brought about heated competition at several spots on the field for newcomers to the program to challenge right away.

"We are very young," said first-year Head Coach Dan Heger. "To say were young is not a bad thing, because there are a lot of those young guys that can play. We have a lot of talent. It is just how fast we can turn that raw athleticism into a team."

Heger moved to his alma mater after spending two seasons as the head coach of the men's and women's teams at McMurry.

"We have some good size it is a bigger team than last year," said Heger. "We have increased the size of our defense we are taller and stronger. Some of the returning guys spent some time in the weight room and gotten bigger, stronger and faster. Overall, I just think we are a physically strong team that doesn't have a lot of experience in college soccer."

Depth an athleticism are going to be the young Cowboys strengths as they try to get back in the conference tournament, after not making the postseason for the first time in four years in 2002. The Cowboys finished the year with a 10-6-1 mark and a loss to McMurry in the final game of the season knocked them out of the ASC race.

Sweeper Brad Barham and goalkeeper Ryan Shaughnessy, who also won the honor in the postseason as a freshman at McMurry last season, have been named ASC West Preseason Defensive Players of the Year and forward James Burton has been selected as the ASC West Offensive Player of the Year.

"Brad Barham is a smart kid and the players respect him," said Heger. "James Burton has increased his work rate and is a great player and athlete. I think he can score as many goals (20) as he did his freshman year."

"I see this team that has maybe 20 guys that can contribute at this point. Obviously, we can't play that many so we have to find the guys that work the best together. James Burton will be good up front, Brad Barham will lead us in the back. Calvin Key has redesigned his body and is ready to make some contributions. Chris Carroll has a lot of skill."

"Ryan Shaughnessy, Dustin Holly and Jordan Ivey are in a battle for the keeper position. I didn't expect Ivey to compete for a job right away but he is. Ryan Flanigan is 6-3 in a big player in the middle and Ricky Matthies is 6-4 and has played well in the back.

"T Cizenda is a physical player and Nick Sager is fast and was first-team all-state. Jeff Brooks seems to be in the right position all the time. He is not as athletic as some of those guys but he is always in position and finding a way to be successful."

David Salas is fast and athletic, he can do well at whatever we ask him to do. Ryan Barnes is fast and quick and the ball stays on his foot and he is fighting for a position. Right now we are probably settled at two maybe three positions and there are battles all over the field. We have players to fill those open positions, it is just going to take me some time to figure out who should be where.

With such a young team, inexperienced mistakes are expected.

"I expect we are going to have to work really hard early," said Heger. "We are going to make mistakes because we are young, hopefully we offset some of those errors with our athleticism. I expect with some hard work we will be there at the end of the season."

The Cowboys don't get any free passes with their schedule. The Cowboys open the season against national powerhouse Wheaton on the road. Another strong opponent that will be determined will also be in the field at the Wheaton Tournament. South Region traditional power Trinity is also on the early season schedule and the conference slate gets tougher each season.

"No one has beat Texas Lutheran yet, so I think they are the favorites and our first challenge," said Heger. "I know a lot of the players over at McMurry and they are good players. They added some kids that I recruited to McMurry that are good players as well. They will be tough to beat. They are the two teams to beat in the West side. I think we can get to there level with some hard work. UT-Dallas is the overwhelming favorite on the East side."