The Gustavus Men’s soccer team is off to a fast start led by Senior Economics Major Doug Frey and Senior Biology Major Ben Ceder, two of five captains at the helm of this experienced group.

The Gusties hope to improve upon their 2010 record of 10-5-3 (5-2-3 MIAC), which yielded a 5th place conference finish.

“Our coach likes to tell us to play with a confident arrogance,” Senior Biology Major and Men’s Soccer Captain Ben Ceder said. That is just what the 2011 unit has done thus far, accumulating three wins in as many games.

The first game was against Wartburg College, an opponent with great success last season. Gustavus came out on top 2-0 after Junior Midfielder Gabe Steinborn scored two goals for the home team.

In the second match the men tied their highest goal scoring performance in the past four years, defeating Clarke College 7-0. Senior Forward Mark Adams scored three goals for his second career hat trick, the last coming during the 2009 season.

Adams followed up a career day with two more goals against Martin Luther College of New Ulm, helping Gustavus win 3-0. Gustavus’ undefeated start to the year has been defined by an unusual offensive outburst, but strong defense and sturdy goaltending has greatly contributed as well.

The team went into the season with question marks after graduating three-year starting goalie Luke Strom. “Any previous fear in the goalie situation has been squashed. I feel confident in all our goalies’ play,” Frey said after three consecutive shutouts.

This strong offensive start was  missing last season in a year where the team scored one or fewer goals in ten of the fifteen games.

The early goal scoring can be attributed to an increased level of comfort among the players. “There is a great familiarity amont the players and we are confident with the coach and his system,” said Ceder. Men’s Head Soccer Coach Mike Middleton is in his sophomore campaign at Gustavus and hopes to utilize a veteran group of players.

The team has six seniors who have been playing on the varsity team for three years now.  “Our seniors have specific goals we are ready to accomplish,” said Frey.

While the team has a force of upperclassmen, seniors have already recognized immediate impacts from the first-year class.  First-year Zack Brown showed his value by scoring two goals in the home match versus Clarke College.

Every few years the Men’s soccer team has been given the opportunity to take a trip across the country.  In 2008 the team made the trek to Spokane, Washington. This weekend they will be heading to Santa Cruz, Cali. to play opponents that Coach Middleton believes will prepare the team for a rigorous conference schedule.

Saturday, Sept. 10 the team plays the University of California-Santa Cruz and on Sunday, Sept. 11 they will face California Lutheran.

Ceder believes this trip is critical to keeping the team confident in a plan to continue their winning ways.  “It is our responsibilities as captains to keep a hunger within all the players and to not become complacent,”  Ceder said.

The players will also be given time to see the sights of Southern California. The team will be training the majority of the their California stay, but Frey says that “[his] swim trunks will be packed.”

The pressure will be on when the team returns as they gear up for conference play and Frey describes a sense of urgency that will be the presiding attitude in the locker room.

“We have one shot at each conference match,” Frey said. “Being ready to ‘show up’ in these non-conference matchups is crucial for conference schedule preparation.”

The Gustie men are meeting expectations with an undefeated start and will return home to face St. Olaf on Sept. 14, continuing their quest for a MIAC championship.