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University of Houston Athletics
Soccer Set to Take Practice Field Wednesday
8/9/2005 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Aug. 9, 2005
As the University of Houston Soccer program takes the field at Robertson Stadium for their first practice on Wednesday, head coach Bill Solberg looks to a promising year with even better things to come, thanks to solid proven returning players and an exciting group of newcomers.
Six letterwinniners, including three starters, return from the 2004 team, which posted a 5-14 overall record but provided some offensive highlights periodically throughout the year.
Although those veterans will join a list of 13 newcomers this season, Solberg said he's not concerned about the relative youthfulness of his team.
"We have 13 newcomers coming in," Solberg said, "but the kids that we have coming in are going to be such hard workers."
Armed with veterans and young, energetic newcomers, Solberg and his new coaching staff see plenty of hope for the upcoming campaign.
"Our goal is to win 12 games," Solberg said. "If we don't win 12 games this season, we as coaches did something wrong."
In addition to the new players, Solberg's program will welcome a pair of new assistant coaches in Susan Bush and Josh Walters. In only a few months on the job, the coaching duo already has impressed Solberg with their abilities.
"They bring a new level of excitement. They are both dynamic coaches," Solberg said. "Their expectations are extremely high coming into this season, which is what we need. They have a passion for the game. Their new voices are going to help take our program where it needs to get back to."
The Cougars will face a new-look Conference USA schedule in 2005 with the addition of Rice, Marshall, SMU, Tulsa, UCF and UTEP to the league. The new teams bring immediate NCAA Tournament experience to the league.
"We have four teams in Conference USA that were involved in the NCAA Tournament a year ago. That is going to help us tremendously. The conference has gotten better adding these teams. It is going to be a much more difficult conference, but that is great for competition. It helps in recruiting when you play better teams. It helps in recognition when you have more teams make the NCAA Tournament," Solberg said.
After opening the season on Aug. 26 at Baylor, the Cougars will enjoy a lengthy homestand with seven straight home contests at the friendly confines of John O'Quinn Field at Robertson Stadium. The first home game against Nicholls State is August 28, 2005 at 1 p.m.
