With only three seniors and nine upperclassmen on its roster, the 2010 Colorado College men's soccer team will be one of the youngest in the 45-year tenure of head coach Horst Richardson.

In addition to a lack of collegiate experience, the Tigers also lost nearly 63-percent of their goal scoring and a fraction under 70-percent of their point production from a year ago.
 
Why, then, is Richardson both excited and confident as CC prepares to celebrate 60 years of men's soccer during the 2010 campaign?
 
In short, where there's a Wil, there's a way. And in this case, the Wil we're talking about is senior defender and team captain Wil Nelp.
 
Nelp has been an anchor on defense since his arrival in 2007, helping the Tigers post 24 shutouts and a 36-22-2 record during his first three seasons. And defense will be the key to success, especially early in the year.
 
“If we had 11 players like Wil Nelp on the field, we wouldn't have to worry about anything,” Richardson said. “He's a wonderful athlete and extreme competitor. Wil has an unbending drive to compete and succeed, and he expects that from his teammates because he sets the example for the others to follow.”
 
Nelp will get support from goalkeeper Andy McGhie and defender Ben Shapleigh, who just happen to be classmates as well as roommates. Together, they form the nucleus of a defense that may need to carry the team while CC searches for offensive chemistry.
 
McGhie owns a 7-6 career record to go along with a 1.58 goals-against average and .688 saves percentage. After backing up all-conference keepers during his first three campaigns, he is prepared to step into a starting role this season.

“Andy is highly athletic and quick on his feet,” Richardson said. “He also has great reflexes and jumping ability. Andy can play on the field because he's very comfortable with the ball at his feet. That will give us an additional dimension in the defensive zone.”
 
Shapleigh started 14 games during the 2009 campaign, his first season at Colorado College. Also returning with at least one year of experience in the back are juniors Warren King and Chris Walker, and sophomores Nick Lammers and Daniel Wright.
 
The veterans in the midfield include junior co-captain Chris Lutz, with 19 career starts, along with junior Travis Boccard and sophomore Keith Drury.
 
One known commodity at the offensive end is Matt Fechter, the 2009 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year, who led CC with 11 goals and was second with 25 points.
 
“Fechter is in the unique position of coming back as a sophomore and being a veteran,” Richardson said. “He can create and finish by himself on occasion, but what we want is consistency of performance.

“Our opponents already know him and he will likely be double- and triple-teamed. We can't make him the lone ranger. We're going to have to find support for him quickly, and there are guys on the roster who can do that.”
 
The Tigers have several returning players who could capitalize on their chance to play a prominent role in the attack. Sophomores Joel Dungan and Kyle Buchwalder, along with juniors Ryan Jaeger and Henok Yemam, will get an opportunity to showcase their talents following a season in which they gained valuable experience in more of a supporting role.
 
Several newcomers likely will have the opportunity to make a significant contribution during their first collegiate season.
 
Ben Glass, a local product from Cheyenne Mountain High School, had a stellar prep and club season, and is a candidate to replace Jordan Reese as a player who could complement Fechter. Lachlan Watkins scored 28 goals during his club season, while Brandon Ogilvie, Sean Parham, Lorenzo Pozzolini and Andrew Salazar all appear capable of adding instant firepower.
 
“It's a wonderful opportunity for a young group to show us what they are made of,” Richardson said. “Most of these kids have had vast experience. They've all played since age six. They've played at high enough levels to know what it takes to be successful at a top Division III program.”
 
Set pieces will be another important source of offensive production for the Tigers.

“Just like a hockey team needs a good power play, we're going to need to have some well-drilled set plays,” Richardson said. “We need to have some success in that area. A quarter of our goals could come off set plays, especially if 6-foot-7 Nick Lammers comes in with any kind of willingness to engage. He needs to be a consistent performer for us.”
 
The Tigers open the season on Sept. 1 under the lights at CU-Colorado Springs, then travel to the Pacific Northwest for games against Willamette and Whitman over Labor Day Weekend.
 
CC makes its first appearance at Stewart Field on Sept. 11 against McMurry University in the first of six consecutive home games.
 
“We'll be a very young, hopefully hungry, and underdog-type team, which bodes well for the potential success of the season,” Richardson said. “We have to work extremely hard, be highly dedicated, be tactically and technically poised, and have good free kicks and set plays. Then we'll be OK.

“I always get excited about a new season, but I'm particularly excited about this one.”