After going winless in its first four games, the UCSB men’s soccer team was in need of some serious practice time to work out some of the problems that have contributed to the worst start (0-2-2) in Tim Vom Steeg’s 12 years as head coach.
“We’ve had two good days,” Vom Steeg said of the team’s training before heading to New Mexico to play No. 6-ranked Harvard and Buffalo in the Lobo Classic.
One of the things the training sessions has allowed Vom Steeg and his coaching staff to do is reevaluate their formation.
When they take the field against the Crimson on Friday at 3:30 p.m. they’ll have a different alignment.
“We’ve changed our shape and big David (Opoku) has really responded at the point,” Vom Steeg said. “We’ve simplified roles and gone to a more traditional 4-4-2.”
The Gauchos were playing with three defenders, five midfielders and two forwards and it wasn’t producing — they’ve scored only two goals and been shut out twice.
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After a scrimmage on Wednesday, the first unit buried four goals in 40 minutes.
“I never thought I would play that system,” Vom Steeg said.
But, sometimes playing simple is the way to go.
The Gauchos got some good news during the week as JC transfer Gabby Okito was cleared to play. The junior forward from Yavapai College in Arizona was a JC All-American last year.
Defender Chris Hunter, who’s been bothered by a sore quad muscle, is feeling better and is expected to return to the lineup. Midfielder Luis Silva is feeling like his old self, moving better and combining with running mate Danny Barrera.
The questionmark is midfielder Michael Tettah, who’s battling a leg strain. However, in the new formation and with their depth in midfield, the Gauchos could afford to rest Tettah.
The Gauchos will face a Harvard team that is off to a 2-0-1 start under first-year coach Carl Junot, formerly of Tufts. He replaced Jamie Clark, who took the Crimson to back-to-back NCAA Tournaments before taking the job at Creighton.
Harvard is coming off a 1-1 draw at Connecticut, a match in which the Crimson were outshot 25-6 and had only one corner kick to nine by the Huskies.
“We have a tough game on Friday, but it’s a great opportunity to turn things around on the field because it’s looking right at practice.”
UCSB will play Buffalo (3-0-2) on Sunday in Albuquerque.
