After losing in the Coastal Athletic Association Championship two times in the last three years and falling short in a penalty shootout in the CAA Tournament semifinals last year, the Elon University men’s soccer team is entering the 2024 season with a sense of determination.
Head coach Marc Reeves said the team is aiming to finally win the CAA Tournament for the first time and get an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
“I think this group has been through an awful lot; three tournament losses,” Reeves said. “I think that probably the ultimate goal of the group is to make the NCAA Tournament through a CAA championship.”
Reeves said considering the small margins of college soccer, the team needs to maximize the strength of the players they’ve got and set them up to be successful.
“Last year, it's the width of a post and the difference between us advancing and not advancing,” Reeves said. “The goal will be to get back there and use that experience to take us to more wins.”
Co-captain midfielder Majaliwa Msabaha said he believes the team will get it down this year because of the mentality of the squad.
“I feel like this year nobody likes to put themselves above the team,” Msabaha said. “We all come to the same level and work hard because we know that we have to work hard in order to get the job done.”
According to Reeves, the men’s soccer team had a successful offseason and grew as a squad. Msabaha said that he worked a lot during the offseason to adjust to his new role as a right back. Previously, he primarily played as a midfielder, but he will now be playing more of a defensive role through the position of right back.
“It's been challenging a little bit but I'm excited to try a new position,” Msabaha said.
Reeves said the team will rely heavily on its veteran leadership with only five freshmen and four transfers joining the team.
“We've got some really good returning players on the attacking side and hopefully we can maybe be a bit more clinical in front of the goal and score a little more,” Reeves said.
This veteran leadership will be spearheaded by the team’s three co-captains: Msabaha, graduate student Victor Stromsten and senior Scott Vatne.
“The number one way you can lead is to prepare well and play well because if that core group of three captains and ten seniors plays well, you're in great shape,” Reeves said.
Msabaha said his goal as a team captain is to keep the team together as one unit even when facing tough times.
Vatne and Stromsten were selected to the 2024 All-CAA preseason team, while Msabaha was an honorable mention.
The Phoenix will face some tough teams this year, Reeves said, facing off against four teams that made the 2023 NCAA Tournament. But, Reeves said they will approach these games just like any other game.
“We approach every game by saying that we respect our opponent, but we're never intimidated by him,” Reeves said. “We want to get the most out of our group first, but also understand what our opponent does and how we can be successful within the way we play to exploit some of their weaknesses.”
Vatne said leadership will be key in difficult matchups like that.
“My experience of how it is to play in games like that will bring leadership towards the younger people on the team and I’ll try and lead by example,” Vatne said.
Vatne started the season off strong with a game-winning goal with 50 seconds remaining in their first regular season game. Elon beat Florida Gulf Coast off Vatne’s stellar play 1-0 on Aug. 22.
Msabaha said he believes the main challenge early on the season will be gelling of the team as the chemistry of new and returning players build.
“It's going to be a challenge to work together and just to know each other's abilities and skills,” Msabaha said. “But, I'm pretty optimistic because what I've seen so far is a lot of guys who want to give everything they have to win games.”
The Phoenix started off with an electric 4-0 start and play next Sept. 7 at Rudd Field against Drexel University.