Fans cheering in the crowd, players' adrenaline rushing, floodlights illuminating the field: these are all things that make up the perfect soccer game. Tonight, the Stetson men's soccer team will be competing in their first real game of the 2022 season.
A team's performance is not just about the skills shown on the field, but just as importantly, everything that goes on in the background. There are many attributes needed both on and off the field for a team to be game day ready.
"The biggest thing for me was implementing a really strong culture of guys who actually come here for four to five years,"
Emmett Rutkowski, men's soccer coach, said.
Coach Rutkowski has made it a goal to create an atmosphere where players want to become better both individually and as a team.
"He tries to get the best out of us every day and he also has a really good relationship with the players,"
Owen Jack, starting keeper and captain, said. "He knows how to motivate guys and get everyone moving in the same direction."
This of course wouldn't be possible without athletes who not only strive to improve personally, but grow and develop as a team.
"It's a culture of guys who want to be the best versions of themselves in everything they do," Rutkowski said.
Freshmen are especially happy to be a part of a team dynamic such as the Stetson men's soccer team.
"My first day coming here, all of the guys made me feel very welcome," freshman
Miguel Romero said. "The chemistry is very strong between the team."
It's special because they have a group of students from Florida, from around the United States as well as a solid corps of international students allowing for a well-rounded and diverse group of athletes.
"I think when people really value where they are, it creates an atmosphere of people wanting to give back, not just to their sport but to the whole Stetson community and the DeLand community," Rutkowski said. "That is the ultimate goal for our program."
The Hatters will begin their quest for a return to the top of the ASUN tonight when they host Wright State from the Horizon League. The Raiders had a disappointing 5-10-1 record last year, but return a veteran roster that includes nine seniors or graduates, including fifth year keeper Sebastian Jimenez, a native of Naples, Fla.
It will be the first time Stetson and Wright State have ever played in men's soccer.
The game tonight is scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. start at the Stetson Athletic Training Center, but it will be the second game of a double-header, with the Hatters' women's soccer team hosting FIU at 5 p.m.
About Stetson University Athletics: Stetson University's Athletics Program is driven by a shared purpose. It is what inspires, motivates and binds us together. More than a task, a reason for being. THE HATTER PURPOSE is to create and provide an experience of a lifetime through teamwork and relationships to achieve excellence. This purpose is achieved through five Core Values: Communication, Integrity, Excellence, Value People and Commitment. To learn more about the HATS program and our Core Values, visit GoHatters.com/HATS.
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