Position Previews with the Lads: Strikers
August 26, 2014

Position Previews with the Lads: Strikers

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – This is the second of a four-part series that will break down the 2014 Carson-Newman men’s soccer team position by position. Today’s review focuses on the Eagles’ strikers with sophomore Marius Staalby (Trondheim, Norway).

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – This is the second of a four-part series that will break down the 2014 Carson-Newman men's soccer team position by position. Today's review focuses on the Eagles' strikers with sophomore Marius Staalby (Trondheim, Norway).

 

Last season, Staalby started all four of the matches he played in prior to an ankle injury that kept him out for the remainder of the season. He scored one goal, had one assist and supplied the team with one game winner. He finished the season with a .375 shot-on-goal percentage.

 

"It was pretty tough sitting out," Staalby said. "I try to remind my team that if you don't do what you can today, it'll be gone tomorrow."

 

The Lads suffer a loss in last year's go-to striker Ross Frame. "It's definitely a huge loss for the roster," Staalby said. "But we've gained so much from new signings and me coming back from injury as well, coming back to revenge something."

 

Frame led both the Eagles and the SAC last year in goals scored with 20, assists with 11 and points with 51, and provided his team with three game winning goals. He earned All-American, All-Region and All-Conference honors.

 

"Last year is history," Staalby said. "Now we're writing a new history."

 

Nico Noll (Esens, Niedersachsen, Germany) returns to the squad as a senior striker. Last season, Noll led the team in game winning goals with four, and had a total of six goals and four assists overall.

 

This preseason, Noll earned All-Conference second team honors.

 

"Versatility is the position's strongest aspect," Staalby said. "We've got a lot of players that can come in. We should look good going forward this year."

 

Despite losing Frame, the Lads expect to be strong up front with returners Staalby, Noll and midfield-forward hybrid Nick Skoda (Knoxville, Tenn.) alongside a number of newcomers.

 

"A lot of teams said that what we did last year was lucky," Staalby said, "but we like to look at it like hard work. You earn your luck. We did the same preseason last year…never change a winning team."