By Justin St. Peter

Last year was the first time the `Hawks men’s soccer team did not win the WIAC conference, with a record of 8-5-3 (2-1-1 in conference). It also marked the first time they lost a conference game in their four-year history in the WIAC. This all happened in an overtime game goal to UW-Platteville on Oct. 4 last year.

The `Hawks would like to reclaim their WIAC Championship but are not focusing on that.

“I think the main focus this year is taking one game at a time,” second year head coach Tony Guinn said. “You can’t think too far in advance.”

Taking it one game a time seems to be working, as the `Hawks have been rolling to start the season.

The `Hawks opened up the season with a 3-0 shutout against St. Norbert and followed it up with a 2-0 win against Edgewood. In both games, they did not allow a shot on goal.

Junior midfielder John Gottwald scored the first goal of the year on a direct free kick eight yards out of the box in the first half. Junior midfielder Sam Kuchenreuther has scored in each contest. Sophomore forward Xander Lien and junior defender Kody Mjelde also have goals on the season.

“They (the wins) were just a big team effort,” senior defender Bob Shone said. “If you look at the box score, 26 players played and 26 players contributed. We played a really good team, and it took every player to beat them.”

The `Hawks come into the season having lost WIAC Co-Player of the Year, forward Logan Fye, and three others. Fye led the WIAC with six goals and 14 points total, including two game-winning goals.

They will rely on their deep talent pool and depth to make their run.

“The big advantages for Whitewater in soccer right now is our talent pool and our depth,” said Guinn. “Other teams sub like 4-5 guys, while we can sub 10-14 guys, and our level of play doesn’t drop.”

Guinn has what he calls “unorthodox” goals for the team.

“We have three team goals: do your best, do what’s right, and treat others the way you want to be treated,” Guinn said. “We don’t dwell on the conversations on winning and championships.”

The team took a trip to Ireland over the summer with Guinn, who grew up there, as a team bonding session. They won two games, did some sightseeing and grew as a team.

All three captains, Gottwald, Shone, and senior defender Kyle Sundby, were there to lead the team in what Guinn called a “kickoff party”.

Even though the `Hawks insist on fousing on one game at a time, they cannot help but look at the revenge game against Platteville.

“If we had to pick one game on the schedule to kind of look forward to, that is the team we are looking at,” Shone said.

Sundby has even higher expectations while agreeing they are still taking it one game a time.

“I think we have all the pieces together right now to make a solid run this year,” Sundby said.

`Hawks fans certainly hope they do and can come support them this Saturday against Wartburg College (3-0-1) at 2:00 p.m. at Fiskum Field in Whitewater.