The men's soccer team is coming off a disapointing 9-10 season, but with a promising group of rookie recruits and returning experienced players, they believe the components are in place to set their sights high."We didn't have a particularly good season [last year]," coach Mike Coven said. "This year, we'd like to do well in the UAA, have a winning record, and make it into the post season."

Coven hopes that the additions of Ben Primo '09 and Ed Culbern '09 to the front line will prove to be a valuable scoring duo, and balance out an experienced and talented defense, anchored by captain Scott Zacharoff '07 and Shelton Stewart '06.

Scoring goals was the most obvious problem for the Judges last year and Coven believes that Primo and Culbern have the best chance to fix that problem this season.

"We have seven [first-years] on the team, and I think eventually all seven are going to contribute," he said. "I think [this season] our two- front runners, [Primo and Culbern], are going to be very, very strong players."

Culbern's effectivness will be limited at the start of the season, due to a pulled leg muscle. However, in a preseason scrimmage against Lassell College on Saturday, Culbern managed to score a goal for the Judges during limited playing time of just 5 minutes. The Judges topped Lassell 7-0.

Coven believes the new players will fit well into the team's needs for this season.

"I think what we were lacking last year was a consistent goal scorer, and that's what these kids do," Coven said.

Stewart, a former member of the Jamaican national team, was moved from forward to defender at the midpoint of last season. Although he was on track to challenge the all-time Brandeis scoring record, Stewart and Coven decided that Stewart should move back to the sweeper position, his original position. The scoring diminished noticeably after the switch with the team finishing off the season with a 4-5 record. However, Coven said that he thought they were a "much better soccer team" in the second half of the season.

Zacharoff says he's excited about Stewart's position for this upcoming season.

"He's a natural at that position," Zacharoff said. "He's a great player and it's fun to play with him. Hopefully I can learn some things from him."

The biggest challenge for this year's team will be to learn consistency.

"You've got a great senior class with some tremendous leadership and some mature talent," Coven said. "Also, there are the big changes this year of [Stewart] solidifying the defense and the addition of the two guys up top who can finish up."

Zacharoff agrees that this team has the ingredients for success.

"Each player has come into camp more fit than in previous years and with a better understanding of the style of play that the team wants to play," Zacharoff said. "Every player knows which position they're going to be at and they understand their role on the team."

The Judges play their first game on at Endicott College in Beverly, Mass. at 6 p.m.