Nov. 7, 2006
SAN DIEGO -
San Diego State Men's Soccer Press Conference Quotes
Prior to SDSU-UC Santa Barbara NCAA First Round Game
Aztec Athletics Center
November 7, 2006
Head Coach Lev Kirshner
On making it to the NCAA tournament:
"We're very excited. We always talk about trying to win a national championship and the first thing about the process is getting to the NCAA tournament. The whole season is predicated on winning games to get a (tournament) bid and it's going to be a nice journey to try to get to the final."
On playing at UC Santa Barbara:
"We played there last year (in the NCAA tournament) in a hostile environment and against a very motivated team. We were very inexperienced last year. We played there early in this season and now we return a more experienced team and a more educated team. It's definitely not foreign territory; we'll be ready.
"They have an educated fan base. They understand soccer and are 100 percent behind their program. The fans believe, which makes the team believe. It's not so much what the fans do to us; it's more about the energy they're providing for UC Santa Barbara. They go there to support their program and they are very loud about it.
On the tournament draw for SDSU:
"We will travel for every game through the entire tournament, like the 1987 NCAA team (advanced to championship game) had to do. I'm all right with that. I enjoy the travel - it gets us away and gets us focused. I think the team feels the same way and it's just a matter of focusing on Saturday and executing our game plan."
On the mix of inexperienced and experienced players on this year's squad:
"The senior captains will have to show their leadership. Many of these players went to the tournament last year. Before that it was 16 years, so there was nobody in our program who had any NCAA experience."
"Last year, we were happy to get into the tournament. This year, we have the expectation to be in it. Now, we have the expectation of being in it every year. It's a different mentality from last year."
"Without question, this team is much more talented and more efficient with the soccer ball. This is a very good team and the future is very bright."
On UC Santa Barbara:
"They are a very motivated, athletic and organized team. There is a reason they went to the national final two years ago. A lot of that has to do with excellent coaching and a driven mentality in that program. They also have a very good home advantage.
"They are very aggressive squad. They are motivated and driven. I have nothing but respect for UC Santa Barbara. They have done an unbelievable thing, something we are trying to accomplish right now. (Head coach) Tim Vom Steeg took that program over when they had never had a winning record and brought them to a national final. I'm taking this program over after a number of losing seasons and hopefully we'll get it to a national final."
On the keys to the success of this year's team:
"There have been a lot of keys to our success this year. We've grown into three of four different teams since day one. The first thing would be the character of our team. They are tremendous human-beings, have respect, discipline and understanding of what we are trying to accomplish. They have a belief in what our game plan is and what our philosophy is. Next comes the talent and the desire. Those three things are critical to any championship team and we have all the pieces together. I would like us to be a little more experienced, but that is what this tournament run is all about."
On the expectations of making it to the NCAA tournament every year:
"Without question, I did not come to San Diego State to be an average coach or an average program. We are here to be one of the nation's elite just as we were in the eighties."
On a game plan against UC Santa Barbara:
"The most important thing for us is our ability to possess the soccer ball and move it quickly. Our ball circulation must be very efficient and it must be fast. If we can keep the ball and move it quickly, and get it behind their flank, then we'll have a very successful day. Defensively, we'll try to maintain the principles of our program - keep the game in front of us and make sure we don't get countered. Their goal against us this season came from a counterattack when we lost possession while being in clear control of the soccer ball."
On encouraging Aztec fans to attend the game in Santa Barbara:
"We could definitely use the encouragement of our fans and the fan base. San Diego likes to support their winning teams and here we are. We've had some very good road games this year in terms of fan base. The (SDSU) women's soccer team came up to UCLA last weekend, cheered us on, and it definitely helped our cause. They were very loud and supportive. The support between both soccer programs here has been fantastic. We're hoping whatever party does decide to come to Santa Barbara will be loud and encouraging."