The silence is broken! What sparks it you ask? Well, as I sit in the warm and comfy confines of RDU International, ready to climb aboard flight 91, flying for the 91st time in my life, sipping on my pumpkin spice latte with 91 calories, as I get ready to embark upon my 91^st game in the Atlantic Sun (not true, but it's so close when you add in my time as assistant here and I was on a roll), I think "oooh, this is eerie, I must write." So I have finally sat down and decided to do my first 91^st Minute of the year...and it's only October 21^st!

The season got cranked up and I kept telling my good friend Stan Cole, "yeah I will do one...yup, next week I am on it.....will have it for you later today...." What can I say, we were having a tough go in September...I am a sore loser (remember I have red hair)...I didn't want to write...although; it might have been therapeutic from what I hear. Any who, here it is....be careful what you wish for Mr. Cole!

So it is the middle of October and we are sitting atop the Atlantic Sun at 4-0-1 and 5-7-1 overall. Not bad considering the overhaul of new players in our team. Eight new players in our team of just 22 (that is more than a third of the team). All I can say is it takes time to mesh so many new faces and personalities together. Unfortunately, we do not get a lot of time to figure that one out. Two weeks to be exact, then we are playing and results count! That being said, I am excited about this group (I do believe when all is said and done, they will be a great group).

I think we will analyze the first part of the season and then get a little more in depth with this past week's games. Through the first 6 weeks of the season we were 4-6-1 with three tough one goal losses. Our struggles in my mind dealt more with our conviction as players rather than with our decisions in the game. We just did not seem like we were certain of who we were or who we wanted to be. Again, a massive challenge in dealing with so many new players in the team.

I believe you have two choices when building a new team. You can either build according to the individuals because you are so superior individually and their ability will win out; or you can build the team with a plan allowing each individual to play a part in the team's success. I will always contend that eleven players working together, on the same page, can be better than any group of individuals. Base it on individuals and you will be totally dependent on the individuals, which as long as you can keep them healthy, and there it will work. I will always side with the later though and focus on building a team that is not dependent upon one individual.

As frustrating as the month of September was for both the guys and coaching staff, I did believe deep down that we just needed to keep playing. Time will always allow for you to work things out. Getting into conference play at the end of September was precisely what our team needed-a clean slate in terms of record and new life with regard to this part of the season. To the team's credit, they have been up to the task.

At Chapel Hill Tuesday of last week to play a familiar opponent. It is no secret that we have had success the past three years against the "Boys in Blue," but as I always tell the team this does not guarantee success in the present. For me, we played too timid in the first half - content to let UNC dictate the play and determine how the game would go. Teddy was fantastic in goal and showed in the first minutes of play how strong he would be on the night when he saved (and held) Jordan Gray's shot from point blank range.

We had our moments throughout the game, but unfortunately were not able to capitalize and level the game during those times. Not to take away from our opponent, as UNC are a solid side, but overall it was disappointing as I do not believe we put our best effort forward for a consistent 90 minutes. When you play a team the likes of UNC, it is essential that you get the best out of each of your players. I do believe that this has been a large part of our success with them in the last years...11 players on the field playing in unison, putting their best foot forward for the entire 90 minutes.

Three days to regroup before it was back to conference play in Macon, Georgia. A day off to recover on the Wednesday, a hard training day on Thursday, and a travel day on Friday. Saturday was a cold, rainy afternoon on a soggy field....great conditions for a college soccer game! I thought we started the game well and did our best to dictate the flow of the game. A good amount of the possession, but nothing to show for it at the half (not to worry, I did let them know that when we chatted at the intermission). I believe players can get lulled into a false sense of security thinking we are playing good soccer and forget about what really matters, finding a way on the score sheet. We were solid in getting to the final third, but poor in front of goal.

It was crucial for the guys to retain their composure and to just keep playing. For all but perhaps a five minute span in the second half, I thought they did a solid job of sticking to their guns and playing the way we want to play. The game was eventually solved when Brian "Santy" Urioste found the play down the right side, wiggled his way through his defender as he often does, and clipped a ball to Mitchell "El Cabezon" Cardenas at the top of the six. Mitchell showed his composure and class, by settling the ball under pressure, then turning and finishing...a quality goal in a timely moment (just five minutes left in the game!).

After the game it was good to see some of our familiar faces make it out for the gloomy afternoon. Have to make mention that Greg Hutchison (father of Michael Hutchison '07 and possibly the lowest maintenance kid of all time...such low maintenance, he was basically no maintenance....good grades, graduated a semester early...always gave his consistent best...and he has red-hair...this is possibly the longest parenthetical site ever!) made it to yet another game this year! This guy has logged the most miles of any parent in my time here and still getting it done....not to take anything away from you Johnny (John Johnson, father of Aaron Johnson '09), you are a close second!

Off to Florida this week for bouts with Stetson and Florida Gulf Coast. So much to play for this week, with us and Stetson tied atop the league in points and Florida Gulf right on our tails. Can't wait to see how it plays out and hope to see some more folks down here cheering us on...speak to you soon, I promise!

With warmest regards,

Coach Hess