On a team consisting of mainly underclassmen, it is easy to highlight the successes of young players. But it is important to keep in mind that guiding the young stars of future years are the seasoned veterans who play a vital leadership role both on and off the field.
The two lone seniors on the Badger men's soccer team (1-4-1 Big Ten, 10-9-1 overall) are midfielders Erol Goknur and Watson Vaughan Prather. Together they combined with junior goalie Eric Hanson as captains of this year's team. As both veterans and captains, they took on the task of guiding a young team which consisted of 13 new players this year.
\They are two great leaders,"" Head Coach Jeff Rohrman said. ""They are both kind of quiet in the way they go about their leadership, but in terms of character and integrity we couldn't have two better guys.""
Goknur, a Madison native, was named the team's Outstanding Freshman in 2000. He is a three-year letter winner who has notched two goals and eight assists as a Badger, including one goal and three assists this season. Playing in Madison for the Badgers has been a thrill for the Wisconsinite.
""[Playing close to home] was great. I had always wanted to play here and my dream came true,"" Goknur said.
Prather is from Potomac, Md., and is also a three-time letter winner. He has three goals and six assists in his four years at Wisconsin, including two game-winning goals. He notched two assists this season, but it will be somewhat of a bitter sweet end, as he missed much of his final Big Ten season due to injury.
""There is not one particular moment that stands out,"" Prather said. ""I am sort of embracing the entire experience. It's been a great time and I've loved it.""
While their stats may not seem impressive on paper, their skills and leadership have left their impressions on coaches and teammates. Oftentimes the most influential players are not necessarily those who score the goals, but those who use their skills to handle the ball and set up a big play.
""[Goknur] is a guy who is a good possession player and has been a key part of the midfield over his four years,"" Rohrman said. ""And Watson has found more minutes as his years have gone on and has dealt well with the transition from playing the midfield to the back.""
That is not the only transition these players have made. Two years into their careers they had to deal with a transition to a new coach. After two seasons under former coach Kalekeni Banda, they saw the ushering in of Rohrman last year. As in any sport, the transition to a new coach can be a tough one, but Goknur and Prather made the best of it.
""I think it had only a positive effect,"" Prather said. ""He brought with him a new sense of hope for the program and I've only gotten better since he got here.""
The leadership and talent that Prather and Goknur brought with them to Wisconsin is obvious. They not only endured transitions, but saw them as an opportunity to grow individually.
""They have been through a lot and they have landed on their feet. We are going to miss them from the program,"" Rohrman said.
They are not ready to quit. This weekend they will look to lead the Badgers to a Big Ten Tournament championship in Bloomington, Ind., and an opportunity to play in the national tournament.
