It could’ve been the practices on the hallowed grounds where perennial English PremierLeague contender Chelsea trains every day. Or it might’ve been the chance to see U.S. internationals Brian McBride, Carlos Bocanegra and Clint Dempsey play in person for Fulham against Middlesbrough.
Either way, the George Washington soccer team’s preseason trip to England has already paid dividends, with the Colonials earning their first D.C. College title last weekend after victories over American and Howard.
“We were in a nice, tight, cozy hotel, so we were real close, literally, all trip,” said sophomore Erick Perez-Segnini, “Going over there gives everyone belief, sparks professional dreams, which a lot of guys on the team have.”
The 2-0 start is the Colonials’ best since 2002 and has them nearly half of their total wins (five) from last season.
“We played against two very good teams and got good results which we would not have got last year,” said head coach George Lidster, who began 2006 with 14 freshmen. The 19-year head coach last took George Washington to the NCAA Tournament in 2004.
Perez-Segnini, a 6-foot-3, 185-pound sophomore attacking left midfielder from Watkins Mill High, figures heavily in George Washington’s 2007 plans. He bested his freshman scoring totals with two goals and one assist at the D.C. College Cup, including a game-winner with three seconds remaining in a 3-2 victory over the Bison, which helped him earn the tournament’s most valuable player award.
“He won’t mind me saying he was a bit wishy-washy last year as a freshman, soft,” said Lidster. “In these two games, he’s really had a different attitude about his play.”
Sophomores Luke Wildy, who suffered a season-ending knee injury while scoring his second goal in the first game last year, and Andrew Stadler have also played well. The Colonials did suffer one bit of bad news, with senior defender and team captain Matt Davis (Grace Brethren Christian) expected to be out of the next four weeks with an ankle injury.
