Oct. 25, 2012
By: Jocelyn Perry
SEATTLE - 30 years ago, third year head coach Frank Gallo looked at his team, dreaming of what they could accomplish that season. After finishing the 1981 season third in the conference with a 6-2 record, the Dawgs were hungry for more. They wanted perfection. The 1982 Huskies were on a mission for a stand out season. They knew they had the talent and experience, but most importantly they knew they had to depend upon the success of the team, not a few individuals. The team used that method to win. After losing a close exhibition match 0-1 against Simon Fraser in the Far West Tournament early in the season, the team banded together, vowing not to lose again. Not more than three weeks later, the Dawgs got their rematch against the Simon Fraser Clan. Forward Mike Enneking scored a goal in the 33rd minute, and then right before halftime sophomore midfielder John Klein netted a ball to put the Huskies up 2-0. Simon Fraser came back and scored, putting the Dawgs on edge until sophomore Peter Klein tapped in a goal. The Huskies went on to win the game 3-2 and began dominating the season. The Huskies came storming out of the gates into conference play and started beating opponents by incredible margins and recording multiple shutouts. Soon enough, fans were uttering the unspoken word. `Undefeated.' Could the Huskies truly pull off a perfect season? It's a difficult task in any sport, but every soccer player knows the passion that goes into the final, crucial minutes of a match, desperately playing offense to keep a tie or willing in a final minute goal for an equalizer. Few teams can consistently pull off the feat, but the 1982 Huskies were one of them. The 18-2-1 record from that season is still the best mark in school history. No other team has tallied 18 wins. They advanced to the first round of the NCAA Tournament before losing to San Francisco on penalty kicks. At the end of the 1982 season, five Huskies had over seven assists for the season and 17 players out of a 22-man roster tallied points. Senior midfielder Tad Willoughby notched 18 points that season, seven coming from assists. When a team records more assists than goals, every player on the team contributes to the victory. Years later, the team's legacy lives on in the Husky record books. Enneking is tied for fourth for most goals in a single season with 16 in 1982. Both John Klein and Mike Park are tied for fifth most assists in a single season with nine assists each in 1982. 30 years later, goalkeeper Mark Schuur still holds the Husky single-season record (14) and career record (31) for most shutouts, not without help from his solid group of defenders. He is also the career leader in goals against average (.56) and who is in second? That's right, current junior Spencer Richey. Five Huskies earned first-team All-Northwest Collegiate Soccer Conference Team honors and Coach Gallo ended his Husky coaching career after that season with a Husky career record of 52-9-2 which is still the best winning percentage for a men's soccer coach in school history. A team's success depends upon the team as a whole, not one person. The 1982 squad had that special gift, and the 2012 Huskies have it as well. Whether its first year Huskies like James Moberg or Nate Sackeyfio, or seasoned veterans like Dylan Tucker-Gangnes or Ben Fisk, knowing that anyone can step up at any given time for the team makes wins. Playing for the Huskies means being a Husky for life, and the 1982 Dawgs take that message to heart. Whether it's playing in the annual alumni game or sitting in the alumni section during home games, it's more than an alma mater. The 2012 Huskies wanted to recognize the team which paved the way for Husky Men's Soccer, and decided to dedicate a game this season in their honor. The current men's soccer team is hosting `Mustache Madness' Friday night and will honor the 1982 Huskies at halftime. The first 500 fans will receive a stick-on mustache, and the fan with the best natural mustache will have a chance to win a prize. Come celebrate and watch the Huskies take on San Diego State Friday, October 26 at 7 p.m. at Husky Soccer Stadium. |
