Penn soccer bequeaths net to next of Kinn

The relationship between a keeper and his defensive backs is the same as any other relationship. Communication is key.

With only seven starts to his credit heading into this year, senior Tyler Kinn is the odds-on favorite to win the starting goalkeeper spot vacated by Max Kurtzman, who left the team to attempt to gain a spot on the football roster as a punter.

And the team feels it is safe in Kinn’s hands.

“The good thing is, I know Tyler,” senior captain Jonny Dolezal said. “He wants nothing more than to win every game, to get a shutout every game. We have a lot of faith in him as a back four.”

Kurtzman himself said that he wouldn’t have left if he didn’t have faith that Kinn would fill in for him more than adequately.

“Tyler Kinn is more than capable,” Kurtzman said. “He’s a great goalkeeper and I had no doubts whatsoever that he would do a phenomenal job.”

The biggest thing that Tyler needs to work on is his ability to communicate with the defense.

“It’s important that he’s communicating with us and that we’re communicating with him at all times so we can be solid defensively at all times,” Dolezal said.

Coach Rudy Fuller has spoken of the different goalkeepers out there. Some use their height, while some use their heads. Others use their mouths.

Kurtzman was an incredibly vocal goalkeeper, and while that’s not going to be what stands out the most about Kinn between the pipes, it’s still something that he’s actively working on.

“Max was a very vocal keeper,” Fuller said. “Sometimes it was more than was needed, but that was who he was as a goalkeeper. I think Tyler does what he needs to do. If something needs to be said to organize guys, it’s said.”

“I can’t step into [Max’s] shoes and be as vocal as him, but I think I definitely need to be more vocal,” Kinn said.

But it is a two-way street.

Last year, due to a number of young player filling into new roles, the back line was hard pressed to get stops, making life for whoever was in net that much more difficult.

“Last year we had kids stepping into their first year playing,” Dolezal said. “This year, they’ll have a year of experience under their belts.”

Dolezal himself was moved around quite a bit last year as Fuller tried to move him to center back. Now he’s back on the wing, currently practicing at right back.

Fuller started the team out this year with five straight days of two-a-days — in part to get each unit up to speed — to the point that when Kinn hollers to his back four, they are together enough as a unit to make Kinn’s comments productive.

Last year, the Red and Blue gave up 37 goals. Compare that to Dolezal’s freshman year, when the NCAA-bound Quakers gave up just 16 goals, and it’s clear to see work has to be done.
But the team seems to understand that.

Kinn’s seven starts have given him much needed experience, while Dolezal claims the defense didn’t give up a goal throughout the course of the team’s spring practices.

Time will tell whether the work has paid off.

SEE ALSO

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Penn dynamic duo all set to strike

Three’s company for set of ascending sophomores

Ivy outlook: Penn men’s soccer looking up at Bears and Big Red

“Finding the silver lining: The highlights of 2012“http://www.thedp.com/r/04ab4a48

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