Famed Red-and-Black May Finally Live Up To Billing By Jim Thompson AP Sports Writer DAVIS, Calif., April 20 � FC Sudwerk, Northern California�s underachieving mega-money soccer club, enters spring with high hopes and uncharacteristic calm. And that�s what worries Ramal Werdna, the former Bundesliga star who thrives on turmoil. Werdna launched the club with much fanfare three years ago, vowing to turn it an �internationally renowned super club,� but has stumbled repeatedly and fallen far short of his goal. �Things are going too well,� Werdna said after a recent training session. �We have the players we want, and there are no contract disputes or personality conflicts. I figure the world is going to come to an end any day now.� The colorful, frenetic German expatriate � known for his chain-smoking and obscure historical references � has ridden a roller coaster as president and CEO of a club that has seen precious few peaks. But in January everything came together for the long-tormented Werdna, who watched as his two indoor teams dissected opponents with precise passing and blistering goal-scoring. The squads, FCS Red and FCS Black, compiled a 12-3-1 record. �I think we may be onto something,� said Werdna, who delights in dark humor and understatement. �Now if we could just get DARSL to install Astroturf on its outdoor fields.� The turf, though, may have less to do with the team�s recent success than a string of key acquisitions and growing cohesion among its core players. Fourteen of the 19 on Sudwerk�s roster have been with the club for a year or more. On top of that, two recent recruits � the aggressive Kristine Wiedmann and skillful Melody Meyer � have shined, and midfielder J.B. Rudell, added to the club last fall, has come into his own as a playmaker. They enhance a team that was already deep with veteran talent. In addition, the red-and-black�s most potent offensive weapon, Phil Pareas, has recovered from a nagging Achilles� tendon injury and appears fit for spring. �There is no doubt that FC Sudwerk is much stronger side than it was last fall,� said Kram Olracnoj, an ESPN International soccer analyst. �It will be very interesting to see if the club can transition from indoor to outdoor with the same high quality of play.� The road ahead won�t be easy, however. The club opens the spring season against Oldenfowl, a team the red-and-black has owned indoors but never scored upon outside. It continues with three more formidable opponents: Short Grass, CD Lobos and Arsenal. Each routed Sudwerk last year. The club finishes out spring with three teams it has had better success against: Davis Football Club, Bozons FC and Eagles. To be sure, Sudwerk has a heavy history to shake � the club has frequently disappointed fans with midseason collapses. And a recent injury to skipper Andrew LaMar, who will be out for six-to-eight weeks with a strained left knee, could spell trouble. But those are minor nuisances for Werdna, given his rocky tenure at the helm of FC Sudwerk and his tumultuous past. �I think we�ll manage,� Werdna said with a wink, adding dryly: �Who knows, maybe we�ll win a game or two.� ## FC SUDWERK UNIFORM Primary: Red jersey, black shorts, red socks Alternate: Gray jersey, black shorts, red socks FORMATION 4-4-2 MANAGER Ramal Werdna, 11th season ROSTER Andreas Agocs, M, 9th season Adam Bauer, D, 5th season *Jo Anne Bennett, M, 3rd season Joe Cardoza, D, 11th season Donn Cox, M, 4th season *Craig Dandurand, GK, 5th season Randi Field, M, 8th season *Andrew LaMar, M, 8th season Joseph L'Amour, F, 3rd season Chris Lief, GK, 8th season Joncarlo Mark, D, 11th season Melody Meyer, M, 2nd season Andrew Morin, D, 4th season Phil Pareas, F, 5th season Cathy Ross, D, 3rd season J.B. Rudell, M, 3rd season Amy Toy, M, 5th season Kristine Wiedmann, F, 2nd season Renae Wurschmidt, D, 9th season *INJURED Jo Anne Bennett, strained neck, week to week Craig Dandurand, sore right calf, week to week Andrew LaMar, strained left knee, out 6-8 weeks SCHEDULE PREVIEW Game 1 Opponent: Oldenfowl Record Against (W-L-T): 0-3-0 outdoor, 4-1-0 indoor Last Outdoor Meeting: Oct. 5, 2003 � Oldenfowl 2, Sudwerk 0 The Skinny: Although Sudwerk has dominated Oldenfowl indoors and the two teams are evenly matched, Sudwerk has yet to score a goal on Oldenfowl in an outdoor contest. Game 2 Opponent: Short Grass Record Against (W-L-T): 1-1-0 outdoor, 2-1-1 indoor Last Outdoor Meeting: Oct. 12, 2003 � Short Grass 4, Sudwerk 1 The Skinny: Short Grass recruited younger, faster players last fall and was one of the top teams in the winter 2004 indoor season. Game 3 Opponent: CD Lobos Record Against (W-L-T): 0-1-0 outdoor, never played indoor Last Outdoor Meeting: July 11, 2003 � CD Lobos 9, Sudwerk 2 The Skinny: CD Lobos used its speed to blow open a game that was even at halftime in the only meeting between these clubs. Game 4 Opponent: Arsenal Record Against (W-L-T): 0-4-0 outdoor, never played indoor Last Outdoor Meeting: Oct. 26, 2003 � Arsenal 9, Sudwerk 1 The Skinny: This match-up often brings inclement weather; Two of the six scheduled games with Arsenal have been rained out. Game 5 Opponent: Davis Football Club Record Against (W-L-T): 2-3-0 outdoor, 2-2-0 indoor Last Outdoor Meeting: Nov. 2, 2003 � Davis FC 3, Sudwerk 1 The Skinny: Sudwerk�s most bizarre DARSL encounter involves Davis FC. Losing 3-1 despite having a man advantage on Sept. 26, 2002, Davis FC pulled its entire team off the field 5 minutes from the game�s scheduled end to protest a red card ruling. Game 6 Opponent: Bozons FC (formerly The Green Door) Record Against (W-L-T): 1-1-0 outdoor, never played indoor Last Outdoor Meeting: June 22, 2003 � Sudwerk 9, Bozons 1 The Skinny: In the last game between the teams, Sudwerk broke its club record for most scoring in a half, tallying 7 goals before intermission. Game 7 Opponent: Eagles Record Against (W-L-T): 2-1-0 outdoor, never played indoor Last Outdoor Meeting: Oct. 19, 2003 � Eagles 7, Sudwerk 4 Fun Fact: The fall loss to Eagles was one of two games in which Sudwerk wilted in 90-degree heat without substitutions. (The defeat to Arsenal was the other.) ## |
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