In what will be their biggest match of the year, the Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) soccer club will play on Sunday against Dinamo in the Metro Soccer League, with a chance to move into first place on the line.

Fordham currently sits in third place in the league with a 4-0-2 record and 12 points. The soccer club trails the league leader, Dynamo, by a mere two points, and second place Brooklyn FC 2 by just 1 point.

Team Co-captain Diana Kokoszka, FCLC ’12, thinks that the team is in a good spot this year. “I think we’re doing really well this year,” Kokoszka said. “There’s been a greater commitment to attendance for games and there has been more communication when people aren’t going to come. It’s been working really well on the field because we have enough time to make sure we have substitutes.”

Kokozka’s co-captain, David Wall, FCLC ’12, felt the reason the team is so close to the top is because of their chemistry. “We have some really excellent and talented players,” Wall said. “Everyone is a team player and no one is selfish. They won’t just take on multiple defenders by themselves.”

Of the players on the team, Kokoszka feels that the younger members can give a big boost to the team.. “Graham Smith (FCLC ’14) and Russell Parker (FCLC ’14) are two great young players,” Kokoszka said. “They are both aggressive and strong on offense. Graham is versatile and can play anywhere; he adapts to the role of wherever he is on the field. Russell is a great playmaker who can make things happen.”

Despite these advantages, Wall feels that there are difficulties facing this team. “I think one of the biggest problems is the budget,” Wall said. “We have the same budget as every other club, but most clubs use their money on events. Our events are our games which we have every week. We need more money for things like equipment and training. I think that the organization just needs to be more sensitive to the fact that a sports club needs more than just events to be operational.”

In regards to the training, Wall feels that the club just needs better facilities to train at. “Obviously at Lincoln Center we just have a basketball court and we need a regular field to play at,” Wall said. “It’s hard when you go to a field to practice and there are random people on the pitch. We can’t kick people off because we don’t have the field reserved and that costs money that we don’t have.”

The team is currently self-trained by the captains. It is a role that Wall relishes. “I love helping people play,” Wall said. “Diana and I aren’t at the top of the game. We know there are players who are more experienced or talented. When our teammates make suggestions, we listen to their input. It’s nice because everyone learns to play and has fun.”

Kokoszka found that it was a harder role to adapt to as captain. “It’s tough because I wasn’t a starting player last year. Sometimes I wonder if people question my credibility and I struggle to maintain team leadership. But we’ve been winning lately and morale has been high.”

Now all of the focus will be on this week’s matchup with the top team. A win would put Fordham right where they want to be, but a loss would cripple the club’s hopes for a championship. “This is big game this week,” Kokoszka said. “They’re an established football club in Brooklyn with a large rotation. It’ll be interesting and I hope everyone shows up and brings their A game.”

Wall added that if the team wanted to win a championship they must win all of their remaining games. “I think we can win a championship; we just need the first place team to slip up,” Wall said. “If we beat them this week that’s the slip up we need. We just need to put all our concentration on that.”