That player was certainly missing this season, as sophomore Nick Kay led the team in scoring despite netting just four goals.,”Two years into his career at Marquette, head men's soccer coach Louis Bennett is still looking for that "special player" that can help ignite a mostly dormant Golden Eagles offense.

That player was certainly missing this season, as sophomore Nick Kay led the team in scoring despite netting just four goals. Marquette struggled to a 2-12-4 record, including a 1-9-1 mark in the Big East. If that doesn't seem much different than last season, that's because it isn't- the Golden Eagles went 1-15-1 (0-11 in conference play) in 2006.

"You can (create offense) by committee, or you can rely on one or two guys to have a fantastic year," Bennett said. "Obviously the best way is to do it by committee, and then look for that one special player. Whether that special player comes from within or from outside remains to be seen.

"But everyone in the country, everyone in the world, is looking for that special goal scorer."

After being shutout eight times in 18 games this season, the Golden Eagles should be looking harder than most teams. Marquette lost eight one-goal decisions, which suggests it was close to breaking into the win column more often.

But Marquette was shutout five times in those eight games and scored more than once in a contest just twice all season. The overwhelming theme of the season was that the Golden Eagles could never manage to put the ball in the net.

"Our offense really never got started," said freshman Anthony Colaizzi. "I think once the ball gets rolling, it's hard to stop winning once you start. I don't think we ever got that taste of winning."

One of the few bright spots for the Golden Eagles this season came when Marquette captured its first Big East conference win over Cincinnati in double overtime Sept. 30. The Golden Eagles later scored their second non-losing result against a Big East team on Oct. 24, tying West Virginia 0-0. Bennett's conference record at Marquette now stands at 1-20-1.

"It's hard to tell how much improvement has taken place," Cincinnati head coach Hylton Dayes said. "We're not in the same division, so it's always kind of interesting when things like that happen.

"At the time, certainly you aren't looking at the fact that Marquette isn't a very good team. Now, when you look back on it, maybe you do feel like you dropped some points."

In order to earn a little more respect against Big East opponents, Bennett said his team will look to develop from within as well as focus on recruiting.

"We'll work with the personnel we have and try to look for new personnel to augment what we've already got," he said. "We have to score more goals or make more chances. That may be done by committee or by landing one of those special strikers that can score multiple goals."

Colaizzi said he felt like the team improved moderately over last season, and the Golden Eagles were competitive for the most part (save for a 5-1 blowout at the hands of Seton Hall). Still, Bennett said his team was forced to fight most of the season while facing a Big East schedule with little relief from week to week.

"It's as almost as if we were middle or lightweights fighting in a heavyweight division," he said. "There are some huge heavy hitters in our league and in college sports. Maybe our fighting punch is only a lightweight or a middle weight, but we're getting there."

“