Martin steers the Irish ship as captain
By BRYAN KRONK
Sports Writer
Leadership, competitiveness and a good team spirit.
Generally, these are good qualities — in fact, most would say the best qualities — for the captain of a team to possess.
On the collegiate level of athletics, these qualities usually require two or three years of playing experience to be fully developed.
At Notre Dame, Greg Martin broke that mold.
Making history
In the 2000 soccer season for the Irish, Martin was only one of three freshmen who played in each of Notre Dame's 17 games that season. Then, heading into his second season with the team, Martin was named co-captain of the 2001 Notre Dame mens soccer team, along with senior Griffin Howard and junior Andreas Forstner.
"It was an honor … when I was voted captain, I was voted by my teammates initially as a sophomore, so anytime your peers appoint you to a position like that, it's certainly an honor."
In being named captain, Martin became the first sophomore captain in the 24-year history of the program.
"A sophomore captain, for sure, is [a rarity in soccer]," Notre Dame coach Bobby Clark said. "This was the first time in my years as a coach that I'd ever had a sophomore captain."
Martin's leadership helped the Irish under Clark, who was then in his first year at Notre Dame, to a 12-7 record in 2001, guiding them to their first NCAA tournament appearance in five years.
"It was a special time because I felt the program was in a transition," Martin said. "It took a turn for the better when Coach Clark joined us, so I just felt like I was being given an honor in a very special time for the program."
After the successful 2001 season had ended, there was no doubt in Clark's mind that Martin would make a repeat appearance as an Irish captain in 2002.
And in late April 2002, the squad named its three captains for the 2002 season — and Martin's name was on the list again.
Doing it all over again
When Martin was named captain for this season's team, it marked only the 10th time in the school's history that a mens soccer player was named two-time captain.
"When I was voted captain again my junior year, it was definitely not something taken for granted or taken lightly," Martin said. "It's something that's special every time you're given something like that by your teammates."
A turning point for the Irish this season came in mid-September, as the Irish bashed heads with national powerhouse — and then-fifth-ranked — Furman at Alumni Field.
The closely-matched game went into overtime and then into a second overtime period when an Irish goal upset the Paladins and launched the Irish further into national prominence.
Who scored the game-winning goal? Greg Martin.
"It was an important win for the team, that win gave us some confidence [to play in overtime games]. That was really a team goal, it wasn't necessarily a goal I scored individually, but it was one that, because the guys kept knocking for 110 minutes, it finally came."
Martin also scored two of his six goals so far this season in a key Big East game against then-No. 5 Connecticut, which the Irish won 3-1.
With those six goals, Martin has 12 points on the season, which puts him in fourth place on this year's squad, behind Braun (21), Chad Riley (19) and Justin Detter (17).
Currently, the Irish are in the midst of their second consecutive winning season, and after the Big East tournament is completed this weekend, will more than likely see their name in the field of 48 teams of the NCAA Tournament — which is to be announced on Monday — for the second straight year.
Third time's a (historic) charm?
With Martin being only a junior, one can only assume that he will go on to be named co-captain again in his senior year.
If he is indeed named a co-captain for the 2003 season, he will again make history for the Irish in becoming the only three-time captain in the history of Notre Dame mens soccer.
"[Being a three-time captain] is not something I try to get or set my sights for. It's something that if it falls into place, so be it. I'll accept the honor with a lot of pride," Martin said. "More than anything else, it's a special way to lead your peers through a really special experience."
And with Martin leading the Irish for a third straight season, one can only imagine the boundless — and perhaps historic — potential for success on the 2003 Notre Dame mens soccer team.
"He is a good leader of the players he represents," Clark said. "He works really hard to put the best face forward for his team. I think in his senior year he will become a superb captain."
All Sports Stories for Thursday, November 14, 2002
