Corfe Gives Raiders Added Versatility

by Alan Hieber

The Wright State men's soccer team is off to a strong 3-0-1 start, and it's a player from the other side of the pond that has made a noticeable impact. He's junior transfer Deri Corfe from Chester, England.

Corfe played a pivotal role in a thrilling 3-2 victory over in-state rival Cincinnati last Monday. In the second half he scored his first goal for WSU from the far post and assisted off a corner to junior forward Alec Philippe for a significant insurance goal that allowed the Raiders to hang on late.

"It feels good to be able to help your team win games and progress together. Hopefully we can do something special," Corfe said.

"I texted him (Corfe) after the game and said, 'The scary thing is, you can do that every game,'" WSU coach Jake Slemker said. "He's got that ability to have that type of impact. We're going to try to unlock him and see how far we can take him."

The scary part for opposing teams is the cracker of a shot that Corfe has.

"Everyone that's watched him and never seen him play, the first thing they see is how well he can strike a ball on goal," Slemker. "He had a left-footed shot against UC that went wide of the post, but came off like a rocket. That makes him always dangerous around the goal."

From age 12 to 18, Corfe was part of powerhouse English Premiere League club Manchester City at the youth level and had a taste of their world-class coaching and facilities.

"It made me who I am as a player," Corfe said.

"He's been in big environments and wants the pressure," Slemker said. "We feel that is only going to help us when we get into some of those games that are pretty tight."

The one negative Corfe said of his past experience, is that it could allow him to take his effort for granted. He added that the WSU coaching staff has had a positive effect on that type of mindset.

"Previously I've been able to get away with maybe not working as hard off the ball. The coaching staff isn't letting me take it easy, which is good," Corfe said. "It's helped me become a better player."

Last season for NAIA school Rio Grande in southeastern Ohio, Corfe had a sizzling shot that allowed him to score 11 goals over the span of 15 matches. When he elected to transfer, it ultimately became clear WSU was a perfect fit.

"It was purely the coaching staff. They made me feel very welcome and I liked the objectives they had," Corfe said. "I felt like I could really help the team and thought, 'Why not?'"

"He's a very positive kid, has a good personality, loves the game of soccer, works for it and is going to be pushing himself and the team to get better everyday," Slemker said.

Transitioning to Division I soccer has been made easier for Corfe by the connection he has with fellow English teammates in senior defender Dan Bent and sophomore midfielder Harvey Slade.

"Having a connection helps break some barriers and gets you settled down quick," Corfe said.

However, there might be one thing Corfe hasn't completely grappled with.

"I've started to realize the weather is a bit crazy here," he said with a laugh.

The UIC Flames won their second consecutive Horizon League tournament title in 2017, but with the heat coming off of Corfe's feet, the Raiders could make history this season.

Players Mentioned

Dan Bent

Deri Corfe

Alec Philippe

Harvey Slade

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