Pirates Soccer: November 2008

The annual SCAC awards have been voted on by the leagues head coaches and six Pirates have been selected to the All-SCAC teams released today by the leagues office.

All-SCAC
First Team: Kevin Jordan and David Lozano
Second Team: Josh Spencer, Preston Hollis and Ryan Tasin
Third Team: Kevin O'Neil

Leading the way is Senior Defender #3 Kevin Jordan (Austin, TX). Kevin Jordan was selected as a First Team performer, which this is his first appearance on the All-SCAC Mens Soccer Team in his four year career. After seeing action in 10 games in his rookie season, he went on to start every match played in his last three seasons for the Pirates. An integral part of the three-peat 2nd place finish, KJ has been called upon as a marking back to shut down opposing forwards throughout his career. This past season he was asked to play out of position and in the left back position but was able to adjust and still mark out dangerous attackers from the tough SCAC league. Played in a total of 66 matches starting 56, scored 1 goal and had 2 assists in his career for 4 points.

Representing the First Team is repeat selection #21 David Lozano (Austin, TX). DLo makes his second appearance on the All-SCAC First Team in his third season as a Buc. This season he scored 6 goals and had 1 assist, for 13 points, which was second on the team in scoring. He has started every match the Pirates have played since 2006 (57/57 GP/GS). In his three seasons, he has scored a total of 19 goals and had 6 helpers for a total of 44 points. Last season, he also was a First Team All-South Central Region pick and in his rookie season was a Third Team All-SCAC pick. DLo has one remaining year of eligibility and will be returning to Southwestern for a fifth year.

Another repeat selection is the #9 Midfielder Josh Spencer (Huntsville, TX) but this time climbing the ladder to All-SCAC recognition on the Second Team. JSpence was a dominant force for the Pirates switching from the forward position after a 2007 season where he notched 10 goals and was able to slide back into the midfield slot. Even from the midfield Josh was able to continue to lead the Pirates in scoring. He scored 7 goals and had 1 assist on the year for a total of 15 points. In his three year campaign he only trails Lozano by three points for the scoring prowess. He has scored 19 goals and had 3 assists for a total of 41 points in only 41 games played (41/39 GP/GS). Last season, JSpence was also an ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District First Team selection for his efforts in the classroom and was selected as the Most Improved Player for the Pirates in 2007.

Senior #12 forward Preston Hollis (Austin, TX) makes his first appearance on the All-SCAC teams being selected as a Second Team performer. Hollis' dangerous speed caused fits for every opponent this season. His pace was unable to match and he flew by every defender (s) in his path. This, his senior campaign, was his most productive and best season, where he started 18 of 18 matches played in and scored 6 goals and had 1 assist on the year for a total of 13 points. He tied for second on the squad in scoring in 2008. Over his four year career, he played in a total of 70 matches and scored 12 G and had 7 helpers for 31 career points.

Another first timer as a Second Team All-SCAC pick is Senior Goalkeeper #1 Ryan Tasin (Georgetown, TX). The man between the pipes for the past three seasons has staked his claim to one of the best in Pirate history. In 2006 and 2007 he set a Southwestern record for goals against (GA) in SCAC play by limiting the SCAC opponents to five goals. He played in 61 matches where he started 55 games. He has an overall record of 31-20-1 (W-L-T) for a winning percentage of .610, with a 12-4-1 season in 2007 and has led the Pirates to three second place finishes in the SCAC. In 5054:37 minutes in the box he has amassed 16 shut outs in his four year career and has a 1.3 GAA and also recorded 227 saves in his career.

Capping off the Pirates is Senior Defender #4 Kevin O'Neil (San Antonio, TX). This is KO's second appearance as an All-SCAC selection and this time as a Third Team pick. The intelligence in the backfield, KO has led the Pirates as a sweeper in 2007 and now as a center back in 2008. KO possessed flawless positioning, great individual defending and crafty feet to get out of difficult situations in the defensive third. Experiencing some nagging injuries early in his career the NSCAA HS All-American showed his ability the past two seasons by leading the back and being apart of the defense that only allowed 5 SCAC GA last season and another repeat 2nd place finish in SCAC. O'Neil played in 65 matches where he started 48 and started 38 matches the past two years (65/48 GP/GS in 4 year career). KO also scored 1 goals and had 2 assists from the back for 4 points in his career. KO also was an ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District First Team pick last season.

Check out the SCAC press release and the complete Men's Soccer All-SCAC teams...

http://www.scacsports.com/sports/msoc/2008-09/news/08allscac

After holding the #1 team in the country scoreless in the first weekend of November, the Pirates were in for another test on the road at SCAC rivals Depauw and Centre this past weekend to close out the 2008 campaign.

The Pirates arrived in Indiana on Thursday afternoon to some cold midwest weather. On Friday morning the Pirates headed to Boswell field to knock the ball around and get the kinks out of the legs from the plane trip.

Friday evening was a beautiful night with the sun going below the horizon as well as the temperature dipping with some strong winds blowing across the field. The Pirates came out on the attack and senior Preston Hollis took a through ball from sophomore Alex Keller on the right edge of the 18 yard box. Hollis took a touch and struck the ball on the floor that slammed against the far post and caromed into the net. The Pirates would sit on Hollis's goal at the 27th minute that would prove the eventual game winner.

The second half saw the Pirates never really gain control of the match but found some chances on net but were just not able to capitilize. The Tigers threw a lot of attackers forward to try and equalize on senior night but the the Pirates fought off the cold and the Tigers to hold on for another 3 points in the SCAC. GK Ryan Tasin recorded his fourth shut out of the 2008 season.

The Pirates then made the 5 hour bus trip to Danville, KY on Saturday morning. With an cold chilly morning the Pirates got off to a slow start and with a controversial call in the first four minutes the Colonels were spotted a 1-0 lead. A Centre forward slammed a ball towards goal from about the six that ricocheted off the crossbar that bounced directly down on the goal line. The assistant referee made the decision to raise his flag and indicate the whole ball crossed the line and was a goal. The entire first half the Pirates just could not find any rhythm and chased the ball and the game. Passes were just too far or short and the ball just seemed to be getting away from the Pirates. Late in the second half, the Colonels scored off a long throw in. The ball was thrown deep in the box and Centre was able to skim it on to the back post to make it 2-0. Even with the lack of rhythm the Pirates had several chances from Davi Lozano, Preston Hollis and Josh Spencer but again the ball sailed wide, over or just did not connect.

The second half the Pirates made a vailant effort and got 9 chances on frame. Josh Spencer brought the Pirates to within strikig distance as he finished a toe poke chance to the far post on a one vs. one with the keeper from a helper by Lozano. The Pirates threw numbers forward but each chance was just thwarted by the Colonels. Goalkeeper Ryan Tasin made 7 incredible saves to keep the Pirates in it but it ended 2-1.

This finished the careers of seniors, Kevin O'Neil, Kevin Jordan, Preston Hollis, Ryan Tasin, Suresh Thomas, Philip Stehling and Winston Pool. Thank you seniors for all your effort! Congrats on another tremendous season.

The Pirates finished 7-3 in SCAC play and in a tie for second place with Centre College in the conference standings. This is the third year in a row the Pirates have finished in second place. In the past six years, the Pirates have finished in the top 3 in the SCAC.

Thanks Seniors!!