Kevin O'Neil Headlines End of the Year Awards

Yesterday at the Men's Soccer Banquet the team awards were announced and Kevin O'Neil headlined the Fall 2008 End of the Year Awards. All awards are voted and selected by the players.

Senior Kevin O'Neil (San Antonio, TX) came away with two pieces of hardware on Sunday, earning 'Pirate of the Year' and 'Player of the Year' honors. The Pirate Award exemplifies the overall spirit, character, passion and dedication to the entire program and SU community, while the Player of the Year honor displays the individual who had the most profound impact on the team's progress and success, without this player the team would not have had the success it did. This season KO led the back line again, switching from a sweeper to a center back position, to a third consecutive Second place finish in the SCAC. In 2008, he was selected a Third Team All-SCAC performer and was selected to the inaugural SCAC Soccer All-Sportsmanship Team (placing emphasis on good sportsmanship at all SCAC functions). KO started all 19 matches this season and registered one assist on the year. Last season he was a All-SCAC Second Team pick and was also an ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District pick for his ability not only on the field but in the classroom where he has been able to maintain a 4.0 GPA throughout his academic career. In his four year career, KO has started 48 matches out of 65 played in and has scored one goal along with two assists for 4 points. He helped lead the Pirates to consecutive lowest goals against in SCAC play with letting up only 5 in 2006 and 2007 (a school record).

Newcomer of the Year award went to first year Colin McCulloch (Sugar Land, TX). The Newcomer Award represents the individual who had the most impact on the program as either a transfer or first year and Colin did just that, for the first time in Coach Gregory's tenure, he started a true freshmen in the first match of the season. McCulloch started 18 matches played in this season in the center back position. A great individual defender and monster in the air, McCulloch was able to help solidify a defense depleted by graduation and was able to step in right from the start and play beyond his youth and inexperience.

Most Improved Player award was given to sophomore Ben Feiler (Bellaire, TX). This award his given to the individual that has shown the most dramatic improvement over the 2008 season or his entire career. Only seeing action in three matches in his rookie season, Feiler came in with the mindset of wanting to contribute more. That he did. Feiler started every match this season (19/19) and registered 2 assists along the way from the right back position. Feiler was able to step in become an agressive defender shutting down many dangerous forwards in the SCAC. Was a huge part of the teams success in 2008.

Goal of the Year honors go to senior Preston Hollis (Austin, TX). Preston Hollis was selected for his goals against DePauw and Colorado College. In the match vs. CC, Ben Feiler won the ball just behind midfield and took a few dribbles out on the right flank. He then played an early through ball to a streaking Hollis where he blew by the defender and found a one-on-one opportunity with the Tigers keeper. Hollis curled the ball to his right around the keeper and hit upper 'V' to make it 1-0 Pirates. His game winner vs. DePauw sealed a 1-0 victory and essentially a second place finish in the SCAC. Alex Keller was able to play a through ball Hollis who was flying past defenders, Hollis took one touch at around the 18 and just inside the box from the right edge he slammed a ball to the lower left corner that caremed off the post and ricocheted in for the game winner. Hollis scored 5 goals and had 1 assist in his senior campaign for 11 points and was third on the team in scoring.

The Southwestern Men's Soccer Seniors were also honored for the efforts throughout their careers. Kevin O'Neil, Kevin Jordan, Preston Hollis, Ryan Tasin, Suresh Thomas, Wintson Pool, and Philip Stehling were all part of a tremendous four year stint that saw the Pirates finish three years in a row in second place in the SCAC. In the SCAC they went 25-10-3, had the school record for fewest goals against in SCAC play with 5 in 2006 and 2007, school record for most goals in SCAC play with 26, a school record for most goals in a half with 7 vs. Rhodes and most goals in a SCAC match with 8 vs. Rhodes in 2008 (the first time the Pirates beat Rhodes at Rhodes).

Seniors - Thanks for the massive impact on the Pirates Men's Soccer Program!

Men's Soccer Banquet

The Men's Soccer Banquet will be held Sunday, December 7, 2008 in the McCombs Ballroom in the McCombs Campus Center at 1:00 PM.

All parents, family and friends are invited and welcome to attend!

This year our guest speaker will feature, Joe Mattingly, who currently works in the computer field in Austin, TX.

A former SU graduate (May 2007), Joe Mattingly was an All-SCAC defender for the Pirates being selected to the Second Team in his senior season (2006) and an All-SCAC First Team performer in 2005. After only playing 91 minutes in his first season as a Pirate he went on to start every match his last three seasons (57 straight matches). He led the defense in his senior year to the third lowest goals against in SCAC play and a first ever for SU Pirate Soccer - sole possession of second place in the SCAC with a 6-2-1 record.

We will again dine at 'the Commons' in the campus center and I will send out another email with the cost per person that will be paid at the cashier the day of the banquet.

Please make plans now to join us on Sunday December 7th to celebrate another successful season by the Pirates!

Go Pirates!

Six Pirates Garner All-SCAC Recognition

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

Pirates Finish Second

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!!

check out the SU press release...

http://southwesternpirates.cstv.com/sports/m-soccer/spec-rel/111008aaa.html

Texas Shootout

VS.

The Pirates will host the Tigers tomorrow in an old fashion wild wild west shootout for the winner to take a hold on first place in the SCAC. Kickoff time is set for Saturday (November 1) at Noon.

Series Notes:

The Tigers stand 7-0-0 in SCAC play, while Southwestern is 6-1-0 in the conference. The Tigers are 17-0-3 against Southwestern since 1993, which includes last year’s 2-1 win in San Antonio. The last meeting in Georgetown was a 1-0 win for Trinity. In 2005, Southwestern forced a 2-2 tie in San Antonio, which was the only blemish of the regular season for the Trinity Tigers.

Last season, the Pirates at the time were the only team in the country to force the #1 ranked Tigers into overtime. The Tigers took the lead on a Kyle Altman penalty kick but David Lozano scored the tying goal in the 86th minute off a free kick from Daniel Webb. Webb served the ball from the right flank on the touchline outside the 18. The ball soared over Trinity defenders and landed right to Lozano. Lozano took a touch, snaked the ball to his left past an on rushing defender and with his right foot toe poked it into the side netting back post past a leaping goalkeeper who could only look onto see it crash against the net. The Tigers were able to respond off a set piece similar to how the Pirates scored. Robert C'Debaca found himself alone on the back post and toed it in past Ryan Tasin and scored the game winner in the 100th minute to fend off the Pirate upset. After that, the Tigers were able to make a long run in the post season and went to the NCAA D-III National Championship match where they lost in PK's to Middlebury College.

Pirates Set the Table

Pirates set the table for a showdown with the #1 team in the country by defeating Millsaps College 2-0 on Friday and added another slash in the win column by beating NCAA D-III and SCAC provisional member Birmingham Southern 2-1 on Sunday.

Senior forward Preston Hollis (Austin, TX) led the attack against Millsaps. Late in the first half at the 32nd minute, Hollis flew down the left flank past several defenders and sent a ball across the box to first year Morgan Knobel (College Station, TX) who shot a low ball past the Millsaps keeper for the game winner. This is Knobel's fourth goal of the season and his third game winning goal. The Pirates completely dominated the Majors by winning 10 corners in the first half along with 13 shots.

The Pirates continued the attack and just two minutes into the second half got a goal from Hollis. Sophomore Alex Keller (Houston, TX) sent a through ball into a streaking Hollis who dribbled past the keeper and finished the ball in the open net. This is where the score would stand even after the Pirates had 21 shots on the day and 17 corners. Ryan Tasin (Georgetown, TX) made 3 saves recording his third shutout of the season.

The Pirates then faced the Panthers of Birmingham Southern who dropped down to Division III last year from Division I. Thus, the Panthers still remain at provisional status and the match does not count towards the SCAC record.

The Pirates again found many opportunities on net but struggled to put the Panthers away. Senior David Lozano (Austin, TX) got the scoring started as Kevin O'Neil sent a big ball over the top as Lozano ran right at the keeper and finished it to make it 1-0 twenty minutes in the match. Just ten minutes later the Pirates subbed sophomore Tom Holleman into the match. He immediately made an impact by getting on the end of a Josh Spencer flick off a throw in from Alex Keller. Tom Holleman jumped on the second ball and slapped in on goal but was deflected by the several defenders but was able to fight back and tap the ball in to the net on the goal line. The Pirates gave up a PK in the second half but the score was managed by tough defending and good attacking. The Pirates outshot the Panthers 21-8 and held the advantage in corners 5-2. Ryan Tasin made two saves on the day and got the Pirates back to 8-8 on the year.

After the weekend, the Pirates remain in second place in the SCAC with a 6-1 record, just three points behind the Tigers at 7-0. The Pirates will host the Tigers on November 1, 2008 at Noon for first place in the conference.

Back to SCAC

The Pirates are looking forward to getting back to the confines of SCAC play. Last weekend, the Pirates were defeated by a previous NCAA National Champion St. Lawrence University by a score line of 2-0. The Pirates are 1-7 on the season out of conference play, yet are 5-1 in the always tough Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.

The Saints were a typical northeast soccer team and proved to be a difficult opponent on the day for the Pirates. The Saints used their size and grit to win the physical battle, along with the Pirates lack of energy but were able to keep it 0-0 into the half. The second half was much of the same until first year Ryan Staten (Temple, TX) energized the attack and gave life to the sedated Pirates. Staten came onto the field and simply provided a spark of work rate and creativity with the ball at his feet to create some goal scoring opportunities. The Pirates did end up with several good chances but were unable to convert. Even though the Pirates gave up two goals on the day, senior Kevin Jordan (Austin, TX) continued his strong play in the back. Leading the way by delivering hard tackles and keeping the Pirates in the match. The Saints out shot the Pirates 20-9 and held the corner advantage 6-2.

This week:

The Pirates have been flying around and had a solid week of training. The Pirates have again worked on finishing and attacking combinations in the final third of the field and are ready to record another SCAC victory as they prepare for battle with the Millsaps Majors at 2:00 PM on Friday, October 24, 2008. The Pirates currently sit in second place in the SCAC behind #1 Trinity University.

Series Notes:

The past five seasons the Pirates are 4-1 versus the Majors. The Pirates have out scored Millsaps 15-2 and having three shut outs in the process. In 2007, the Pirates got two goals a piece from Josh Spencer and David Lozano for a 4-0 victory (out shooting them 22-4 with a 6-3 corner kick advantage). Two seasons ago was much of the same story, the Pirates outshot them 15-3 and 4-2 in corners in a 5-0 shut out win. Preston Hollis had a career day with 2 goals and 1 assist in the SCAC win and Josh Spencer added a goal. Ryan Tasin has recorded two shutouts versus Millsaps in his career making only 4 saves in those two wins.

check out the St. Lawrence match SU press release:

http://southwesternpirates.cstv.com/sports/m-soccer/spec-rel/102008aaa.html