Arens And Collier Face Missouri State Thursday

Aren-Collier-MissouriSandT

Taylor Arens (2015) and Caleb Collier (2013), Missouri S&T Miners

On the way to St Louis today (I’m officially a former resident of Springfield) I stopped by my alma mater in Rolla to catch the early evening practice for the Miner’s. The squad, led by GLVC Coach of the Year Joe Ahearn, visits Springfield on Thursday evening for an exhibition match against the Missouri State Bears. Game time is 6:30 pm at Plaster Stadium.

The team includes a pair of Springfield players, freshman Taylor Arens (Catholic/Springfield SC) and junior Caleb Collier (Kickapoo/Springfield SC), pictured after practice today.

The Miner’s are coming off a season that included a share of the Great Lakes Valley Conference’s regular season championship, followed by a run to the title game of the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional, losing to eventual national champion Northern Kentucky.

The Miners were picked to finish third in the 16-team conference race in the league’s coaches poll released Wednesday, just after landing a No. 13 national ranking in the pre-season for Division II by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America – the same spot S&T finished in the final national poll a year ago.

Drury Falls To Missouri S&T Miners

Caleb Collier, Missouri S&T / Kickapoo

Caleb Collier, Missouri S&T / Kickapoo

Drury Panthers – 0
Missouri S&T Miners – 1
A set piece, sent into the box from 30 yards out by Caleb Collier (Kickapoo/Springfield SC), slipped through the hands of Panthers GK Stephen Conner for the decisive goal. It came midway thru the first half and the Miners held on for the Conference win.

Missouri S&T’s men’s soccer managed only one shot on goal Sunday – but made that opportunity count as Springfield native Caleb Collier put it into the net to give the Miners a 1-0 victory over No. 20-ranked Drury in Great Lakes Valley Conference play.

Collier, who played his prep soccer at Kickapoo High School in Springfield, notched the goal at the 29:47 mark when he put a shot from just off the right side of the goal past goalkeeper Stephen Conner. From that point, the Miner defense and goalkeeper Pat McNamee made that goal stand up. Drury ended the contest with a 12-2 advantage in shots overall, but only two of the 12 Panther shots made it to McNamee and he turned both of them away to record his 14th career shutout – one away from the S&T career record held by his older brother Mike.

Game Photos

Game Preview
The Panther’s won at home on Friday when David Emnett’s second goal of the game, coming with just 44 seconds left in overtime, lifted Drury to a 3-2 victory over Maryville in Great Lakes Valley Conference men’s soccer action at Harrison Stadium. The Panthers, who spotted Maryville an early 2-0 lead, improved to 5-2 overall and 4-1 in GLVC play. The Saints fell to 1-5 and 1-5.

The Miner’s traveled to Kirksville for a game Friday against Truman State. The Bulldogs scored goals in each half of Friday’s game and went on to defeat Missouri S&T 2-0 in men’s soccer action, handing the Miners their second straight loss in the process. The Bulldogs outshot the Miners 22-20 for the game, while the Miners had 10 corner kicks to Truman’s one. S&T goalkeeper Donny Gesell was credited with 12 saves in goal. Missouri S&T is now 2-2-2.

Regional players for Missouri S&T include three sophomores. Caleb Collier (Kickapoo/Springfield SC) has started four games and played in all six, Jervis Atagana (Hickman) has started 3 of 6 games played and Mason Morawitz (Hickman/Springfield SC) who has played in 3 games.

Bears Score Two Against Missouri S&T

JJ Bilyeu (MO S&T 2012) against Heath Melugin (Bears 2012)

JJ Bilyeu (MO S&T 2012) against Heath Melugin (Bears 2012)

A lively affair at Plaster Stadium today as the Missouri State Bears and Missouri S&T Miner’s wrapped up their Spring exhibition schedule with a match rescheduled twice due to weather this Spring. Both coaches appeared to be giving their anticipated Fall lineups a final opportunity to work together before moving deep into the benches.

The goals were scored by juniors Brandon Durk and and Paul Paradise in the second half, both following scrambles in the box. Durk took advantage of a loose ball following a corner kick while Paradise followed Heath Melugin’s run into the box and pounced when the ball came free.

Missouri S&T Visit Missouri State Saturday For Spring Game

Missouri State hosts Missouri S&TJust announced – the Missouri S&T Miner’s will be in Springfield on Saturday to play a Spring exhibition game against the Missouri State Bears.

Game time is 12 noon and the game is being played at Plaster Stadium.

Missouri S&T is a Division II team based in Rolla, MO that competes in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. The team includes several players from the region, including Zack Hay (Kickapoo 2008), Caleb Collier (Kickapoo 2009) as well as Caleb’s teammate on the Springfield SC State Championship team, Mason Morawitz (Hickman 2009) and Jervis Atagan (Hickman 2009).

Springfield SC U18′s Open Region 2 US Youth Soccer Championship

Region 2 2009 logoThe Region 2 Tournament opens today in Sioux City, SD and the Springfield region will be represented by one team and a pair of players.

The Springfield SC U18 boys return for their third visit to Region II, having qualified via the Midwest Regional League for one of sixteen spots available across the twelve states that make up the region. The boys are very familiar with the environment and the expectations and as you can imagine, have some specific goals in mind. I’ll let them share them with you in the video below.

The schedule this weekend is as follows:
Saturday June 20th 4:00 PM – (KS) KC WIZARDS JRS
Sunday June 21st 8:00 AM – (IL) INTER FC
Monday June 22nd 4:00 PM – (KY) JAVANON 91S
with the Group winner advancing to the Semifinals which is where SSC has lost the first two years.

In addition, Molly Brewer (Glendale), recently chosen Player of the Year for Class 3 Girls in the Southwest Region, is playing with her St Louis SG U15 Girls team who won State Cup last week. Her schedule is
SA JUN 20 4:00 PM – (NE) CSA GOLD 93/94
SU JUN 21 8:00 AM – (KS) BVSC STARS
MO JUN 22 12 NOON – (MRL1) KC SELECT SCREAM

The Gallagher/Busch U19 Girls are also at Regionals and I’m confirming that Chelsey Russell is with them this year. You may recall this is the team that won the U15 National Title 4 years ago.

Kickapoo Chiefs Send Nine To College Soccer Ranks

Kickapoo 2009 Soccer Signings

The Kickapoo Chiefs hosted a signing ceremony for their Class of 2009 who will continue their soccer careers in the Fall. Pictured from left to right:
Matt Eubanks and Lane Chapman, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M Norseman (NJCAA); Chris “Tommy” Tombridge, Northwestern University Wildcats (D1); Tyler Bennett, Oglethorpe University Petrels (D2); Caleb Collier, Missouri S&T Miners (D2); Abby Anderson, Central Methodist University Eagles (NAIA) ; Ryan Moses, St Louis University Billikens (D1); Trevor Pedigo, Crowder College Roughriders (NJCAA)

Caleb Collier Signs With Missouri Science and Technology Miners

Miners Logo headMissouri S&T men’s soccer coach Joe Ahearn has announced that the Miners have added 10 new players to the roster from the high school ranks for the 2009 season.

The recruiting class includes three players that earned first-team all-state honors in the 2008 season — including the state’s co-offensive “Player of the Year” — and two others that were on the all-state squad. They will join a team that earned a spot in the Great Lakes Valley Conference last season and has been in the conference tournament in three of the last four seasons.

“We welcome this talented group of student-athletes and their families to the Missouri S&T men’s soccer program,” Ahearn said. “These young men have a tremendous amount of character and potential and will be a great addition to the future of our S&T program.”

The newcomers to the Miner program are as follows:

MO C3 D11 Final: Glendale Falcons vs Kickapoo ChiefsCALEB COLLIER, a 5-11, 145-pound midfielder-defender from Kickapoo High School in Springfield, Mo.: Collier was named as his team’s most valuable player on defense in the 2008 season in a season where he earned all-district and all-conference honors. He posted three goals and eight assists on the season a year after playing on Kickapoo’s team that finished third in the state. Caleb is a member of Springfield SC, winning a State Cup title last year as a U17. He plans to major in engineering at Missouri S&T.

Editors note: Caleb will be joining high school teammate Zack Hay on the back line for the Miner’s. Hay became a starter as a freshman early in the season in 2008 and will likely move from the outside to central defense. Caleb will be competing against his older brother Adam Peterson who plays midfield for the Drury Panthers, also members of the Great Lakes Valley Conference. The photo shows Collier on the left celebrating with HS teammate Ryan Moses, headed for SLU Billikens.

JERVIS ATAGANA, a 6-3, 170-pound forward-midfielder from Hickman High School in Columbia, Mo.: Atagana earned first-team all-district and all-region honors following the 2008 season at Hickman High School. He scored eight times in his senior year to help Hickman reach the district title game and was also part of the St. Louis Scott Gallagher club team that won the Missouri State Cup in 2008. Atagana plans to major in engineering at Missouri S&T.

JOSH BENNETT, a 5-10, 155-pound midfielder from Duchesne High School in St. Charles, Mo.: Bennett was a first-team all-state and all-conference as well as honorable mention all-metro St. Louis selection following the 2008 season, when he finished with seven goals and four assists for 18 points. The Pioneers finished as the co-champions of the Gateway Athletic Conference a year after finishing as the Missouri Class 2 runner up. In 2007, Bennett was a second-team all-state and all-conference selection. He has been a member of the St. Louis Scott Gallagher Soccer Club and has taken part in a number of club level tournaments and showcases throughout his prep career. Bennett plans to major in chemical engineering at Missouri S&T.

SPENCER BRINKMEYER, a 6-1, 190-pound defender from Oak Park High School in Kansas City, Mo.: Brinkmeyer earned first-team all-state and all-district honors as a defender in Missouri Class 3 in 2008 after being named to the all-state second team as a junior. He played on a team that reached the state quarterfinals before falling in a 1-0 game to eventual state champion Rockhurst. He was also a first-team all-conference pick in the Suburban Big Six Conference in the Kansas City area and was selected as the league’s defensive player of the year. Brinkmeyer plans to major in civil engineering at Missouri S&T.

BEN GLOVER, a 5-8, 155-pound defender from Fort Zumwalt West High School in O’Fallon, Mo.: Glover earned second-team all-conference honors in the Gateway Athletic Conference in 2008 after helping his team finish 18-8-1. He had one assist during his senior year while guiding a defense that allowed only 23 goals in 27 games with 16 shutouts. Glover had three goals and three assists as a junior for the GAC champions and was named honorable mention all-league, an honor he also garnered as a sophomore. He plans to major in engineering at Missouri S&T.

PETER HAW, a 5-8, 150-pound midfielder from Parkway West High School in Ballwin, Mo.: Haw, an honorable mention all-state and all-metro St. Louis performer, finished the 2008 season with 17 goals and 14 assists for 48 points and ended up as the Longhorns’ second-leading scorer behind another S&T signee, Peter Vaccaro. Haw earned first-team all-Suburban South honors as well for a team that finished 21-6-1. As a junior, Haw had five goals and nine assists for 14 points

Glendale Falcons host Columbia Hickman KewpiesMASON MORAWITZ, a 5-7, 135-pound forward from Hickman High School in Columbia, Mo: Morawitz landed honorable mention all-state honors for Missouri Class 3 in the recently completed 2008 season, while earning first-team all-district and all-region honors in 2008 and the region’s offensive most valuable player award for his efforts. He had eight goals and six assists during the 2008 season for 22 points to provide the Kewpies a strong one-two scoring punch with fellow S&T signee Jervis Atagana. Mason team with Caleb Collier as a member of the U17 State Cup Champion Springfield SC squad. He plans to major in engineering at S&T. Pictured in purple against Glendale last Fall.

BRIAN SEAWRIGHT, a 6-3, 175-pound center back from Chesterton High School in Chesterton, Ind.: Seawright was an all-conference performer and named as his team’s defensive most valuable player last season as he helped his team finish as the state runner-up. He was a team captain and also earned scholar-athlete honors at his school. Seawright plans to major in nuclear engineering at Missouri S&T.

KYLE SCHRAIER, a 5-7, 155-pound midfielder from Christian Brothers College High School in St. Louis, Mo.: Schraier, an all-conference selection at CBC, had seven goals and four assists, for a team that went 23-5 in the 2008 season. He recorded four goals in his junior year for a 23-6-1 CBC squad. Schraier also played on the Missouri Olympic Development Program team that won a regional championship in 2006 and on four teams that won state cups. Schraier, who plans to major in business and information systems at S&T, was named as the national player of the week during the 2008 season by ESPN Rise.

PETER VACCARO, a 5-11, 175-pound forward from Parkway West High School in Ballwin, Mo.: Vaccaro was one of the most prolific scorers in the state during the 2008 season, finishing with 30 goals (sixth in the St. Louis area) and 13 assists for a team-high 73 points (eighth in St. Louis). He was named to the NSCAA’s all-midwest team and as the state’s co-offensive player of the year following the season, as well as being a first-team all-metro St. Louis selection and being named as the Suburban South Conference’s “Player of the Year.” He helped the Longhorns win the district title and finish with a 21-6-1 record in 2008. Vaccaro had 12 goals and two assists as a junior and had 54 goals and 27 assists in his high school career at Parkway West, earning all-conference honors in all four seasons (three as a first-team selection). He also played on the Lou Fusz club team that won three state championships. Vaccaro plans to major in engineering at Missouri S&T.

Springfield SC U17 State Champions – Video Highlights


Springfield SC vs Lou Fusz Popovic – U17 Missouri State Soccer Final from oleolson on Vimeo.

Got it done Sunday afternoon when I should have been outside or at least getting something productive done :)

PRESS RELEASE
Springfield S.C. U-17 Boys Claim Back to Back MYSA State Cup Championships

Springfield Soccer ClubThe Springfield Soccer Club 90/91 (Under 17) Boys claimed their second consecutive Missouri Youth Soccer Association State Cup Championship by defeating Lou Fusz-Popovic in penalty kicks 5-4 at the Scott Gallagher Soccer Complex in St. Louis, MO May 10th. By winning the MYSA State Cup Championship the team has earned the right to represent Missouri at the US Youth Soccer Region II Championships in Rockford, IL June 20-25, 2008. Sixteen teams will compete in pool play to determine the Regional Champion and advance to the US Youth Soccer National Championships July 22-27, 2008 in North Little Rock, AR.

The MYSA Championship game was a tightly contested affair with Springfield S.C. 90/91 taking the early lead off a Ryan Moses free kick from the top of the eighteen yard box. Moses delicately bent the ball over the wall into the upper ninety of the goal. Minutes later Lou Fusz would answer to make the game even at 1-1. A thirty minute lightning delay extended the first half and the game remained tied 1-1 going into halftime. The second half saw opportunities for both teams with Springfield S.C. 90/91 having a few good looks at the goal.

Still tied at the conclusion of regular time the game went into two fifteen overtime periods. Having the better of play during overtime Springfield S.C. 90/91 was unable to find a goal. The game then went to penalty kicks where both teams made three of their five kicks, forcing the game into golden goal penalty kicks. Both teams made their first kick and Springfield S.C. 90/91 made their second attempt, while Lou Fusz missed their second one and that secured the MYSA State Cup Championship for Springfield S.C. 90/91.

Having achieved their second MYSA State Cup Championship the team is now looking forward to improving their 2007 Semi-Finalist status at Regionals. “Without a doubt this victory was a tremendous statement by the players. They have stayed committed during the past several months at it paid off today. It was a total team effort, but when it got to penalty kicks Christopher Tombridge our goalkeeper took over.” said Cory Carr Head Coach.

Team members include; Christopher Tombridge (Kickapoo), Steven Curti (Carthage), Ryan Squires (Glendale), Blake Aggus (Joplin), Tyler Bennett (Kickapoo), Ryan Partch (Glendale), Caleb Collier (Kickapoo), Matt Medley (Parkview), Ian Newport (Glendale), Devon Newport (Glendale), Grant Bollig (Lebanon), Ian Kennedy (Kickapoo), Graham Basecke (Glendale), Mason Morawitz (Hickman), Brock Ruggeri (Kickapoo), Ryan Moses (Kickapoo), Tim Griffin (Parkview), Bryce Collier (Hillcrest). The team is coached by Cory Carr and Jeremy Alumbaugh.