Kangaroos Set For First Round Matchup With Tulsa On Friday
11/20/2008 6:00:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Game 20
UMKC at Tulsa
NCAA Tournament First Round
Friday, November 21, 2008 ? 7 p.m.
Tulsa, Okla. (Hurricane Soccer & Track Stadium)
After capturing the third league tournament title in program history, the UMKC men's soccer team is set to take on Tulsa in the first round of the NCAA tournament on Friday. The match kicks off at 7 p.m. from the Hurricane Soccer & Track Stadium in Tulsa, Okla., with live stats and video available - linked via www.umkckangaroos.com.
About The Golden Hurricane
In his 14th year at the helm at his alma mater, Tom McIntosh piloted Tulsa to a 15-3-3 mark on the 2008 regular season slate, culminating in a Conference USA double as the Golden Hurricane claimed the regular season championship with a 7-0-1 record before blazing through the postseason tournament to claim the automatic berth with a shootout win over Kentucky. After suffering a three-game losing stretch in the early part of September (including a 1-0 loss to Summit League squad Oakland), Tulsa has not lost in 15 straight matches, posting a 13-0-2 record over the stretch.
Tulsa, ranked no. 6 in the final NSCAA/adidas national poll, is led on the offensive side of the ledger by Austin Neil's 24 points (10 g, 4 a), with Ashley McInnes (5 g, 7 a) and Jose Parada (6 g, 5 a) adding 17 points each on the campaign. The Golden Hurricane have three other players that have struck for three or more goals on the season, having tallied 42 goals.
Defensively, Tyrel Lacey has seen the majority of time in net for the Golden Hurricane, posting a 0.60 goals-against average with seven shutouts on the season. He has recorded a 13-3-3 record, playing 1814:21 on the campaign. Andy Aguilar has also seen time in goal for Tulsa, posting wins in both of his outings, with a 1.23 GAA in just under 150 minutes.
Last Time Out
Ken Cooper continued his outstanding run in The Summit League Championships, recording seven saves in the run of play and one crucial stop in the penalty shootout as UMKC captured its third league tournament title in 13 appearances in the postseason. The Kangaroos battled 10-man Oakland to a 1-1 tie over the first 110 minutes, before striking on all four of their attempts from the spot en route to a 4-3 shootout win.
Spot On
Although the Kangaroos stumbled slightly throughout the season, making just two of four penalty attempts after seeing a string of 14 consecutive makes snapped in the opening month of the season, their success in penalty shootouts can't be denied.
In four attempts, UMKC has never been bested in a penalty shootout in the league tournament. Sunday's 4-3 defeat marks the second time that the Blue-and-Gold have snuffed the tournament hopes of Oakland, as the Kangaroos' semifinal match in 2001 also saw a 4-3 shootout win. UMKC also downed Western Illinois 3-0 en route to the 2003 league tournament title, besting Oral Roberts by a 4-2 scoreline in 2006.
The game also marked the first time that The Summit League tournament championship match was decided by a shootout, although the 2000 title match was contested through three overtimes before Oakland succumbed to IUPUI.
Cooper Leads All-Tournament Team Selections
After posting 16 saves and a 0.41 goals-against average over two games, Ken Cooper was tabbed as the Most Valuable Player of The Summit League Men's Soccer Championship, picking up his second all-tournament team nod in as many trips to the postseason. He was joined on the all-tournament team by Brian Harris, Bryan Perez and John Bayron Sosa, each of whom had a hand in UMKC's goals over the weekend. Harris struck for the game-tying tally in the championship against Oakland, while Sosa assisted Perez on the game-winner against Western Illinois.
Harris Named Player Of The Year
Senior Brian Harris was named The Summit League Offensive Player of the Year on Thursday, on the strength of his 11-goal, four-assist output throughout the 2008 regular season. He was joined as a member of the first team all-Summit League squad by Bryan Perez. Senior Levi Coleman, Junior John David Hernandez and sophomore John Bayron Sosa were all tabbed second team honorees, with Coleman adding an all-Newcomer team selection to his resume as well.
Harris' nod as Player of the Year marks the first time since the 2001 season that a player for the Blue-and-Gold was selected for the top honor, as Larry Scheller - the first men's soccer inductee into the UMKC Athletics Hall of Fame - was recognized prior to the Kangaroos' league tournament win.
Uphill. Both Ways. In The Snow.
Although the old adage is typically attributed to a kindly old curmudgeon figure, the 2008 Kangaroos will be able to tell their kids that they did, indeed, have to fight an uphill battle, both ways, in the snow en route to the 2008 Summit League Championship. As the first half kicked off, the Kangaroos were playing into the wind. In the 37th minute of the match, snow flurries started trickling down. Halftime saw a full-blown snow shower hit the field, with the wind switching directions and leaving the Kangaroos kicking off the second half into the wind on a field that eventually became a blur of white. Fortunately, the snow blew over just as quickly as it had started, with the precipitation melting into the grass.
On Their Best Behavior
The Kangaroos have been making a strong case for a fair play award throughout the season as well, committing just 221 fouls - finishing second in the league regular season standings to Centenary - while their opponents have been whistled 305 times on the year.
Extra Time Finally Good To The Roos
The Kangaroos have traditionally not enjoyed overtime matches over the past several years, as wins have been somewhat sparse. The Kangaroos notched their second overtime against Western Illinois on Friday, the first time since the 2001 season that UMKC has prevailed twice in the extra stanza. Rick Benben's first season at the helm marked the best overtime record ever for the Kangaroos, as UMKC posted a 3-1 record on the year. The Kangaroos 3-2 win over Rockhurst marked the first overtime win since October 13, 2004 - also a 3-2 win - at UIC.
Exciting, Attacking Football
The Blue-and-Gold continued to show the offensive prowess that Rick Benben's teams have been known for, closing out the regular season with 36 goals, matching the previous high water mark established in the 2001 season. That tally found the Kangaroos on great ground, as the Blue-and-Gold picked up a Mid-Con Tournament title and a berth in the NCAA Tournament. The Kangaroos surpassed the 35-goal tally of the 2003 side that also captured Mid-Con Tournament honors and a second berth in the NCAA Tournament.
UMKC has recorded 38 goals on the season, the third-highest total of the Benben era and the fourth-best total in program history. The 2001 squad finished with 41 goals on the year, posting three tallies in NCAA Tournament action.
What Up, B?
It must be good to be named Brian (or Bryan), as three of the five Kangaroo hat tricks overall have come from players bearing that name. Brian Harris and Bryan Perez have each struck for three goals in a game on the 2008 slate, with Brian Garcia recording the most recent - prior to this season - during the 2004 season. Brian Wallace also tallied a brace for the Kangaroos, scoring two goals against Valparaiso on the 2000 season.
The Magic Number
For the second time in program history, UMKC roared from the #3 position in the league tournament to claim top honors, also mustering a tournament title in 2003 from the bottom half of the bracket. The Kangaroos must have felt a twinge of deja vu, as the schedule was the same as in 2003, although the results were flipped - UMKC battled WIU to a 1-1 tie in the semifinals before advancing in a penalty shootout and bested Oakland by a 1-0 scoreline.
Not So Dirty Dozen
Senior Brian Harris tied the single-season goal scoring record for UMKC in Sunday's championship match, as his 68th-minute strike was the Edwardsville, Ill., native's 12th of the year. He matched the mark set by Mike Anderson in 1996, in the fourth year of Mike Brown's tenure.
Vote Early, Vote Often
Senior Garret Guthrie was named a finalist for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award, one of the most prestigious awards in college athletics. The winner, who will be recognized at the NCAA College Cup, will be selected based on voting from media, coaches and fans. Up until November 19th, fans could vote for Guthrie at www.seniorclassaward.com, with fan balloting counting for one-third of the total tally for the award. Coaches and media also vote for the honor.
Three Tabbed For ESPN/CoSIDA Academic All-District Team
Garret Guthrie nabbed his third consecutive nod to the ESPN/CoSIDA Academic All-District Team this week, and was joined by Brian Harris and Matt Kopsky. For the 2008 season, the minimum cumulative GPA was increased to 3.30, with all three easily surpassing the mark. The Kangaroos led the way in The Summit League, with three of the six honorees coming from the Blue-and-Gold.
Hat Trick Begets Hat Trick
After recording a hat trick against Oral Roberts in league play earlier this season, Brian Harris recorded a hat trick of another color, earning Summit League Offensive Player of the Week honors for the third time on the 2008 season. The trifecta marks the first time in program history that the Kangaroos have had a player nab weekly honors three times on the year, with the Blue-and-Gold continuing to expand the total count beyond previous program highs.
Bryan Perez also swept up a trifecta earlier this season. On the strength of the first hat trick for UMKC since the 2004 season, the Miami, Fla., native was named The Summit League Offensive Player of the Week, also earning a nod as a member of collegesoccernews.com?s National Team of the Week. Tuesday he snapped up another indivdual honor as Soccer America tabbed him as a member of the week's best XI. UMKC's upset of Creighton sparked the first busy week for the men's soccer program with regards to weekly individual accolades, starting with the recognition of Harris and Ken Cooper as offensive and defensive Players of the Week for The Summit League. It was the first time that UMKC had swept the weekly league honors since the 2004 season, when Brian Garcia and Blake Martin picked up the offensive and defensive honors, respectively, on November 4.
Matt Kopsky added his name to the list later in the day, earning a nod on collegesoccernews.com's team of the week. In the last, Cooper would be the best, earning the first-ever selection for a UMKC player to the Soccer America team of the week.
Cooper returns to the Soccer America National Team of the week on the strength of his MVP performance in the Summit League Championships.
2008 Weekly Accolades
Brian Harris (Summit League Offensive Player of the Week - September 2)
Brian Harris (Summit League Offensive Player of the Week - September 15)
Ken Cooper (Summit League Defensive Player of the Week - September 15)
Matt Kopsky (collegesoccernews.com National Team of the Week - September 15)
Ken Cooper (Soccer America National Team of the Week - September 16)
Ken Cooper (STLsoccer.net Player of the Week - September 30)
Bryan Perez (Summit League Offensive Player of the Week - October 6)
Bryan Perez (collegesoccernews.com National Team of the Week - October 6)
Bryan Perez (Soccer America National Team of the Week - October 7)
Brian Harris (Summit League Offensive Player of the Week - October 27)
Ken Cooper (Soccer America National Team of the Week - November 17)
Seven's Heaven
Although the Kangaroos have been forced to spend the past two seasons as renters at Bourke Field, the squad has certainly made the best of the temporary home in 2008, keeping a perfect record on the year. The 7-0 record marks the first time in program history that the Blue-and-Gold came out on top in every home match on the year. The perfection stretches back into the 2007 season as well, with the streak extending to 10 straight home games. UMKC has won 11 games on the trot at Bourke Field, as the 2007 meeting between Rockhurst and UMKC went into the books as a home game for Rockhurst.
Benben Inducted Into SIU-Edwardsville Athletics Hall Of Fame
On Saturday, October 18, UMKC men's soccer head coach Rick Benben was inducted into the Southern Illinois University - Edwardsvile Athletics Hall of Fame. A standout player and coach for the Cougars, Benben picked up national championships as both a player and coach, in 1972 and 1979 respectively.
Not Rain, Nor Snow, Nor Gloom Of Night
Bryan Perez must be honoring the old saw describing the dedication of the letter carriers of the United States Postal Service, as he has not missed a single game due to injury or suspension during his career at UMKC. He has recorded 58 consecutive appearances for the Blue-and-Gold, all of them in the starting XI.
Not Plane, Nor Bird, Nor Even Frog
During head coach Rick Benben's tenure, the Blue-and-Gold have relished the role of underdog quite a bit, knocking off three of the four top-10 teams they've faced. Two of the three upsets have come at home, as UMKC bested #7 Marquette in 2000 by a 3-1 scoreline at Swope Park and handed #5 Santa Clara a 2-1 defeat in 2003, en route to the Kangaroos' second NCAA Tournament appearance. UMKC nearly handed #3 SMU another upset in 2006, but the Mustangs would benefit from a late goal to prevail 2-1. On the 2008 season, the Kangaroos are unbeaten against teams ranked in the top-25, besting both #3 Creighton and #19 Drake after earning a 2-2 draw against then #16 UIC.
At The Summit Of The Summit
The Kangaroos finished the regular season as one of only two teams with a positive goal differential, with Oakland just nipping the Kangaroos in the final game of the season (+9 to +8) with the 2-1 win.
Although Oakland took advantage of a pair of first-half goals to rout IUPUI in the tournament, the Blue-and-Gold still lead the league in all three offensive categories (goals - 38, assists - 34, points - 110).
Individually, the Blue-and-Gold boast a 1-2 punch in the scoring table, with Brian Harris on 28 points and Bryan Perez on 26. UMKC also claimed five of the top 10 assist providers on the year, with Levi Coleman moving up to second with Perez after recording his sixth of the season, while Miguel Rodrigues and John Bayron Sosa each have five - good for fifth.
Harris takes home the league's golden boot award, averaging a goal per game in league action, standing head and shoulders above anyone else - only five other players have scored more than once, and no one scored three goals in league action.
Tops In The Association
The Kangaroos finished the regular season as the 16th-most potent offense in all of Division I, striking for an even 2.00 goals per game. The Kangaroos join such company as Wake Forest, Notre Dame and North Carolina in the role of offensive juggernaut, and are averaging more goals per game than traditional powerhouses Virginia, UIC and UC-Santa Barbara.
Brian Perez and Brian Harris played leapfrog in the offensive rankings, with Harris ranked 31st in the country with a 1.47 scoring average. Perez ranks 43rd in the country in scoring average, and was edged out in the assists per game table by Levi Coleman, although both rank in the top 100.
Ken Cooper moved up the national rankings in saves per game with his stellar work in the league tournament, with his average of 4.65 per match ranked 47th on the year. He is also among the top 100 shot-stoppers in terms of save percentage on the year, ranked 72nd with a mark of .782.
Ironman Squad
Garret Guthrie has been a true ironman for the Kangaroos, entering the top-10 career games played list against Oral Roberts. The Wichita, Kan., native has appeared in 74 matches for the Blue-and-Gold with 53 starts over his four-year tenure. Also among the Kangaroo ironmen are senior transfer Miguel Rodrigues and junior Bryan Perez, each with 58 games under his belt. Perez has been in the starting XI for each of his 58 appearances, with Rodrigues missing just two starts. John David Hernandez has been busy as well, recording 54 appearances for the Blue-and-Gold, with Caleb Mitchell recording 56 appearances throughout his career.
Friends For Brandon
Throughout the 2008 season, the UMKC men's soccer team will be playing for a bit of a higher calling, as redshirt freshman Brandon Nilsson was diagnosed with cancer in July. His family has created a website through Caring Bridge (http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/BrandonNilsson) as well as a Facebook group (Friends For Brandon) so that his friends and the community can keep in touch.
The UMKC softball team also offered a helping hand to the Nilsson family, organizing a pair of fundraisers on October 19. The Friends For Brandon Wiffle Ball Tournament and Walk-a-Thon raised over $600.
Showing Some Class
On Thursday, October 16, senior Garret Guthrie was announced as a finalist for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award. He becomes the first player from any Summit League school in any sport to make the finalist cut, joining nine other players across Division I who were selected for the honor.
Through November 19, fans were able to cast a vote for the award, with rankings by the fans to comprise 33 percent of the overall weight. Coaches and media will also cast votes, with the tallies from each group combined to determine the winner. The recipient will be recognized in a ceremony during the 2008 Division I Men's Soccer Championship, December 12-14 in Frisco, Texas.
The Kangaroos had two nominees for the award - Guthrie and Miguel Rodrigues. The Senior CLASS Award was first created in 2001 as an acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School. This unique award is designed to honor the attributes of seniors who remain committed to their university and elect to pursue the many rewards that a senior season can bring.
Guthrie and Rodrigues are both solid performers on and off the field, with Guthrie serving as a lab instructor for the UMKC Summer Scholars program and Rodrigues serving as head clinician for the FCA Multi-Sports camp in Albion, Mich. during the summer of 2008. Candidates will be judged on four criteria - Classroom, Character, Community and Competition.
Moving On Up
The career top 10 lists are seeing a lot of activity this year, as no fewer than 14 categories have seen new entries. Garret Guthrie's stay in the top 10 was all too short after the senior notched his 13th career goal earlier this season, as he was passed in the very next game by Bryan Perez's 13th, 14th and 15th career goals in UMKC's 4-3 upset of then #19 Drake. Perez currently sits tied for third on the career lists with 18 goals putting him level with Brian Evans. His 10 goals are good for fourth on the single-season list, marking the first time in program history that UMKC has had two ten-goal scorers in a single campaign.
Brian Harris roared past Perez on the single-season goal scorer's table against Oral Roberts and tied the single-season goals record for UMKC at 12.
Perez is ranked fifth on the career shots list for UMKC, having taken 105 attempts over his three-year career, and is also fourth on the career points list with 45. Harris is nipping at Perez's heels on the shots list, ranked seventh with 100.
Sophomore Ken Cooper moved up one spot on the career minutes list against Central Arkansas and currently sits with 2948:03 in the books, and is fourth on the career wins list with 14. The St. Louis, Mo., native is also tied for second (with Mike Silin and Todd Dohlman) on the career shutouts list with seven. He also edged past Sean Conder into sixth on the career saves list with 138 stops in his career.
John Bayron Sosa also made the assists table, with his 11 career helpers good for fourth.
Poll Position
For the first time in program history, UMKC received votes in the NSCAA/adidas National rankings following its 4-3 defeat of Drake. The Kangaroos, who moved up to third in the Midwest regional poll, received six votes in the weekly poll of Division I coaches. UMKC also received votes in the College Soccer News national rankings after making an RV cameo in the Soccer Times poll following its 1-0 defeat of Creighton earlier this season.
The Kangaroos remained in the top-10 for the Midwest region throughout the season, one of three Summit League squads in the rankings. Oakland led the way for most of the season, with Western Illinois and UMKC huddling together.
In the final regular season polls, UMKC notched nine votes in the Soccer Times poll and received votes in the College Soccer News poll as well. The Kangaroos were ranked sixth in the NSCAA/adidas Midwest regional poll.
A Nod From The Fourth Estate
In addition to the selection of Matt Kopsky and Ken Cooper to national teams of the week, the UMKC men's soccer team has also gotten nods from other members of the fourth estate. UMKC's upset of Drake garnered a spot mention in Soccer America's College Soccer Reporter e-mail blast - under the title “Tuesday Night Thrillers”. The Kangaroos were also featured prominently on ESPNsoccernet.com, in a feature by Maria Burns Ortiz. Ortiz's column discussed the rash of upsets sweeping through Division I during the opening months of the 2008 season. The article can be found by visiting http://tinyurl.com/4j9cdx or checking out www.umkckangaroos.com.
Road Warriors
In anticipation of the opening of the Stanley H. Durwood Stadium for the 2009 season, the Kangaroos were a bit of a nomadic bunch for the opening of the 2008 season. UMKC played its first seven matches away from Kansas City and will play 10 matches total away from home. The Kangaroos were rewarded, however, as the seven home matches on the slate are grouped together, with UMKC opening its Summit League slate against IPFW in the first of a three-game home stand, and closing out the home schedule with a four-game home stand in October.
A New Look For The Roos
At the end of the 2007-08 school year, UMKC Athletics and Kansas City, Mo., advertising firm Bernstein-Rein began work on transforming one of the most unique mascots in college sports. Two options were presented to the community, drawing 2,200 votes. On May 6, 2008, the new set of marks was unveiled.
The new identity encapsulates a strong competitive nature and fierce attitude. The Roo icon and typography establish a sense of motion and direction, with the kangaroo in one if its most iconic poses - side-on in full stride. Its eyes are focused with a snarl adding to its aggressive attitude.
The colors draw inspiration from the classic blue and gold of UMKC, with an addition of black to create a bolder presence. The iconography draws inspiration from UMKC's position as a part of a growing urban community.
The Kangaroos debuted the new kits to great results against Creighton.
Kangaroos Tabbed Fourth In Preseason Summit League Coaches Poll
The UMKC men's soccer team was picked to finish fourth in The Summit League during the coaches preseason poll. The Kangaroos garnered one of the seven available first-place votes, earning 23 points. 2007 champion Oakland was tabbed the early favorite with five first-place nods and 35 total points. The poll mirrored the final league table from the 2007 season, with IUPUI picking up the seventh first-place vote and second place overall and Oral Roberts taking third. Western Illinois, Centenary and IPFW rounded out the rankings.
On The Small Screen
Head coach Rick Benben and senior Garret Guthrie were featured on the UMKC Coaches Show with Brad Porter in the second show of the season, along with women's head coach Anita Rodriguez.
Benben returned to the set last Wednesday, joined this time by senior Brian Harris. The show will air for the next couple of weeks in regular rotation on Metro Sports.
Busy Summer
Many members of the UMKC men's soccer team were busy during the summer. Several players spent time with clubs in the PDL, with players also serving as camp counselors for UMKC's residential camps.
To close out the summer, senior Miguel Rodrigues and juniors Levi Coleman, Ricardo Guerra and Bryan Perez took part in the Mayor's Night Kicks tournament, a six-week event sponsored by the Kansas City Wizards and the City of Kansas City. Coleman ran away with the golden boot in the competition, netting 11 goals in three games during group play - the next highest total was six. The squad swept through group play, and although the college players had to bow out due to commitments to UMKC's preseason training, the four Kangaroos still received medals as the Taqueria Mexico squad finished third in the tournament.
Looking Forward
The UMKC soccer program took a giant step forward in April 2008, with the announcement of the largest-ever single gift to UMKC Athletics. A $5 million pledge from the the Stanley H. Durwood Foundation and its trustees Raymond F. Beagle, Jr. and Charles J. Egan is set to fund the construction of a new soccer stadium in the heart of UMKC's Volker campus.
Construction on the field is anticipated to begin on November 24, 2008, with the competition venue of the Stanley H. Durwood Stadium scheduled to be complete in time for the first game of the 2009 season, as the Kangaroos add women's soccer to the mix. The entire complex - including locker room facilities for men's and women's soccer, softball, and men's and women's track and field - is expected to be completed by the spring of 2010.
Stan Durwood was one of the University's and the athletic program's most ardent supporters. His affiliation with UMKC began when NCAA Division I participation was a pipe dream. Durwood's enthusiasm for UMKC Athletics continued through admission into Division I and the Mid-Continent Conference. In 1994, he was awarded the Chancellor's Medal, the highest non-academic honor the University can bestow upon a community member.
Giving Back
One of the hallmarks of head coach Rick Benben's tenure has been a dedication to giving back to the community. In addition to the team's work with the Kansas City Parks and Recreation Department, several players took time out of their summer schedule to put on a demonstration at Spectrum Station.
Giving Back Again
UMKC men's soccer team captain Miguel Rodrigues was invited to speak at the Pembroke Hill School during the first week of classes. The senior spoke briefly about his views on the characteristics of leadership - both on and off of the soccer field - and answered questions about his experiences. The appearance was part of an annual tradition at Pembroke Hill, with Raiders head soccer coach Matt Pritchett inviting speakers from the community to address students at the beginning of each school year.
Live Stats Available
With a new partnership with AT&T, UMKC broadcasted live stats from every home match during the 2008 season. Several of UMKC's road matches will also have live stats feeds available, with links from the men's soccer schedule page at www.umkckangaroos.com keeping fans far away in touch with the action.
Finding True North
UMKC sets its sights once again on The Summit League Championship, looking to stretch its league lead with a 13th appearance in the postseason tournament. The Blue-and-Gold have qualified for postseason action in 12 of their 13 years as a member of the Mid-Continent Conference/The Summit League. The Kangaroos were the first team to capture a league double, grabbing the regular season title and tournament championship in both 2001 and 2003.
Amazingly, the Kangaroos were not the top seed in either double season, as they lost seeding tiebreakers in both 2001 and 2003. UMKC qualified as the top seed in the Western Division in 1998, although they fell to Howard in the championship match.
These Go To Eleven
Proving that familiarity doesn't always breed contempt, head coach Rick Benben and assistant coach Fred Schlichting both enter their 11th season at UMKC. Benben, the longest-tenured coach at UMKC has been a fixture in Kansas City soccer for several years, formerly serving as the head coach of the MISL Kansas City Comets. Schlichting has also made a name in the Kansas City coaching ranks, named the KSYSA Boys Coach of the Year in 2005 and leading the St. Teresa's Academy varsity team to a Missouri State championship appearance in 1998.
