Kangaroos Open Regular Season Against No. 16 Flames
8/28/2008 1:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Game 1
UMKC at Illinois-Chicago
Friday, August 29 - 7 p.m.
Chicago, Ill. (Flames Field)
The regular season gets underway for the UMKC men's soccer team on Friday, as the Kangaroos visit the Windy City for a 7 p.m. match against 2007 NCAA College Cup Elite Eight squad UIC. It marks the first time in program history that UMKC has opened its regular season slate against a ranked opponent, as UIC is a consensus Top 25 pick. Live stat coverage from Flames Field will be available at kickoff. A link to UIC's gametracker is available at www.umkckangaroos.com by clicking on the schedule page for men's soccer.
About The Flames
UIC returns eight starters from last year's Elite Eight squad, including preseason all-American (College Soccer News and Soccer America) Jovan Bubonja. The Serbian goalkeeper posted a 0.56 goals-against average and a school-record 12 shutouts in 2007, including three consecutive clean sheets in the 2007 NCAA Tournament to help the Flames advance to the national quarterfinals for the first time.
The Flames are led by John Trask, who is in his fourth year at the helm for UIC. Trask has posted a 36-14-13 career record in his first stop as the top man, following a series of successful stops as an assistant coach. After wrapping up his college career at Indiana, he served as an assistant to Jerry Yeagley as the Hoosiers captured back-to-back national titles in 1998 and 1999 before taking the same position for Major League Soccer's Miami Fusion - where he helped capture the 2001 MLS Supporter's Shield - also serving as an assistant at D.C. United and the Dallas Burn.
Picked to repeat as Horizon League champions, UIC lost its two top scorers from last season (Pavle Dundjer and Cesar Zambrano) but return a majority of the defensive unit - led by Bubonja and anchored by seniors Paul Kopec and Alen Husidic - for the 2008 campaign. The Flames were picked as a Top 25 team in all four soccer polls - #16 in the NSCAA/adidas rankings, #17 by College Soccer News, #18 by SoccerTimes.com and #21 by Soccer America.
The Flames went 0-1-1 during the preseason, dropping a 1-0 result to #23 Tulsa and drawing 0-0 at #3 Notre Dame.
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.
Around The Summit League
The first weekend of action in The Summit League promises to be a busy one, as five teams open their regular-season schedules on Friday night. IUPUI has the honors, kicking off against Northern Illinois at 5 p.m. IPFW, UMKC, Oral Roberts and Oakland all kick off at 7 p.m. CDT, with Oakland's opener against Oregon State taking place in the Ultimate Soccer Arena in Pontiac, Mich. Western Illinois kicks of its regular-season slate on Saturday. All six teams will have one day's rest before their second match of the season.
2008 Media Guide Available
The 2008 UMKC men's soccer media guide is now available. The guide features detailed player bios and history of the Kangaroo program along with opponent capsules for the upcoming season. An electronic version of the guide is available online at www.umkckangaroos.com, with print versions forthcoming. For more information or to request a copy of the media guide, contact the UMKC Sports Information Office.
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.
As part of the new look for the department, the men's soccer team will be sporting three new sets of uniforms this season, with the first set slated to debut with UMKC's regular-season match at UIC.
Last Time Out
UMKC wrapped up its preseason schedule last weekend with a pair of matches. On Friday night, the Kangaroos picked up a 4-1 win over William Jewell, converting on two of the three penalty kicks awarded in the match. Freshman Diego Rojas struck first for UMKC, notching a goal in the seventh minute. Rojas also played a role in the Kangaroos' second goal as the speedy freshman was tripped up in the box in the 43rd minute, with Bryan Perez taking the spot kick. Perez' initial effort was saved but he put home the rebound. A miscue on defense cost the Blue-and-Gold a shutout, but John Bayron Sosa and Chris Markey each tallied penalties for an easy win.
In the final preseason match, UMKC came up against a Kansas City Wizards side in full stride and with great fire after a hard-fought draw in the previous evening's action. The Kangaroos managed what no other college team could in 2008, scoring a second-half goal against the professional squad courtesy of Levi Coleman.
Benben To Be Inducted Into SIU-Edwardsville Hall Of Fame
Long-time fans of Kangaroo soccer may notice a slight outlier in the 2008 schedule, as UMKC's contest against Central Arkansas starts an hour earlier than the traditional 1 p.m. start time for Saturday matches. The game was pushed up to afford UMKC head coach Rick Benben an opportunity to pull double duty on the weekend, as he will be inducted into the Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville Athletics Hall of Fame on October 18. Benben will hit the road immediately following the match for the induction ceremony.
A standout player and coach for the Cougars, Benben picked up national championships as both a player and coach, in 1972 and 1979 respectively.
Ironman Squad
Garret Guthrie has been one of the ironmen for the Kangaroos, having played in every single game during his UMKC career. The Wichita, Kan., native has seen time in 55 matches for the Blue-and-Gold, starting 37, and needs just 14 games to sit among the top 10 in program history. Also among the Kangaroo ironmen are senior transfer Miguel Rodrigues and junior Bryan Perez, each with 39 games under their belt. Perez has been in the starting XI for each of his 39 appearances, with Rodrigues missing just one start as a sophomore.
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.
Between The Pipes
After suffering a slight knock in the preseason, freshman Ken Cooper recovered to become the first-choice goalkeeper for the Kangaroos, making a quick mark on the UMKC record books in just half a season. The netminder makes three appearances on the career top-10 lists, posting a 1.65 goals-against average (3rd overall), four wins (8th - t) and two shutouts (7th - t). He also posted the ninth-highest single-season minutes played mark with 1,311 minutes in 14 games.
On The Offensive
UMKC mustered a solid offensive output of 27 goals in 19 games last season, and return four of the five leading scorers from last season. Bryan Perez led the Kangaroos with six goals last season, with Garret Guthrie and John Bayron Sosa each tallying four. Brian Harris struck net three times last season, including the only goal surrendered by Summit League champs Oakland in league play.
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.
The competition venue of the Stanley H. Durwood Stadium is anticipated 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.
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.
Road Warriors
In anticipation of the opening of the Stanley H. Durwood Stadium for the 2009 season, the Kangaroos have become a bit of a nomadic bunch for the opening of the 2008 season. UMKC will play its first seven matches away from Kansas City and 10 matches total away from home. The Kangaroos will be 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 with a four-game home stand in October.
Showing Some Class
The Kangaroos have two nominees for the Lowe's Senior CLASS award - Garret 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 - with the winner to be recognized at the 2008 NCAA College Cup Final.
On The Spot
Although UMKC missed a penalty against William Jewell, its streak of 13 consecutive makes from the run of play - dating back to the 2003 season - is still intact as the game was an exhibition contest. The Kangaroos have been deadly accurate from the penalty mark, with the streak of consecutive makes stretching to 20 when shootouts in postseason play are included.
UMKC has also never been bested in a penalty shootout in the league tournament - defeating Oakland 4-3 en route to the 2001 Mid-Con Tournament title, downing Western Illinois by a 3-0 count in 2003 and advancing past Oral Roberts by a 4-2 scoreline in 2006.
Live Stats Available
With a new partnership with AT&T, UMKC will be broadcasting live stats from every home match during the 2008 season. Links from the men's soccer schedule page at www.umkckangaroos.com will keep fans far away in touch with the action.
Roo Vision Coming Soon
Also in the works for the 2008 season is a highlight package and on-demand video for Kangaroo home games and select road matches. Through an agreement with Mark Titus Productions, fans will be able to watch highlight packages and full-length match videos following each home game. Check with www.umkckangaroos.com for more details in the coming weeks.
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.
