Kangaroos Close Out Road Swing Against Gonzaga, Oregon State This Weekend
9/18/2008 4:00:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Game 6
UMKC at Gonzaga
Gonzaga/Nike Soccer Classic
Friday, September 19 - 4 p.m. PDT (6 p.m. CT)
Spokane, Wash. (Gonzaga Soccer Field)
After a busy week, the UMKC men's soccer team looks to get back on the field and put the wraps on its seven-game road swing. The Kangaroos take on 2007 NCAA Men's College Cup participant Gonzaga on Friday, September 19 in the second match of the Gonzaga/Nike Soccer Classic. Kickoff is slated for 4 p.m. PDT, following the tournament opener between Oregon State and Cal State Bakersfield at 1:30 p.m. Live stats will be provided throughout the tournament, with links to UMKC's matches available at www.umkckangaroos.com. Live video will also be available through Gonzaga's All-Access package. Gonzaga has also created a tournament central website with all of the necessary links, available at http://tinyurl.com/4fmh8f.
About The Bulldogs
Gonzaga made its second appearance in the NCAA tournament last season, earning an at-large berth after a fourth-place finish in the West Coast Conference. Head Coach Einar Thorinsson's squad posted a 9-7-4 overall record with a stingy defensive effort, allowing just 15 goals on the season. Offensively, however, the Bulldogs were only able to muster 19 tallies with a senior-laden team.
To open the 2008 season, the Bulldogs have found the going a bit tougher with the loss of 10 seniors, recording a 1-2-1 mark on the young season, scoring just five goals and allowing eight. Redshirt frosh Zach Smith and junior Tim Muravez have each notched a pair of goals for Gonzaga, with each player's goals coming in the same match - Smith's in a 2-1 win over UNLV and Muravez's brace on the wrong side of a 3-2 loss to UC-Riverside.
In goal, junior Scott Barnum has seen the lion's share of the time, recording the Zags' only shutout on the season - a 0-0 draw against Oregon State - and posting a 1.24 goals-against average.
Last Time Out
Taking on the second consensus top-25 team on its schedule, UMKC used a strong defensive showing to make an early goal stand up in a 1-0 upset of then #3/#2 Creighton. Brian Harris made a great run through the Bluejay defense to get on the end of a nifty chip, heading the ball past a helpless Brian Holt. The Kangaroo defense then went to work, allowing a desperate Creighton attack just five shots on goal over the next 74 minutes, with sophomore netminder Ken Cooper standing tall to record his third career shutout.
Poll Position
UMKC's upset of Creighton registered on at least a couple of radar screens nationally, as shown in the latest Soccer Times poll. The Kangaroos received five points in the most recent national poll after downing the Bluejays 1-0. The voting panel for that poll is comprised of some very notable names in college soccer, including Maryland's Sasho Cirovski, Duke's John Kerr and Jim DeRose of Bradley.
Usual Suspects
With its upset of Creighton last weekend, UMKC returned to the NSCAA/adidas Midwest Regional Rankings, joining fellow Summit League squads Western Illinois and Oakland. Although the order is shuffled a bit, it's familiar territory for the three schools, who shared spots in the regional polls for the first two weeks of the 2007 season as well. UMKC is ranked sixth - one below upset victim Creighton - while Oakland and Western Illinois sit #2 and #3 respectively.
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.
Moving On Up
The UMKC career top-10 lists are set to see a bit of a shakeup this season, as sophomore Ken Cooper jumped a spot on the shutouts and wins lists with his third and fifth respectively against Creighton. He's also cracked the career minutes list, with his 1,691:29 good for sixth. Fifth place is well within reach this season, as Cooper needs just 698 minutes to pass Clint McDuffie. Garret Guthrie is also on the threshold of the career goals list, needing just one more strike to break into the top-10. The Wichita, Kan., native has struck net 12 times in his career for the Kangaroos. Rounding out the group is Bryan Perez, who needs just seven shots to move into the top-10 with 79 efforts.
Around The Summit League
Centenary got the league off to a good start on this week's slate of games, picking up a 2-1 win over Central Arkansas in overtime on Wednesday. Friday's slate finds two teams trying to right the ship after losses, as Oakland heads to Western Michigan and IPFW plays Bowling Green in the BGSU Invitational. UMKC is also trying to play the role of bad guest, taking on hosts Gonzaga in the Gonzaga/Nike Soccer Classic. Centenary is the only team at home on Saturday, hosting Houston Baptist, while IPFW closes out tournament action against St. Francis.
Western Illinois looks to preserve its perfect record against tournament hosts Green Bay on Saturday, while IUPUI is also in the tournament, facing UC Riverside. On Sunday, the schools swap opponents to wrap up the Green Bay/Nike Soccer Classic, with UMKC also closing out tournament action against Oregon State.
Weekly Honors Rolling In
It was a busy week for the men's soccer program with regards to weekly individual accolades, starting with Monday's recognition of Brian 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.
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)
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.
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.
To help support his family, the Kangaroos will host a pair of fundraisers on October 19. Through the hard work of the UMKC Softball team, the Friends For Brandon Wiffle Ball Tournament and Walk-a-Thon will be held on the Swinney Recreation Center soccer field. Registration and details will be announced in the coming weeks.
Showing Some Class
On Wednesday, senior Garret Guthrie was announced as a semifinalist for the Lowe's Senior CLASS award, awarded in nine sports across Division I. He was selected - along with 29 other candidates - from a large candidate pool, and becomes just the second player from any Summit League school in any sport to be selected as a semifinalist.
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 - with the winner to be recognized at the 2008 NCAA College Cup Final.
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 last Saturday against Creighton.
At The Summit Of The Summit
Somewhat unsurprisingly, the three teams ranked in the NSCAA regional polls sit 1-2-3 in the goals scored table in The Summit League, as Oakland has notched 11 goals through six games, followed by UMKC and Western Illinois with 10 apiece. The Kangaroos' per-game average is tops in the league at 2.00. On the defensive ledger, UMKC also sits third in saves, with 30 through five matches. The Blue-and-Gold also have the best average attendance in the league, drawing 733 fans per game - albeit all away fans.
Individually, UMKC has a lock on the top-10 goal scorers list, with two players tied for the league lead - Bryan Perez and Brian Harris. Levi Coleman and Garret Guthrie are also in the mix, with two each - good for a seventh-place tie.
Tops In The Association
Ken Cooper moved up in the saves per game rankings with his performance at Creighton, climbing to 17th in Division I with an average of 5.5. Cooper returns after finishing the 2007 season in the rankings, but all seven Summit League teams have a goalkeeper in the top 100 this season - with Rennie Walker of Centenary ranked fourth.
As a team, UMKC is ranked 31st in the nation in goals per game, averaging 2.00 goals per contest. Dartmouth fell a bit off its torrid pace, but still leads the way, scoring 3.75 goals per match. Brian Harris and Bryan Perez are in a logjam of players goals per game rankings, tied for 60th with an average of 0.6.
On The Offensive
Although the Kangaroos offensive output of 27 goals through 19 games last season, this season's pace gives the Blue-and-Gold a chance to pass last season's numbers in just 14 games this season.
UMKC returns 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.
No Stand Alones Here
So far on the short season, the goals have come in bunches for UMKC. The Kangaroos have scored multiple goals in four of their five matches this season, with all of the goals coming in streaks for the Blue-and-Gold. Bryan Perez recorded a three-game streak to open the season, with Brian Harris, Garret Guthrie and Levi Coleman all notching two-game stretches of their own.
Benben To Be Inducted Into SIU-Edwardsville Athletics 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.
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.
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 60 matches for the Blue-and-Gold, starting 39, and needs just nine 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 44 games under his belt. Perez has been in the starting XI for each of his 44 appearances, with Rodrigues missing just one start as a sophomore.
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 also available. For more information or to request a copy of the media guide, contact the UMKC Sports Information Office.
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 2007 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, entering the 2008 season with 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.
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.
On The Spot
UMKC stretched its penalty streak to 14 consecutive makes - dating back to the 2003 season - with Bryan Perez' strike against UIC. Although UMKC missed a penalty against William Jewell, its streak 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. 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.
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.
