Winner Take All; 'Roos To Host Jags For Summit League Title
10/29/2010 10:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
The Setting - The UMKC men's soccer team will play its home finale on Saturday afternoon, hosting IUPUI in a key Summit League contest that will determine the regular season title. The 'Roos and Jaguars will square off at the Durwood Soccer Stadium and Recreational Field beginning at 2 p.m.
Follow The Action Online - UMKC fans can follow the men's soccer program online via Roo Vision, which streams a live audio and video feed. Monthly or yearly subscriptions are available, so visit www.UMKCKangaroos.com for more information. Live stats are also available on the website, free of charge.
Scouting IUPUI - The Jaguars bring a five-match unbeaten streak into Kansas City, which has improved the squad's record to 9-6-1 overall and to 4-1 in league play. Last week, IUPUI battled No. 7 Butler to a 0-0 draw before downing Centenary (3-0) and Wright State (2-1).
Ten different Jaguar players have netted at least one goal this season with Jeff Keyler leading the way with five strikes and a team-best 13 points. In goal, Alex Mannen has taken over the duties, and he has produced, posting a 5-0-1 record with a 0.62 goals against average, 25 saves and two shutouts.
The Series - Saturday's game will be the 14th meeting in the all-time series with UMKC holding a 8-4-1 advantage. Last season the two squad battled to a 0-0 draw in Indianapolis. Prior to that contest, the two teams had split the previous four meetings with each squad defending its home field.
Last Game - The 'Roos had their six-game unbeaten streak snapped at the hand of Saint Louis on Tuesday night. The Billikens notched the game-winning goal in the 92nd minute to notch the 2-1 victory. UMKC had a goal called back due to a foul in the first half before netting their lone strike of the contest on a SLU own goal in the second half.
A victory on Saturday against IUPUI will...
• give UMKC the regular season Summit League title and earn them the No. 1 seed in The Summit League Tournament. It would be the team's fourth regular season title in school history and its first since 2003.
• be head coach Rick Benben's 100th career victory at UMKC.
• give goalkeeper Ken Cooper 31 career wins, tying him with Beau Williams for the most victories in school history.
• be UMKC's 10th victory this season - the fifth 10-win season for Coach Benben and the seventh 10-win season in school history.
Honors All Around For Sosa - Senior John Bayron Sosa was named to the College Soccer News National Team of the Week and as The Summit League Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 25. The midfielder earned the nod after netting a hat trick - the eighth in UMKC history - in the 4-1 victory over IPFW on Oct. 23. Sosa is just the second 'Roo student-athlete to earn the College Soccer News honor, joining teammate Matt Kopsky, who received the nod in 2008.
Hat Trick History - Senior John Bayron Sosa became the eighth UMKC player to net a hat trick when he accomplished the feat in the win over IPFW on Oct. 23. It is the third straight season that the 'Roos have had a player score a hat trick. Bryan Perez and Brian Harris accomplished the feat in 2008 before current UMKC sophomore netted a hat trick against Memphis last season.
Streaks Come To A Halt - Senior Ken Cooper had his four-match shutout streak and his 515:36 scoreless stretch come to a halt in the 4-1 win over IPFW on Oct. 23. Prior to allowing the goal to the 'Dons, Cooper hadn't been scored on since the first half of the 4-2 win over Oral Roberts.
UMKC In The Summit League - In the league statistical rankings on Oct. 25, senior Ken Cooper was leading The Summit League in shutouts (7), while ranking second in goals against average (0.76) and save percentage (.810) and fifth in saves (47). Senior John Bayron Sosa was second in the league in points (14) and tied for second in goals (6) with teammate Jimmy Simon. Simon was also pacing the league with three game-winning goals, while ranking fourth in points. Junior Luke Harman, meanwhile, was tops in the league with four assists.
The Class of UMKC Goalkeepers - Senior Ken Cooper moved into the top spot in both career saves and minutes played in the 1-0 shutout victory over Eastern Illinois. The St. Louis native then moved into the top spot in career shutouts, courtesy of his 1-0 blanking of Centenary.
Cooper also tied the single season shutout record of seven on Oct. 19 when he guided the 'Roos to a 1-0 win over Illinois-Chicago. In the game, he made four saves to tally the 300th save of his UMKC career.
'Roos Seventh In NSCAA Midwest Region Rankings - Despite going a perfect 2-0 last week, UMKC dropped to seventh in the NSCAA Midwest Region rankings that were released on Oct. 25. The 'Roos have been in the rankings since Sept. 13, when they debuted at ninth. It is the team's first ranking since the 2008 campaign when it climbed to as high as third in the region before finishing the year ranked sixth.
Summit League POW Honorees - The 'Roos have had five student-athletes be recognized as The Summit League Player of the Week.
Senior Ken Cooper was the first 'Roo to earn the honor, as he was named the Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 13 after making four saves in 110 minutes of action in the 1-1 draw at Loyola Chicago.
Fellow senior John Bayron Sosa earned the offensive accolade - the second of his 'Roo career - on Sept. 20 after notching a pair of goals in UMKC's 3-2 loss at Drake. Junior Jimmy Simon was the third straight 'Roo to earn the accolade on Sept. 27 following his two goal contest in UMKC's 2-1 win over Memphis.
Sophomore David Sarabia was the latest UMKC player to earn the accolade, as he received the nod on Oct. 4 after scoring the game-winning strikes in the team's victories over Oral Roberts and Eastern Illinois.
Sosa then earned his second honor of the season on Oct. 25 following his hat trick in the 4-1 win over IPFW on Oct. 23.
Home Cookin' - UMKC improved to 7-1 at home this season with its dominating 4-1 win over IPFW on Oct. 23. Durwood Soccer Stadium has been a daunting place for the opposition to play since it opened in 2009, as the 'Roos are 11-3 in 14 games at the venue.
Overall, UMKC has been exceptional at home the past three seasons, as it has compiled a 18-3 record over its past 21 home dates.
Spreading The Wealth - Four UMKC players have netted their first collegiate game-winning goals and a total of six different 'Roos have netted the GWG this season. Freshman Zachary Balthazar joined the first club with Jimmy Simon, Diego Rojas and Tom Black when he found the back of the net in the 1-0 triumph over Illinois-Chicago.
Offensive Outburst - UMKC has netted four goals in a pair of game this season - in victories over Oral Roberts (4-2) and IPFW (4-1). The scoring outputs matches Oakland for the team-high in The Summit League this season.
'Roos Atop The Summit - UMKC is leading The Summit League with 21 goals and 58 points this season. The squad is also second with 16 assists. This continues the team's trend of being the class of the league offensively.
The 'Roos led the league in goals, points and assists in both 2008 and 2009. The squad finished with 38 goals, 34 assists and 110 points in 2008 before following it up with a 31 goal, 24 assist, 86 point campaign in 2009.
Coop-Tack-ular - Goalkeeper Ken Cooper is having the best season of his collegiate career, as he has posted a 0.84 goals against average, 53 saves, a .803 saves percentage and seven shutouts. The senior has allowed just 13 goals on the year.
Mr. Shutout - Senior Ken Cooper posted his fourth straight shutout in leading the 'Roos to a 1-0 win over Illinois-Chicago on Oct. 19. The performance came on the heels of a 1-0 win at Centenary on Oct. 9, an identical 1-0 shutout of Eastern Illinois on Oct. 3 and a 0-0 draw at Oakland.
Cooper, who is pacing the league with seven shutouts on the year, also blanked Central Arkansas and Missouri State in back-to-back contests and goose-egged Columbia College earlier this season. His seven shutouts are tied for the most in a single season in school history.
Sosa In The Record Books - Senior John Bayron Sosa currently ranks as the second most prolific assist man in school history with 20 career assists. Sosa is also fifth in the annals with 46 career points.
Iron Man - Senior John Bayron Sosa has played in and started 72-of-73 total games in his UMKC career. Sosa has been among the starting 11 for the 'Roos in each of the past 60 contests.
Cooper Among UMKC Career Leaders - Senior Ken Cooper already ranks as one of the best goalkeepers in UMKC history when you look at his career statistics. The St. Louis native is the school recordholder in four categories and he is just one victory shy of tying Beau Williams for the career wins mark.
Cooper in the UMKC Top-10
1st Goals Against Average 1.33
1st Saves 307
1st Minutes Played 6161
1st Shutouts 17
2nd Wins 30 (31)
Markey Sidelined For '10 Season - Senior Chris Markey, who is one of UMKC's co-captains for the 2010 season, suffered a foot injury during the exhibition contest against Drake on Aug. 27. The midfielder broke his foot while going in for a tackle, which will force him to miss the remainder of the 2010 season.
Markey is the second UMKC senior to suffer a serious injury this season. Matt Kopsky, a returning starter and three-year letterwinner, went down with a knee injury prior to the beginning of preseason practice. He too will miss the entire 2010 campaign.
'Roos Tabbed As Preseason Favorites - UMKC was picked as the preseason favorite to claim the 2010 Summit League title. The 'Roos received three first place votes en route to 33 points to edge Oakland by a single point for the top spot.
Sosa Named To MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List - Senior John Bayron Sosa has been named to the prestigious MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List. The St. Cloud, Fla., native is the first UMKC player to be named to the Watch List and is one of 39 Division I men's soccer players and the lone representative of The Summit League to be recognized.
Considered the highest individual honor in intercollegiate soccer, the recipient of the MAC Hermann Trophy is selected by Division I head coaches who are current members of the NSCAA.
Team Captains - Seniors John Bayron Sosa and Chris Markey have been selected to serve as the team co-captains for the 2010 'Roos.
Back-to-Back OPOY - The 'Roos have not only led the league in scoring in each of the past two seasons, but the squad boasts each of the past two Summit League Offensive Player of the Years. Brian Harris earned the post season recognition in 2008 before Bryan Perez took home the top offensive honor in 2009.
A Look Back To 2009 - The 'Roos posted a 7-10-2 overall record during the 2009 campaign, which included a 2-2-2 mark in Summit League play. UMKC upset top-seeded Oakland in The Summit League Championship semifinals to advance to the final for the third time in the last four years before dropping a 1-0 decision to Western Illinois.
UMKC had a total of six student-athletes earn post season recognition in 2009 with two players - Bryan Perez and David Sarabia - earning individual honors. Perez was named The Summit League Offensive Player of the Year, while Sarabia was named The Summit League Newcomer of the Year.
The pair were a part of a school record five first team selections, as they were joined on the first team squad by teammates Chris Markey, John Bayron Sosa and John David Hernandez. Additionally, Sarabia and Tom Black were named to the all-Newcomer squad.
Kuster-'Roo - True freshman Sean Kuster is the third member of his immediate family to play for the UMKC men's soccer team. Brother, Erik, played for the 'Roos during the 1999 season, where he netted nine goals, while Colin suited up for the program during the 2007 campaign.
Giant Killers - The 'Roos have been making a name for themselves in scheduling and beating ranked foes. UMKC has taken down a ranked opponent in each of the past two seasons, shutting out No. 23 Drake, 3-0, in 2009 after beating No. 3 Creighton (1-0) and No. 19 Drake (4-3) during the 2008 campaign.
Championship Soccer - UMKC earned its third NCAA Tournament appearance in 2008 after winning The Summit League Tournament as the No. 3 seed. The 'Roos, who have played in championship game of the league tournament in three of the last four years, have won three Summit League regular season titles (1999, 2001, 2003) and three league tournament crowns (2001, 2003, 2008), all of which led to NCAA Tournament appearances.
Follow The Action Online - UMKC fans can follow the men's soccer program online via Roo Vision, which streams a live audio and video feed. Monthly or yearly subscriptions are available, so visit www.UMKCKangaroos.com for more information. Live stats are also available on the website, free of charge.
Scouting IUPUI - The Jaguars bring a five-match unbeaten streak into Kansas City, which has improved the squad's record to 9-6-1 overall and to 4-1 in league play. Last week, IUPUI battled No. 7 Butler to a 0-0 draw before downing Centenary (3-0) and Wright State (2-1).
Ten different Jaguar players have netted at least one goal this season with Jeff Keyler leading the way with five strikes and a team-best 13 points. In goal, Alex Mannen has taken over the duties, and he has produced, posting a 5-0-1 record with a 0.62 goals against average, 25 saves and two shutouts.
The Series - Saturday's game will be the 14th meeting in the all-time series with UMKC holding a 8-4-1 advantage. Last season the two squad battled to a 0-0 draw in Indianapolis. Prior to that contest, the two teams had split the previous four meetings with each squad defending its home field.
Last Game - The 'Roos had their six-game unbeaten streak snapped at the hand of Saint Louis on Tuesday night. The Billikens notched the game-winning goal in the 92nd minute to notch the 2-1 victory. UMKC had a goal called back due to a foul in the first half before netting their lone strike of the contest on a SLU own goal in the second half.
A victory on Saturday against IUPUI will...
• give UMKC the regular season Summit League title and earn them the No. 1 seed in The Summit League Tournament. It would be the team's fourth regular season title in school history and its first since 2003.
• be head coach Rick Benben's 100th career victory at UMKC.
• give goalkeeper Ken Cooper 31 career wins, tying him with Beau Williams for the most victories in school history.
• be UMKC's 10th victory this season - the fifth 10-win season for Coach Benben and the seventh 10-win season in school history.
Honors All Around For Sosa - Senior John Bayron Sosa was named to the College Soccer News National Team of the Week and as The Summit League Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 25. The midfielder earned the nod after netting a hat trick - the eighth in UMKC history - in the 4-1 victory over IPFW on Oct. 23. Sosa is just the second 'Roo student-athlete to earn the College Soccer News honor, joining teammate Matt Kopsky, who received the nod in 2008.
Hat Trick History - Senior John Bayron Sosa became the eighth UMKC player to net a hat trick when he accomplished the feat in the win over IPFW on Oct. 23. It is the third straight season that the 'Roos have had a player score a hat trick. Bryan Perez and Brian Harris accomplished the feat in 2008 before current UMKC sophomore netted a hat trick against Memphis last season.
Streaks Come To A Halt - Senior Ken Cooper had his four-match shutout streak and his 515:36 scoreless stretch come to a halt in the 4-1 win over IPFW on Oct. 23. Prior to allowing the goal to the 'Dons, Cooper hadn't been scored on since the first half of the 4-2 win over Oral Roberts.
UMKC In The Summit League - In the league statistical rankings on Oct. 25, senior Ken Cooper was leading The Summit League in shutouts (7), while ranking second in goals against average (0.76) and save percentage (.810) and fifth in saves (47). Senior John Bayron Sosa was second in the league in points (14) and tied for second in goals (6) with teammate Jimmy Simon. Simon was also pacing the league with three game-winning goals, while ranking fourth in points. Junior Luke Harman, meanwhile, was tops in the league with four assists.
The Class of UMKC Goalkeepers - Senior Ken Cooper moved into the top spot in both career saves and minutes played in the 1-0 shutout victory over Eastern Illinois. The St. Louis native then moved into the top spot in career shutouts, courtesy of his 1-0 blanking of Centenary.
Cooper also tied the single season shutout record of seven on Oct. 19 when he guided the 'Roos to a 1-0 win over Illinois-Chicago. In the game, he made four saves to tally the 300th save of his UMKC career.
'Roos Seventh In NSCAA Midwest Region Rankings - Despite going a perfect 2-0 last week, UMKC dropped to seventh in the NSCAA Midwest Region rankings that were released on Oct. 25. The 'Roos have been in the rankings since Sept. 13, when they debuted at ninth. It is the team's first ranking since the 2008 campaign when it climbed to as high as third in the region before finishing the year ranked sixth.
Summit League POW Honorees - The 'Roos have had five student-athletes be recognized as The Summit League Player of the Week.
Senior Ken Cooper was the first 'Roo to earn the honor, as he was named the Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 13 after making four saves in 110 minutes of action in the 1-1 draw at Loyola Chicago.
Fellow senior John Bayron Sosa earned the offensive accolade - the second of his 'Roo career - on Sept. 20 after notching a pair of goals in UMKC's 3-2 loss at Drake. Junior Jimmy Simon was the third straight 'Roo to earn the accolade on Sept. 27 following his two goal contest in UMKC's 2-1 win over Memphis.
Sophomore David Sarabia was the latest UMKC player to earn the accolade, as he received the nod on Oct. 4 after scoring the game-winning strikes in the team's victories over Oral Roberts and Eastern Illinois.
Sosa then earned his second honor of the season on Oct. 25 following his hat trick in the 4-1 win over IPFW on Oct. 23.
Home Cookin' - UMKC improved to 7-1 at home this season with its dominating 4-1 win over IPFW on Oct. 23. Durwood Soccer Stadium has been a daunting place for the opposition to play since it opened in 2009, as the 'Roos are 11-3 in 14 games at the venue.
Overall, UMKC has been exceptional at home the past three seasons, as it has compiled a 18-3 record over its past 21 home dates.
Spreading The Wealth - Four UMKC players have netted their first collegiate game-winning goals and a total of six different 'Roos have netted the GWG this season. Freshman Zachary Balthazar joined the first club with Jimmy Simon, Diego Rojas and Tom Black when he found the back of the net in the 1-0 triumph over Illinois-Chicago.
Offensive Outburst - UMKC has netted four goals in a pair of game this season - in victories over Oral Roberts (4-2) and IPFW (4-1). The scoring outputs matches Oakland for the team-high in The Summit League this season.
'Roos Atop The Summit - UMKC is leading The Summit League with 21 goals and 58 points this season. The squad is also second with 16 assists. This continues the team's trend of being the class of the league offensively.
The 'Roos led the league in goals, points and assists in both 2008 and 2009. The squad finished with 38 goals, 34 assists and 110 points in 2008 before following it up with a 31 goal, 24 assist, 86 point campaign in 2009.
Coop-Tack-ular - Goalkeeper Ken Cooper is having the best season of his collegiate career, as he has posted a 0.84 goals against average, 53 saves, a .803 saves percentage and seven shutouts. The senior has allowed just 13 goals on the year.
Mr. Shutout - Senior Ken Cooper posted his fourth straight shutout in leading the 'Roos to a 1-0 win over Illinois-Chicago on Oct. 19. The performance came on the heels of a 1-0 win at Centenary on Oct. 9, an identical 1-0 shutout of Eastern Illinois on Oct. 3 and a 0-0 draw at Oakland.
Cooper, who is pacing the league with seven shutouts on the year, also blanked Central Arkansas and Missouri State in back-to-back contests and goose-egged Columbia College earlier this season. His seven shutouts are tied for the most in a single season in school history.
Sosa In The Record Books - Senior John Bayron Sosa currently ranks as the second most prolific assist man in school history with 20 career assists. Sosa is also fifth in the annals with 46 career points.
Iron Man - Senior John Bayron Sosa has played in and started 72-of-73 total games in his UMKC career. Sosa has been among the starting 11 for the 'Roos in each of the past 60 contests.
Cooper Among UMKC Career Leaders - Senior Ken Cooper already ranks as one of the best goalkeepers in UMKC history when you look at his career statistics. The St. Louis native is the school recordholder in four categories and he is just one victory shy of tying Beau Williams for the career wins mark.
Cooper in the UMKC Top-10
1st Goals Against Average 1.33
1st Saves 307
1st Minutes Played 6161
1st Shutouts 17
2nd Wins 30 (31)
Markey Sidelined For '10 Season - Senior Chris Markey, who is one of UMKC's co-captains for the 2010 season, suffered a foot injury during the exhibition contest against Drake on Aug. 27. The midfielder broke his foot while going in for a tackle, which will force him to miss the remainder of the 2010 season.
Markey is the second UMKC senior to suffer a serious injury this season. Matt Kopsky, a returning starter and three-year letterwinner, went down with a knee injury prior to the beginning of preseason practice. He too will miss the entire 2010 campaign.
'Roos Tabbed As Preseason Favorites - UMKC was picked as the preseason favorite to claim the 2010 Summit League title. The 'Roos received three first place votes en route to 33 points to edge Oakland by a single point for the top spot.
Sosa Named To MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List - Senior John Bayron Sosa has been named to the prestigious MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List. The St. Cloud, Fla., native is the first UMKC player to be named to the Watch List and is one of 39 Division I men's soccer players and the lone representative of The Summit League to be recognized.
Considered the highest individual honor in intercollegiate soccer, the recipient of the MAC Hermann Trophy is selected by Division I head coaches who are current members of the NSCAA.
Team Captains - Seniors John Bayron Sosa and Chris Markey have been selected to serve as the team co-captains for the 2010 'Roos.
Back-to-Back OPOY - The 'Roos have not only led the league in scoring in each of the past two seasons, but the squad boasts each of the past two Summit League Offensive Player of the Years. Brian Harris earned the post season recognition in 2008 before Bryan Perez took home the top offensive honor in 2009.
A Look Back To 2009 - The 'Roos posted a 7-10-2 overall record during the 2009 campaign, which included a 2-2-2 mark in Summit League play. UMKC upset top-seeded Oakland in The Summit League Championship semifinals to advance to the final for the third time in the last four years before dropping a 1-0 decision to Western Illinois.
UMKC had a total of six student-athletes earn post season recognition in 2009 with two players - Bryan Perez and David Sarabia - earning individual honors. Perez was named The Summit League Offensive Player of the Year, while Sarabia was named The Summit League Newcomer of the Year.
The pair were a part of a school record five first team selections, as they were joined on the first team squad by teammates Chris Markey, John Bayron Sosa and John David Hernandez. Additionally, Sarabia and Tom Black were named to the all-Newcomer squad.
Kuster-'Roo - True freshman Sean Kuster is the third member of his immediate family to play for the UMKC men's soccer team. Brother, Erik, played for the 'Roos during the 1999 season, where he netted nine goals, while Colin suited up for the program during the 2007 campaign.
Giant Killers - The 'Roos have been making a name for themselves in scheduling and beating ranked foes. UMKC has taken down a ranked opponent in each of the past two seasons, shutting out No. 23 Drake, 3-0, in 2009 after beating No. 3 Creighton (1-0) and No. 19 Drake (4-3) during the 2008 campaign.
Championship Soccer - UMKC earned its third NCAA Tournament appearance in 2008 after winning The Summit League Tournament as the No. 3 seed. The 'Roos, who have played in championship game of the league tournament in three of the last four years, have won three Summit League regular season titles (1999, 2001, 2003) and three league tournament crowns (2001, 2003, 2008), all of which led to NCAA Tournament appearances.
Players Mentioned
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