Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
The Grace College men's soccer team sports a new look for the 1997 season. With 14 new players, a completely redone soccer field and a new junior varsity team, third-year head coach Steve Miller anticipates an exciting year.
"While we are young," Miller said, "we have a lot of quality experience. We need to learn to work together and develop a natural rhythm. But we have great team speed and a lot of desire. We will have to rely heavily on the leadership of our veterans to help us make the adjustment this season."
Leading the pack of returning players are forward Brant Burns and defenders Josh Klena and Eric Frenchak. Senior captain Burns is the key to the Lancers offense. Last season, he scored nine goals and added two assists.
Klena and Frenchak will anchor the defense. Last year, Klena was chosen as the team's Most Valuable Player, while Frenchak was voted the team's Rookie of the Year.
Another key returning player is Brett Gerhart. In his first two collegiate games last year, Gerhart scored three goals. He finished with six goals and one assist on the season.
Among the newcomers is Wawasee graduate Kim Nguyen. A sophomore transfer from IPFW, Nguyen should be a big part of the Lancer offense. Freshman Jacob Bury, from Huntingtown, Md, is another new offensive player. He was named All-Conference and Calvert County Player of the Year his senior year.
Steve Muldoon, from Three Rivers, Mich, is another freshman. He scored 31 goals last year and was selected to the Michigan All-State team. Midfielder Luke Fields will head to Grace after a season in which he was named first team All-Columbus Soccer League last year.
The other newcomers are Nathan Stallter, Michael Beatty, Cedric Bezin, Matt Groen, Michael McComas, Dean Avey, Aaron Jones, Jonathan Hoover and Jeff Wike.
A number of players return to the Lancers. Rob Beswetherick, Dan Miller, Drew Miller, Drew Tom and Dallas Meyer will add veteran leadership to the team.
Grace will look to improve on last year's 3-16 record despite a tough schedule. Conference foes Taylor, Bethel and Indiana Wesleyan should be the favorites to win the MCC and a stiff non-conference schedule against IUPUI, Mount Vernon Nazarene, Greenville, Trinity and Cornerstone should test the Lancers.
The varsity season will begin with a home game today at Miller Field against Mount Vernon Nazarene College at 2 p.m. Grace will then host Rose-Hulman on Tuesday at 4 p.m. The junior varsity team will host Goshen on Thursday.
Name Pos Year Hometown
Dean Avey Def Fr Manheim, PA
Michael Beatty Mid Fr Indianapolis
Rob Beswetherick Mid Jr Fenton, MI
Cedric Bezin Mid Jr Lans, France
Brant Burns For Sr Winona Lake
Jacob Bury For Fr Huntington, MD
Luke Fields Mid Fr Worthington, OH
Eric Frenchak Def Jr Syracuse, NY
Brett Gerhart Mid So Meyersdale, PA
Matt Groen Mid Fr Greenfield, WI
Jonathan Hoover GK Fr Kirkville, NY
Aaron Jones Def Fr N. Manchester
Josh Klena Def Sr Rossford, OH
Michael McComas Def Fr Fort Wayne
Dallas Meyer Def Jr Waterloo, IA
Drew Miller Mid So Wapokoneta, OH
Dan Miller Mid So Leesburg
Steve Muldoon For Fr Three Rivers, MI
Kim Nguyen For So Syracuse
Andy Saunders Mid Fr Ephrata, PA
Ben Shoup Mid Fr Wooster, OH
Nathan Stallter For Fr Warsaw
Andrew Tom Mid Sr South Bend
Jeff Wike GK Fr Wooster, OH
