2008 Men's Soccer Season Preview

Despite several graduation losses, the St. Thomas men's soccer team will look to blend experience some promising young players in its quest for another MIAC playoff berth.
 
Coach Aaron Macke starts his 15th consecutive season in the Tommie program as a player, assistant and head coach. Macke graduated some important players from a 11-5-3 team that was in the conference championship race until the final day. The Tommies lost to Gustavus twice in a five-day span to close the 2007 season -- 1-0 in overtime in the regular-seaosn finale, and in the MIAC playoffs 2-1 on a goal in the 88th minute.

From a pool of 71 returners and prospects who came to tryouts, UST kept 23 players from last year's varsity and JV teams, plus 19 newcomers.
 
St. Thomas' graduation losses included six players honored on the 2007 All-MIAC teams. Goalie Dan Hutton plus forwards Joe Voeller, Thomas Gjervold and Max Weber were all first-team All-MIAC honorees who helped compile a 44-19-10 record in their four-year era.
 
Gjervold (7g/6a in nine games) and Voeller (5g/3a in 10 games) finished first and third in 2007 MIAC scoring. The Tommies were 14-0-3 on his career when Voeller scored a goal.
 
Hutton played in 49 games in goal and was 24-7-6 in his four-year career. His graduation leaves senior Carlos Castelan, junior Cameron Roemhildt and sophomore Alexander Benson battling for the starting goalkeeper job.
 
Senior Jon Stillwell and sophomore Reid Moser-Bleil lead the defensive returners. Returning goal scorers include juniors Henry Nwadula, Andy Gikling, Tommy Jungwirth and Derek Engler and senior Mike Molitor.
 
Another Hutton is expected to contribute for UST -- athletic freshman Mike Hutton, an all-stater from Apple Valley. Hutton and his twin brother Nick -- a Minnesota Gopher track and field signee -- ran on the Eagles' state champ 4x800 relay that set a state meet record.
 
Other newcomers pushing for varsity minutes include sophomore transfers Colin White of Robbinsdale Armstrong and Anthony Sadder; and freshmen Colten Llewellyn, an Iowa all-stater from Waukee; Angel Riera, a Class A all-state midfielder from Minneapolis DeLaSalle; and Alex Daley of Eagan.

PHOTO: Above right, Coach Aaron Macke
 
Top Returners
--Jon Stillwell, SR, D; 2007: 3g-6a/12 points
 
--Henry Ndawula, JR, F; 2007: 3g-1a/7 points
 
--Tommy Jungwirth, JR, MF; 2007: 3g/6 points
 
--Reid-Moser Bleil, SO, D; 2007: Started all 19 games on defense
 

Top Newcomers
--Mike Hutton, FR, Apple Valley, all-state soccer, all-state track and field

 
Key Losses
--Joe Voeller, Grad, F, All-MIAC, Career: 53 games, 50 points (21g-8a)
 
--Thomas Gjervold, Grad, F, All-MIAC; 2007: 18 games, 24 points (9g-6a)
 
--Max Weber, Grad, F; All-MIAC; Career: 66 games, 39 points (11g-17a)
 
--Daniel Hutton, Grad, GK; All-MIAC; Career: 49 games, part of 15 shutouts,
24-7-6 W-L.
 
--Adam Michalik, Grad, MF, Career: 55 games 13 points (5g-3a), HM All-MIAC
 
--Eric Schmitt, Grad, D, Career: 68 games, two assists, 2X HM All-MIAC

NOTE: The 2008 Tommie men's soccer roster will be posted Thur. Aug. 28 when jersey numbers are set... here's a breakdown of players by class; ##-Newcomer):

Seniors: Carlos Castelan, Mike Molitor; Ryan Wright; Alex Pruitt; Jon Stillwell; Taylor Lynch; Vince Courtright.

Juniors: Sean Kennedy, Derek Engler, Andy Gikling, Tommy Jungwirth, Henry Ndawula, Elvi Gecaj, Cameron Roemhildt

Sophomores: Alexander Benson, Ben Dellaria, Kyle Mader, Elliot Amundson, Reid Moser-Bleil, Andrew Groos, James Hart, Phil Hurley, Petros Paulos, Deograsius Ssesimba##, Colin White##, Anthony Sadder##

Freshmen: Stephen Bequette, Alex Daley, Dan Enzberger, Matthew Evertz, Andrew Fennell, Mike Hutton, Henry Kisitu, Ryan Lapadat, Colten Llewellynn, Andy Ellwein, Stacy Ngwesse, Angel Riera, Taylor Spanton, Sean Sullivan, Patrick Trembley, Anthony Zenk

 EMAIL ARTICLE

 PRINT ARTICLE