IWU Sports

2 September 2004

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - A group of 19 lettermen, including the top three scorers from last year’s team, return for the Illinois Wesleyan University men’s soccer team.

The Titans, who finished 9-10 overall and 3-3 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin last fall, open their season against Marian on Sept. 4 at 12:30 p.m. at IWU’s Neis Field.

“One key for any successes we have this year will be the effectiveness at keeping the ball out of the goal and reducing the number of opponents’ offensive opportunities,” said head coach David Barrett. “Another key is that our strikers be consistently dangerous and put pressure on our opponents to defend.”

Among those Barrett expects to be dangerous include the top three scorers from last season, all of whom were freshmen – midfielder Chris Miller (Normal, University High) had seven goals and four assists for 18 points, while forward Josh Lacey (Eldridge, Iowa, North Scott HS) scored seven goals with one assist for 15 points.

Forward Mark Opal (Wheaton, Benet Academy) added three goals and assisted on five more.

Senior midfielders Scott Hernandez (Oswego HS) and Reed Grimwood (Eagan, Minn., HS) provide versatility and help solidify the offensive attack as veterans, along with senior David Beckett (Bolingbrook HS) and junior Ryan Smith (Decatur, Eisenhower HS).

Freshmen Colin Aubin (Orland Park, Sandburg HS) and Paul Caracciolo (Cherry Hill, N.J., East HS) are forwards who have shown the ability to keep the ball in the mixer offensively.

The defense is anchored by senior Alan Mila (Bartlett, Ill., Wheaton Academy), who is a three-time all-conference selection and two-time team “Most Valuable Player.” “Alan is a very outstanding soccer player and leader who has worked hard on conditioning during the off-seasons,” said Barrett. “The onus should not fall so much on our backs and goalkeepers, so we look to get Alan help from the offense this year.”

Joining Mila on defense is sophomore Steve Perona (Western Springs, Lyons Township HS), the “Most Improved Player” of last year’s team, along with sophomores Ben Clemens (Wheaton, Benet Academy) and Andrew Kloepper (Naperville, Benet Academy) and senior Nick Hogren (Metamora HS).

Freshman Andy Bobowski (Darien, Benet Academy) adds depth to the back positions.

“Our goalkeepers need to perform like the seniors they are and lead us game-in and game-out,” said Barrett of his two returning senior keepers - Matt Robertson (Arlington Heights, Hersey HS) and Jeremy Witt (Waukegan, Warren Township HS).

Last season, Robertson did the bulk of the goalkeeping, posting shutouts against Carthage, Aurora and North Central and logging a 2.00 goals-against average. Witt had a 2.18 goals-against average in four games.

Barrett says that preseason optimism is high and his team is well aware of the task ahead of it. “The bottom line is that we need to respond to all of the challenges we will face during the season and perform with consistency and maturity over the course of 18 games.”

Titans' Men's Soccer Aims to Improve in 2004