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2009 Schedule Roster Coaches
2009 Statistics 2008 Statistics
 

2009 Men's Soccer Schedule

Head Coach:
Joe Veal (5th year)
Assistant Coach
: Tony Rowe (3rd year), Levi Swaney (2nd year)

2009 Record: 13-4-2, WHAC 9-2-1

2010 Schedule

Date
Opponent
Site
Time
Fri., Aug 27
Grand Rapids, Mich.
4pm
Sat., Aug 28
Grand Rapids, Mich.
2pm
Fri.,-Sat., Sept 3-4
@ MCC/WHAC Challenge
Fort Wayne, Ind.
-
Fri., Sept 3
vs. Georgetown College
Fort Wayne, Ind.
4pm
Sat., Sept 4
vs. Huntington University
Fort Wayne, Ind.
1pm
Fri., Sept. 10
vs. Dordt College (IA)
Grand Rapids, Mich.
4pm
Sun., Sept 12
Grand Rapids, Mich.
2pm
Fri., Sat., Sept 17-18
@ Taylor/ Indiana Wesleyan
Marion, Ind.
TBA
Wed., Sept. 22
Palos Heights, Ill.
TBA
Sat., Sept. 25
Grand Rapids, Mich.
3:30pm
Wed., Sept. 29
Battle Creek, Mich
4pm
Tues., Oct 5
Grand Rapids, Mich.
4pm
Sat., Oct. 9
Grand Rapids, Mich.
3pm
Wed., Oct. 13
Grand Rapids, Mich.
4pm
Sat., Oct 16
Adrian, Mich.
3pm
Sat., Oct 23
Grand Rapids, Mich.
3pm
Wed. Oct. 27
Fort Wayne, Ind.
4pm
Sat., Oct. 30
Caledonia, Mich.
3pm

 

2009 Schedule

Date
Opponent
Site
Time
Tues., Sept. 1
Goshen, Ind.
Fri., Sept. 4
Canton, Ohio
Sat., Sept. 5
Canton, Ohio
Wed., Sept. 9
Grand Rapids, Mich.
Sat., Sept. 12
Grand Rapids, Mich.
Wed., Sept. 16
Grand Rapids, Mich.
Sat., Sept. 19
Grand Rapids, Mich.
Wed., Sept. 23
Grand Rapids, Mich.
Sat., Sept. 26
Fort Wayne, Ind.
Sat., Oct. 3
vs. Cornerstone (Homecoming)
Grand Rapids, Mich.
Wed., Oct. 7
Livonia, Mich.
Sat., Oct. 10
Ann Arbor, Mich.
Sun., Oct. 11
Grand Rapids, Mich.
Sat., Oct. 17
Adrian, Mich.
Wed., Oct. 21
Grand Rapids, Mich.
Thurs., Oct. 22
Grand Rapids, Mich.
Sat., Oct. 31
Grand Rapids, Mich.
Wed., Nov. 4
Grand Rapids, Mich.
Sat., Nov. 7
WHAC Semifinals vs. Davenport
Grand Rapids, Mich.
2009 Men's Soccer Team
2009 Roster
Printable Roster
No.
Photo
Player
Year
Pos
Ht.
Hometown/High School/Prev. School
0
Craig Demshuk
Craig Demshuk
FR
GK
6-3
Novi, Mich./Novi
0
Tim Miller
Tim Miller
FR
GK
5-11
Grand Rapids, Mich./Northpointe Christian
0
Tom VanderVelden
Tom VanderVelden
FR
GK
5-10
Holland, Mich./West Ottawa
1
Jesse Guevara-Lehker
Jesse Guevara-Lehker
SO
GK
6-1
Grand Rapids, Mich./ Grand Rapids Christian
2
Kyle Dyke
Kyle Dyke
FR
DEF
5-9
Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Central
3
Joey VanGessel
Joey VanGessel
SO
MID
5-10
Grandville, Mich./Grandville/GRCC
4
Cody Taplin
Cody Taplin
SO
MID
5-8
Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Central
5
Casey Hogan
Casey Hogan
FR
FWD
5-8
Manistee, Mich./Manistee
6
Andrej Tavic
Andrej Tavic
JR
MID
5-8
Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Northern
7
Brian McKeough
Brian McKeough
SR
MID
5-10
Hastings, Mich./ Hastings
8
Chad DuRussel
Chad DuRussel
JR
DEF
5-8
Grand Rapids, Mich./East Kentwood
9
Ian Sigler
Ian Sliger
SO
MID
6-1
Elk Rapids, Mich./Elk Rapids
10
Ruben Ornelas-Luna
Ruben Ornelas-Luna
JR
MID
5-9
Grand Rapids, Mich./Wyoming Rogers
11
Brian Himes
Brian Himes
SR
FWD
6-2
Fenton, Mich./Fenton
14
Calvin Bekins
Calvin Bekins
SR
DEF
5-11
East Grand Rapids, Mich./East Grand Rapids
15
Collin Doud
Collin Doud
FR
DEF
5-10
Portage, Mich./Portage Northern
16
Sven Welz
Sven Welz
SO
DEF
6-0
Middleville, Mich./Middleville
17
Heath Somers
Heath Somers
FR
MID
6-0
Portage, Mich./Portage Northern
19
Casey Higgason
Casey Higgason
FR
FWD
5-11
Portage, Mich./Portage Northern
20
Jeovani Pantoja
Jeovani Pantoja
JR
FWD
5-9
Grand Rapids, Mich./Grandville
26
Michael Vaughn
Michael Vaughan
JR
MID
5-11
Jenison, Mich./Jenison
**
Anel Hadzic
Anel Hadzic
JR
DEF
5-11
Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Northern
Coaches:
Joe Veal

JOE VEAL
Men's Head Coach

The 2009 season marks the fifth year as head of the Aquinas Men's Soccer program. As Veal steps into his fifth year as head coach at Aquinas, he brings more than 30 years of soccer experience both as a coach and as a player to Aquinas. His coaching record after four years at Aquinas is 53-25-3 and includes two WHAC Tournament Championships and a share of the 2008 WHAC regular season championship. Before assuming the head coach position at Aquinas, Veal most recently served as the boy's Varsity Soccer Coach at Rockford High School from 1997-2005 where he posted a 92-79-5 record.

Veal, who is no stranger to coaching soccer at the collegiate level, served as Co-Head Men's Soccer Coach at Aquinas with Pat Hoatlin in 1996, a year in which the Saints won the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference tournament and posted a 14-7-1 record. Other collegiate stops for Veal include a Head Coaching position at Cornerstone University for the Men's Soccer program from 1988-1995. In Veal's seven years at Cornerstone, the Golden Eagles posted a 66-63-16 record which included Wolverine Hoosier Athletic Conference Championship and Coach of the Year honors in 1993. While at Cornerstone, Veal served as NAIA's Men's Soccer Coaches Association second Vice President from 1994-1997, NAIA's Men's Soccer Secretary from 1993-1994 as well as on the NAIA National Tournament Games Committee from 1993-1997.

Other collegiate stops for Veal include Head Men's Soccer Coach at Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis, IN in 1987 & 1988 and Bethel College, IN from 1984-1986.

Veal's soccer credentials include a B License from the United States Soccer Federation and a National Diploma from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. Veal has also served as Director of Coaching at Indiana for the Youth Soccer Association (1985-1989) and at the Soccer Club of Rockford. Veal graduated from Bethel College with his Bachelors degree in Physical Education, Health, and Biblical Literature. While at Bethel, Veal captained the men's soccer team and earned All-District honors in 1974. Veal went on to receive his Masters Degree from Indiana University in 1984.



Tony Rowe

TONY ROWE

Assistant Coach

Rowe begins his third year as part of Joe Veal's coaching staff. Rowe, a Flushing, Michigan native, prepped at Flint Powers Catholic where he was named a two-time all-league player as well as a three-time all-state player. While at Aquinas, Rowe helped man the net for the Saints. In 2006, Rowe helped the Saints to their first winning season since 2002 posting an 11-6-2 record. The former Aquinas Goalkeeper has obtained a NSCAA Regional Goalkeeper diploma. Rowe, a history major, is finishing up his degree while working to obtain his teacher certificate at Aquinas.

Levi Swaney

Levi Swaney

Assistant Coach

Coach Swaney begins his second year as a part of Joe Veal's coaching staff after completing his Aquinas career in 2007. Swaney, a Mattawan, MI native, prepped at Mattawan High School where he was named a two-time all-league player as well as a two-time all-state player. While at Aquinas, Swaney was a four year starter who captained the team during the 2007 season. His senior year Swaney was named to the All-WHAC, All Region VIII and to the NAIA All American Honorable Mention team. In 2007, Swaney helped the Saints to the WHAC Tournament championship and a 14-6-1 record. The former Aquinas Saint has earned his degree in Business Administration and has worked as a coach for the Grand Rapids CREW as well as helped coach at East Grand Rapids High School.

Year In Review:

The 2009 Aquinas Soccer team entered the season with the goal to repeat as Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Regular Season Champions and follow up with the WHAC tournament Championship in order to qualify for the National Tournament. The Saints accomplished their first goal and won the WHAC Regular Season Championship for the second year in a row but was disappointed when they were upset in the first round of the WHAC Tournament. The 2009 team finished the season with a overall record of 13-4-2 and a 9-2-1 record in the WHAC.

Aquinas began the season by losing on the road to a competitive Goshen College (IN) team 2-1. The team rebounded in the next game to beat Walsh College (OH) in overtime 3-2 in an exciting game with Senior Brian Himes scoring in the last minute of the game to tie the game 2-2 and then Junior, Jeo Pantoja scoring the winning goal in overtime. The next day they earned their first shutout of the year by beating Malone College (OH) 4-0. The third goal of the game featured Jeo Pantoja dribbling the ball 90 yards down the field while beating 3 defenders and scoring the unassisted goal.

The next 4 games included 3 conference wins over Madonna, 4-0, Siena Heights, 3-2 O.T., and Concordia, 4-0, and a key non-conference victory by beating #13 ranked St. Xavier (IL) 1-0. With shutouts against Concordia and St. Xavier goalkeeper Jesse Guevara-Lehker was selected as NAIA National Defensive Player of the Week.

The Saints stumbled in the middle of the season by losing two road games to WHAC opponents Davenport, 2-1, and Indiana Tech, 3-1. The Saints wouldn’t lose again in the regular season and only allowed 1 goal in the next 8 games.

The Saints regrouped by beating rival Cornerstone University on Homecoming weekend 1-0 with center midfielder Mike Vaughan scoring on an assist from junior Ruben Ornales-Luna. The team went on to achieve key road victories over Madonna, 1-0, and Siena Heights, 1-0, and a home win over Davenport, 1-0.

Going into their next game with Indiana Tech the Saints knew they needed a win or a tie to clinch the WHAC title and were able to play solid defense and shutout the Warriors in a 0-0 tie. In the final regular season game Aquinas traveled to Cornerstone and gained a come from behind victory with Jeo Pantoja scoring a hat trick to win the game in overtime.

 

2009 Aquinas Men’s Soccer Season Awards

Most Valuable Player: Michael Vaughan

Most Valuable Offensive Player: Jeovani Pantoja

Most Valuable Defensive Player: Chad DuRussel

Most Improved Player: Cody Taplin

Pat Hoatlin Award: Chad DuRussel and Michael Vaughan

NAIA Honorable Mention All-American: Jeovani Pantoja

NAIA Scholar-Athlete All-American: Brain Himes

Wolverine Hoosier Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year: Jeovani Pantoja

Wolverine Hoosier Athletic Conference First Team: Jeovani Pantoja

Wolverine Hoosier Athletic Conference First Team: Michael Vaughan

Wolverine Hoosier Athletic Conference First Team: Chad DuRussel

Wolverine Hoosier Athletic Conference Second Team: Jesse Guevara-Lehker

Wolverine Hoosier Athletic Conference Second Team: Heath Somers

Wolverine Hoosier Athletic Conference Third Team: Brain McKeough

Wolverine Hoosier Athletic Conference Scholar-Athlete: Brain Himes

Wolverine Hoosier Athletic Conference Scholar-Athlete: Michael Vaughan

Wolverine Hoosier Athletic Conference Scholar-Athlete: Andrej Tavic

Wolverine Hoosier Athletic Conference Champions of Character Team: Brain Himes

 
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