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2009 Men's Soccer Schedule
Head Coach: Joe Veal (4th year)
Assistant Coach: Tony Rowe (3rd year), Levi Swaney (2nd year)
2008 Record: 14-6-0, WHAC 11-1-0
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Date |
Opponent |
Site |
Time |
Tues., Sept. 1 |
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Goshen, Ind. |
7 p.m. |
Fri., Sept. 4 |
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Canton, Ohio |
4 p.m. |
Sat., Sept. 5 |
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Canton, Ohio |
4 p.m. |
Wed., Sept. 9 |
|
Livonia, Mich. |
4 p.m. |
Sat., Sept. 12 |
|
Grand Rapids, Mich. |
2:30 p.m. |
Wed., Sept. 16 |
|
Grand Rapids, Mich. |
4 p.m. |
Sat., Sept. 19 |
|
Grand Rapids, Mich. |
3 p.m. |
Wed., Sept. 23 |
|
Grand Rapids, Mich. |
4 p.m. |
Sat., Sept. 26 |
|
Fort Wayne, Ind. |
2:30 p.m. |
Wed., Sept. 30 |
|
Spring Arbor, Mich. |
4:30 p.m. |
Sat., Oct. 3 |
|
Grand Rapids, Mich. |
3 p.m. |
Wed., Oct. 7 |
|
Grand Rapids, Mich. |
4 p.m. |
Sat., Oct. 10 |
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Ann Arbor, Mich. |
2:30 p.m. |
Sun., Oct. 11 |
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Grand Rapids, Mich. |
1 p.m. |
Sat., Oct. 17 |
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Adrian, Mich. |
3 p.m. |
Wed., Oct. 21 |
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Grand Rapids, Mich. |
4 p.m. |
Sat., Oct. 31 |
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Grand Rapids, Mich. |
3 p.m. |
Wed., Nov. 4 |
|
Grand Rapids, Mich. |
4 p.m. |
Sat., Nov. 7 |
WHAC Semifinals |
TBA |
TBA |
Sat., Nov. 14 |
WHAC Finals |
TBA |
TBA |
Sat., Nov. 21 |
NAIA National Tournament |
TBA |
TBA |
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| Printable Roster |
No. |
Photo |
Player |
Year |
Pos |
Ht. |
Hometown/High School/Prev. School |
0 |
 |
Jesse Guevara-Lehker |
FR |
GK |
6-1 |
Grand Rapids, MI/ Grand Rapids Christian |
2 |
 |
Sam Callow |
FR |
DEF |
5-5 |
Grand Ledge, MI/Grand Ledge |
3 |
 |
Dan Parejo |
FR |
MID |
6-1 |
Kalamazoo, MI/Kalamazoo Hackett C.C. |
4 |
 |
Jose Guillan |
FR |
MID |
5-9 |
Jenison, MI/Jenison |
5 |
 |
Matt Dale |
FR |
MID |
5-7 |
Grand Rapids, MI/ Forest Hills Northern |
7 |
 |
Brian McKeough |
JR |
MID |
5-10 |
Hastings, MI/ Hastings |
8 |
 |
Chad DuRussel |
SO |
DEF |
5-8 |
Grand Rapids, MI/East Kentwood |
10 |
 |
Ruben Ornelas-Luna |
SO |
MID |
5-9 |
Grand Rapids, MI/Wyoming Rogers |
11 |
 |
Brian Himes |
JR |
FWD |
6-2 |
Fenton, MI/Fenton |
13 |
 |
Garrett Gribi |
FR |
FWD |
5-9 |
Elk Rapids, MI/Elk Rapids |
14 |
 |
Calvin Bekins |
JR |
DEF |
|
East Grand Rapids, MI/East Grand Rapids |
16 |
 |
Sven Welz |
FR |
MID |
6-0 |
Middleville, MI/Middleville |
19 |
 |
Jeff Larson |
SO |
MID |
5-6 |
Jenison, MI/Jension |
20 |
 |
Jeovani Pantoja |
SO |
FWD |
5-9 |
Grand Rapids, MI/Grandville |
21 |
 |
Matt Bouchard |
FR |
DEF |
5-10 |
Middlevill MI/Middleville |
23 |
 |
Ian Sliger |
FR |
MID |
6-1 |
Elk Rapids, MI/ Elk Rapids |
26 |
 |
Michael Vaughan |
SO |
MID |
5-11 |
Jenison, MI/Jenison |
27 |
 |
Cody Taplin |
FR |
MID |
5-8 |
Grand Rapids, MI/ Forest Hills Central |
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| Coaches: |
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JOE
VEAL
Men's Head Coach
The 2008 season marks the third year as head of the Aquinas Men's Soccer program after helping led the Saints to their first winning season since 2002 in his first year with the Saints. As Veal steps into his third year as head coach at Aquinas, he brings more
than 20 years of soccer experience both as a coach and as
a player to Aquinas. Before assuming the head coach postion 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 and posted a 14-7-1
. 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 1987 & 1988 where Veal was honored as NAIA District 21 Coach of
the Year and posted a 27-13-2 record in his two year stint.
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 and Health and Biblical Literature. While at Bethel
, Veal captained the men's soccer team and earned All-District
honors in 1975. Veal went on to receive his Masters Degree
from Indiana University in 1984.
|
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TONY ROWE
Assistant Coach
Rowe begins his second year as part of Joe Veal's coaching staff. Rowe , a Flushing, Mi native, prepped at Flint Powers Cathloic 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 Regional Goalkeeper diploma. Rowe, a history major, is finishing up his degree while working to obtain his teacher certificate at Aquinas. |
 |
Levi Swaney
Assistant Coach
Coach Swaney will join 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. Last 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 is finishing his degree in Business Administration and also working as a coach for the CREW club team as well as a coach at Forest Hills Eastern High School. |
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| Year in Review |
The Aquinas men’s soccer team has the goal of becoming a player on the national stage, and 2008 was another step in the right direction. With a record of 14-6 and 11-1 in the WHAC, the Saints shared the regular season conference crown with Madonna and came within one game of a trip to nationals.
Coach Joe Veal (3rd year) and his Saints got out of the gates slowly as a number of key players began the season with injuries.The season started with two games versus nationally ranked NCAA Division 3 opponents. The Saints dropped their season opener to Hope, but turned around the next day and defeated MIAA champion Calvin 3-2. The Saints record after eight games stood at 4-4, with highlight wins against St. Xavier in Chicago (1-0 2OT) and a come from behind win at Siena Heights (2-1). As the team started getting healthy, they started getting more results. Starting with a 2-1 win over cross-town rival Cornerstone Sept. 27, the Saints reeled off seven straight wins to keep pace with Madonna for the conference title.
The Saints regular season closed with two overtime wins on the road to clinch a share of the title. Wins at Davenport (2-1 OT) and at rapidly improving Concordia (4-3 2 OT) put their conference mark at 11-1. The opening game of the WHAC playoffs had the Saints hosting Davenport, and the Saints showed their dominating attacking prowess early and often. The result was a 5-0 win and a place in the WHAC championship game with a spot in the national tournament on the line.
With the teams splitting their regular season meetings, the Aquinas-Madonna championship match was sure to be a good one, and the game didn’t disappoint. The Saints had their chances, but the back and forth game in the freezing rain ended in a 0-2 loss.
The Saints placed eight players on All-Conference teams, led by 1st teamers sophomore forward Jeo Pantoja and sophomore midfielder Mike Vaughan. Pantoja led the team in goals (18) and points (40) while Vaughan ran the team from the midfield and led the team in assists (5). Players named to the second team were senior goalkeeper Ben Richardson, senior midfielder Jarod Smith, sophomore defender Chad DuRussell, and senior defender Chris Smith. Also garnering honors were senior forward Erich Jackson (HM) and freshman midfielder Jose Guillan (HM). Senior Forward Carlos Martinez was named to the Champions of Character team.
The Saints look to the future with a great deal of young talent coming back, and the national stage is in their sights. With 19 players returning in 2009, Aquinas Men’s soccer will hopefully take another step towards that goal.
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