NAIA Final Ranking - Receiving Votes
15-4-1 (.775) Overall
6-2-0 (.750) American Mideast Conference South Division
Up Next: Sept. 2, SIENA HEIGHTS, 7 p.m.
VandeKopple joins Yellow Jackets
Matt VandeKopple (center) is joined by CU head men's soccer coach Ben Belleman (right) and assistant coach Brent Davis after signing with the Yellow Jackets.
CEDARVILLE, Ohio (6-6-2006) - Matt VandeKopple, a graduate of NorthePointe Christian High School in Grand Rapids, Mich., has signed a letter of intent to attend Cedarville University and play soccer for the Yellow Jackets. The midfielder tallied 10 goals and 7 assists as as senior while earning all-region and all-district honors for a team that posted a 17-3-1 record and won the River Valley Conference championhship. NorthPointe had a combined 36-7-2 record during VandeKopple's last two seasons and was ranked in the Michigan Division III Top 10 both years.
"Matt has demonstrated himself to be a quality student-athlete,," remarked CU head coach Ben Belleman. "He is exactly the type of young man we want in our program."
Davis, Knight to play for PDL's Cascade Surge
SALEM, Oregon (5-5-2006) - Yellow Jacket players Ken Davis and Grant Knight will be playing for the Cascade Surge of the Premier Development League this summer. [MORE and CASCADE SURGE]
Trittipoe signs with Yellow Jackets
Caleb Trittipoe (center) is joined by his father Gary Trittipoe (left) and CU head men's soccer coach Ben Belleman after signing a letter of intent to play for the Yellow Jackets.
CEDARVILLE, Ohio (3-6-2006) - Caleb Trittipoe, a graduate of New Covenant High School in Lynchburg, Va., has signed a letter of intent to attend Cedarville University and play soccer for the Yellow Jackets. The 5-foot-9 forward comes to CU after racking up 177 goals during his four-year prep career. Among his many accomplishments, Trittipoe was tabbed the 2005 NACA Division III Tournament Offensive MVP and was named to multiple all-tournament teams. He possesses extensive club soccer and ODP experience, plus he participated in the USA Cup Soccer Tournament last summer in Minnesota.
"We are pleased to have Caleb become part of our program," stated Yellow Jacket head coach Ben Belleman. "He has demonstrated fine offensive skills in his career and our hope is that he can add depth to our front line attack."
Ben Belleman
Belleman AMC Coach of the Year; five Jackets honored
CEDARVILLE, Ohio (11-30-2005) - Ben Belleman was named AMC South Division Coach of the Year and five Yellow Jacket players were recognized with all-conference honors for the 2005 season. They were selected in voting by the league coaches.
Belleman led CU to a 15-4-1 overall record, a berth in the NAIA Region IX Final Four, and a second-place finish in the AMC South behind perennial national power Rio Grande. He has guided the Jackets to 71 victories during a five-year tenure at his alma mater.
Senior goalkeeper Luke Marietta, senior defender Phil Ellis, and senior forward Justin Benz were chosen to the All-AMC South Division First Team. Junior midfielder Jesse Fox and sophomore forward Ken Davis were voted to the Second Team. [ALL-AMC SOUTH DIVISION TEAM] Ellis, Marietta, and Benz were also selected to the 14-player All-NAIA Region IX Team. [ALL-NAIA REGION IX TEAM]
Three Yellow Jackets tabbed NCCAA All-Americans;
Ellis named NAIA scholar
CEDARVILLE, Ohio (11-21-2005) - NCCAA Player of the Year Phil Ellis heads a trio of Yellow Jacket players selected to the 12-member NCCAA/NSCAA All-America Team for the 2005 season. Senior goalkeeper Luke Marietta and junior midfielder Jesse Fox were also named to the elite group. It's the most Cedarville players to earn the honor in a single season since the 1985 squad had four All-Americans. [NCCAA ALL-AMERICANS]
Ellis has also been recognized as an NAIA All-America Scholar-Athlete. The program recognizes juniors and seniors who maintain a minimum 3.50 cumulative grade point average. [NAIA ALL-AMERICA SCHOLAR-ATHLETES]
Phil Ellis
Ellis named NCCAA Player of the Year
CEDARVILLE, Ohio (11-18-2005) - Yellow Jacket senior Phil Ellis has been selected the 2005 Kyle Rote, Jr. NCCAA Player of the Year in men's soccer. He is the first Cedaville player to earn the honor which is presented in the name of the former professional player, who is also the lead member of the selection committee.
Ellis, a 6-foot-1 defender from Cincinnati, paced the Yellow Jackets to a 15-4-1 record, a No. 1 ranking in the NCCAA poll, and a berth in the NAIA Region IX Final Four. After playing midfield during the first three years of his career, he moved back to anchor a defense that posted nine shutouts and allowed just 17 goals in 20 matches. Ellis was also named the NCCAA Midwest Region Player of the Year.
"Phil has had an immediate and consistent impact on our team on the field, but he also sustains us as a spiritual leader.," stated CU head coach Ben Belleman. "He is very focused in both areas and Cedarville would not be the program it is without his influence."
Ellis has been extensively involved in missions work throughout his college career. He has worked the On Goal soccer camp, International Children's Outreach soccer camp, and the Cedarville University soccer camp. He was part of a 2005 spring break New York City missions trip through CU's Missions Involvement Service and has also been on Yellow Jacket soccer missions trips to Vancouver and Brazil.
A Dean's Honor List student as a business finance major, Ellis is an NAIA and NCCAA All-America Scholar-Athlete. Phil and his wife, Lauren, reside in Cedarville.
Jackets dominate All-NCCAA Midwest Region Team
CEDARVILLE, Ohio (11-17-2005) - CU defender Phil Ellis was named the NCCAA Midwest Region Player of the Year while Ben Belleman was chosen as Coach of the Year for the 2005 season. They were honored in voting by the region coaches. Joining Ellis on the all-region team are forwards Justin Benz and Ken Davis, midfielder Jesse Fox, and goalkeeper Luke Marietta.
Jackets help out with hurricane relief
During Cedarville's trip to Mobile, Ala. on Oct. 21-22, members of the Yellow Jacket soccer team volunteered to help in Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. The team worked in a warehouse which was a distribution center for all donated goods. They repacked items in smaller boxes for distribution to affected people throughout the gulf region.
Belleman headed to OSSCA Hall of Fame
CEDARVILLE, Ohio (6-22-2005) - Cedarville University men’s soccer coach Ben Belleman has been elected to the Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association Hall of Fame. He will be inducted at the association’s annual all-state banquet in December.
Belleman, a 1979 Cedarville graduate, has posted a 56-30-6 record in four years as head coach at his alma mater. He came to CU after recording 256 victories during a 21-year high school coaching career. He spent 18 years at Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy in Ohio where he served as athletic director and won 205 matches as the boys' head soccer coach.
Belleman took one team to the Ohio Division II semifinals and seven squads to the quarterfinals. He was a two-time Ohio Division II Coach of the Year and was accorded the same honor for Division III following the 2000 season. He was active in all facets of high school soccer and is a past president of the OSSCA.
CVCA's soccer team was a five-time recipient of the Sandor Reinor Sportsmanship Award as selected by the Greater Akron Soccer Officials Association. Belleman was presented the 1988 Ron Pinschenshum Memorial Award for outstanding character by the OSSCA. [MORE]
Head Coach
Ben Belleman
Assistant Coaches
Brent Davis
Josh Radcliffe
Dr. Kevin Roper
Soccer Facts
- 2003, 2004 NCCAA Midwest Region Champions
- 380 wins in 42-year history
- 10 national tournament appearances
- 12 conference titles
- 31 All-Americans and 34 Scholar-Athletes
