Season Outlook
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| Steve Zarrilli |
The Cedarville College men's soccer team is hoping to continue the momentum that was established at the end of the 1998 campaign. The Yellow Jackets surprisingly won the NCCAA Midwest Region title, pulled off an upset at the NCCAA National Tournament, and went on to place fourth in the eight-team event. Despite a record that was a deceptive 8-14 against rugged competition, a sense of optimism prevails heading into 1999.
"I think we have more depth than last year," remarked second-year head coach Roger Swigart, who was the NCCAA Midwest Region Coach of the Year last year. "We don't have any dominating players, but feel that we are solid throughout the lineup. We also have some good young players who are going to help us."
Chris Brock and Mike Moran, a pair of senior defenders, are the co-captains this fall. Brock begins his fourth season in the program and was an American Mideast Conference honorable mention selection last year. Moran has played in every match in his two years as a Yellow Jacket including last fall when he started all 22 matches.
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| Chris Brock |
The only other seniors on the roster are midfielder Dave Anthony and forward Matt Bicknell. Anthony joined the program after the 1998 season began and then started the final 14 matches.
Junior midfielder Aaron Cook paced the team in scoring as a sophomore with 9 goals and 8 assists for 26 points. He landed a spot on the NCCAA All-America Second Team.
Sophomore forward Justin Geer contributed 5 goals and 3 assists for 13 points in his initial collegiate season. Other returning scorers are junior forward Roddy Willis (3 goals), junior midfielder Tim Prusha (2 goals), and sophomore midfielder Ryan Rillo (2 goals).
The Jackets will be young on the defense. Sophomore Steve Zarrilli was named to the NCCAA Midwest Region Second Team as a freshman and classmate Rob Marshall played in 18 matches. Matt Reid heads a contingent of three freshmen goalkeepers.
The schedule is one that is heavy in home matches at the end of the season. Cedarville opens with seven assignments away from home and then plays eight of their final 11 on campus including the last five in a row.