2003 News

Three named to the 2003 NAIA Honorable Mention All-America Team!

Jose Burgos, Doug Hemberger and Inaki Sanchez have been named to the 2003 NAIA Honorable Mention All-America Team. Burgos, a sophomore midfielder from Punta Arenas, Chile, is a two-time Honorable Mention All-American. He was named to the team in 2002 during his freshman season. Doug Hemberger, a senior goal keeper from Rochester, IL, and Inaki Sanchez, a sophomore defender from Puebla, Mexico, are first-time selections.

Congratulations!

Burgos among Top 20 in assist nationally!

Sophomore midfielder Jose Burgos from Punta Arenas, Chile has been recognized among the Top 20 in assist nationally based on the NAIA Men's 2003 Soccer Final Individual Statistics. Burgos, who recorded 15 assist in 19 games for a 0.79 assist per game, was #9 in the nation.

Congratulations Jose!

Eagles recognized in post-season selections!

NAIA Daktronics All-America Scholar-Athletes:
Doug Hemberger - Senior GK (2002 & 2003)
David Wlodarczyk - Senior MF (2003) - 4.0 GPA

NAIA Region VII First Team:
Jose Burgos - Sophomore MF - 8 goals & 15 assist in 2003 (2002 & 2003)
Doug Hemberger - Senior GK - 1780 minutes played, 1.3 GAA and 6 shutouts in 2003 (2003)
Inaki Sanchez - Sophomore D - Contributed 5 assist from central defensive role, organized defense that produced seven shutouts in 2003 (2003)

All-CCAC (Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference) First Team:
Jose Burgos (2002 & 2003)
Doug Hemberger (2003; 2001 & 2002 Honorable Mention)
Inaki Sanchez (2003)

Congratulations for great seasons!

RMC loses heartbreaker!

Facing CCAC opponent St. Xavier for their third meeting in 2003, RMC knew their match would be a battle. The Eagles would have to field a line-up without two starters due to card suspensions and one starter out due to injury. In a very physical match, RMC got on the scoreboard first in the 35th minute thanks to a 30 yard blast from sophomore forward Ozzie Lopez. RMC would take a 1-0 lead into the half. The second half saw plenty of action as St. Xavier came storming back scoring back-to-back goals in the 52nd and 57th minute to take a 2-1 lead. RMC, now pushing the attack, equalized in the 81st minute after Jose Burgos' free kick was headed into the St. Xavier net by senior David Wlodarczyk. As the game went into overtime, RMC would get the first two good looks at goal as both Burgos and Wlodarczyk shots sailed high of the goal. St. Xavier would end RMC's season in the 98th minute as a St. Xavier forward was tripped up in the Eagles penalty box and a penalty kick was awarded. T he Eagles season ended with a 2-3 OT loss in the Regional Semi-finals.

RMC out-shot St. Xavier 14-to-6 and dominated corner kicks with a 5-to-0 advantage.

Once again, RMC was able to advance further into post-season play than the previous season, a positive sign for RMC soccer.

The Eagles finished 2003 with an overall record of 11-6-2.

#2 RMC to face #3 St. Xavier in regional semi-final match!

In NAIA Region VII action, RMC will compete once again against CCAC opponent St. Xavier on Friday, November 14th in Des Moines, IA. Kick-off is set for 5:30pm at the James W. Cownie Soccer Complex located in Des Moines. The other regional semi-final will pit #1 Grand View College against #4 Judson College. The regional final will take place on Saturday, November 15th at 4:30pm with the winner advancing to Olathe, KS for the NAIA National Tournament.

RMC and St. Xavier each have a victory over one another and this will be their third meeting this season.

RMC defeated in CCAC semi-finals and now must prepare for Regionals!

In a typical CCAC match-up, the semi-final contest between #1 RMC and #4 St. Xavier University did not disappoint. A day of beautiful conditions leading up to game time quickly became ugly when wind and rain sprayed SASA fields for 90 minutes of action. After surviving the first half playing into the rain and wind, RMC would start the second half all tied up at 1-1. A quick counter goal from St. Xavier once again provided them with the lead. It would be short lived as RMC's Ozzie Lopez tied the game on a beautifully timed head ball goal. As the game was turning to RMC's favor, quickly that went away with the ejection of an RMC player. Playing a man down with 24 minutes left, RMC was still able to control some of the play and able to get forward to goal. However, with about 10-minutes remaining a St. Xavier attacker was able to break through the Eagle's defense and an RMC defender committed a last man foul and received the Eagle's 2nd ejection of the game. Playing with a two man advantage, SXU scored what would prove to be the game winning goal slightly over a minute after RMC's 2nd ejection. The game would end 3-2.

RMC now must wait for the NAIA Region VII seeding's to be released and see when and where they play next. The Eagles toughest test of the year will be playing their next game without two starters.

RMC captures first CCAC regular season championship and #1 seed!

Finishing off the CCAC regular season 7-2, RMC was able to claim the #1 seed heading into the CCAC post-season tournament and an automatic birth in this years NAIA Regional Tournament. Matched with Kendall College with identical records of 7-2 in conference play, RMC claims first place due to their victory over Kendall 4-1 on October 11th. RMC finished their regular season at 11-4-2 overall and 7-2 in CCAC play. RMC now plays host in the semi-finals of the CCAC tournament on Tuesday, November 4th at 7:00pm at SASA, their home field, located off of Toronto Road and 11th Street.

Two games remaining!

A tough week it was, RMC avenged two 2002 loses by claiming victories over St. Xavier 1-0 in OT and Judson College 1-0. The two victories also vaulted RMC back up to #2 in the latest NAIA Regional rankings for Region VII. RMC now looks to close out their regular season in strong fashion. Their two remaining games are against CCAC foe Trinity Christian College and CCAC newcomer Illinois Institute of Technology. On Tuesday, October 21 RMC will look to avenge a loss at the hands of TCC. In 2002, TCC knocked RMC out of the CCAC post-season tournament in the quarterfinals. Two years in a row that RMC claimed home field advantage and were upset in the first round of playoffs. The Eagles will be traveling to Chicago for their last regular season match of the year when they visit IIT on Saturday, October 25 at 2:00pm.

A tough week ahead!

RMC faces a crucial week of soccer as they head into the middle of October. Riding a four-game CCAC winning streak, RMC travels to St. Xavier on Wednesday, October 15 and host Judson College on Saturday, October 18. In 2002, it was St. Xavier that eliminated the Eagles in the regional quarterfinals, and Judson defeated a visiting RMC in 2002 in a 2-1 OT thriller. Sophomore Jose Burgos is leading the attack for RMC with 7 goals and 12 assist. Senior Amarildo Myslimi has 6 goals and 4 assist, and senior David Wlodarczyk has added 6 goals and 3 assist. Senior GK Doug Hemberger has allowed just one goal in his last 360-minutes of play.

RMC looking to rebound!

Since breaking into the NAIA top 25 National Ratings poll, RMC has gone 0-3-1 in their last four matches. They look to turn their fortunes around on Saturday, September 27th as they host visiting CCAC foe Olivet Nazarene University at SASA Field #1. RMC's record against ONU is 0-1-1 over the past two seasons as these games have been closely contested battles.

Kick-off is at 2:00pm

In the latest NAIA regional rankings, RMC has dropped from the #1 spot to #4 in region VII.

RMC cracks top 25!

With a victory over Harris-Stowe State College (6-1) and a tie against perennial powerhouse Bethel College (1-1 OT), RMC takes over the top spot in Region VII and for the first time in program history have cracked the top 25 of the NAIA National Ratings jumping all the way to #13. Coach Ryan contributes RMC's fast start to the commitment the team has made to each other and their unselfish play. They will have to continue those ways as they travel to Oklahoma City for two very difficult test as they battle Oklahoma City University on Saturday at 4:00pm and the University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma on Sunday at 1:00pm.

RMC opens 2003 with victory over regional power!

On Saturday, Aug. 23, RMC rallied from a two-goal deficit to defeat regional foe Grandview College 3-2 in OT. They followed Saturday's performance with a win over host school St. Ambrose University 4-1 to capture the St. Ambrose Early Bird Classic.

On Saturday, Aug. 30, RMC traveled to St. Louis to take on Missouri Baptist College. In a very hard fought battle, RMC triumphed with a 1-0 victory. Missouri Baptist pushed the Eagles to the limit and RMC relied on an early score and very strong defending to preserve the win and shutout.

RMC next will face Harris-Stowe on Wednesday, Sept. 3 at 7pm in their home opener to be played at the SASA (Springfield Area Soccer Association) Complex Field #1 located off of Toronto Road and 11th Street.