2004 News

2004 NSCAA Scholar All-Region Team!

Jon Wen (senior from Pretoria, South Africa) and Inaki Sanchez (junior from Puebla, Mexico) have been named to the 2004 NSCAA Scholar All-Region/Honorable Mention Team.

Congratulations!

Eagle honored as Scholar-Athlete!

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) announced the 2004 Daktronics-NAIA Men's Soccer All-America Scholar-Athletes.

2004 Daktronics-NAIA All-America Scholar-Athlete
Jon Wen, SR.; Pretoria, South Africa

Recipients must be a junior or senior in academic standing and maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher scale.

Eagle recognized in CCAC voting!

Inaki Sanchez, a junior defender from Puebla, Mexico, has been named to the CCAC (Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference) All-Conference 1st Team.

This is the second year in a row Sanchez has been named CCAC 1st Team. Though used late in the season in midfield to add some attacking strength, it has been Inaki's experience in his central defensive role that has high-lighted his play. Inaki finished the 2004 season with 3 goals and 9 assists.

Eagles fail to make play-offs!

For the first time in four seasons, RMC has failed to reach the CCAC play-offs and a shot at Regional play. Though never out of any game, there was just to many one-goal and two-goal defeats that could've been prevented. A couple of high lights came early in the season as RMC battled Judson College and Bethel College (IN) to the limit losing both respectively 1-2 and 0-1. Both teams finished the regular season ranked in the Top 10 of the NAIA, and advanced to the NAIA National Tournament.

Eagles fall at MCC!

Riding a three-game winning streak, the Eagles looked to close out the 2004 season with a win against Top 25 Mid-Continent College. It was the Cougars, a very experienced mature squad, that controlled the majority of play. In constant rain, the Cougars struck first in the 20th minute with the help of a penalty call. Before the first half would end, RMC missed a couple of golden opportunities by not taking advantage of Cougar mistakes to tie the game. Second half saw much of the same as MCC out-scored RMC in the second half 3-2 for a 4-2 final. Junior Ozzie Lopez recorded both RMC goals as Inaki Sanchez picked up his 9th assist of the year.

Freshman provide scoring!

With their second game in as many days, freshmen Adrian Skital and Zach Priddy picked up where they left off against Upper Iowa. In the 43rd minute, Priddy slipped a through ball onto the on-racing Skital who calmy beat the Viterbo keeper for 1-0 half-time lead. Freshman Krystian Skital picked up the second goal when he carried the ball across the penalty box beating the keeper with a 20 yard blast. Sophomore Dane McGinthy would finish the scoring in the 76th minute on an assist from freshman Ambo Mwakatapanya. Senior GK Shaun Von De Bur recorded his second shut-out of the season.

Kimba sparks Eagles!

With a healthy Sam Kimba, the Eagles have taken three in a row and show signs of what was expected heading into the 2004 season. With the addition of junior midfielder Sam Kimba finally recovered from injury and looking solid in a defensive midfield role, RMC has been able to open the offense freeing Inaki Sanchez to move up into a more attacking role. Against Upper Iowa, RMC unleashed 6 goals in the last 25 minutes to overcome a 0-3 deficit. Freshman Zach Priddy started the scoring with his second goal of the season with a 25 yard left-footed blast into the upper 90. It then proceded to be the Adrian Skital and Inaki Sanchez show. Freshman forward Adrian Skital recorded his first collegiate hat-trick along with picking up an assist, while junior midfielder Inaki Sanchez netted two goals and four assist.

Eagles look to finish on positive note!

With four games remaining in the 2004 season, the RMC men's soccer team will look to finish on a positive note and with some healthy personel. With no post-season play this year, RMC will look to close out their 2004 CCAC play with a win at Trinity Christian College, followed by away games at NCAA Div. II Upper Iowa, NAIA Regional opponent Viterbo, and Top 25 Mid-Continent College.

Update! Change in Schedule

RMC vs Olivet Nazarene University originally scheduled for Wednesday, October 6 at 4:00pm at ONU has been changed to 3:30pm. Date and location remain the same.

RMC vs. Trinity Christian College originally scheduled for Tuesday, October 12 at 7:00pm at TCC has been changed to 3:00pm. Date and location remain the same.

Hard fought victory to start CCAC play!

The RMC men's soccer program rebounded from a four-game losing streak to start their league championship defense against a strong IIT team. It took 108 minutes, but the Eagles fought for their first victory of the 2004 season. Freshman forward Ambo Mwakatapanya recorded his team high third goal of the year and his first collegiate game winner battling for a cross from Inaki Sanchez. Junior college transfer Ruben Avila tied the game in the 70th minute after receiving a pass in the box from Dane McGinthy. McGinthy did strong work holding off three IIT defenseman before slotting the ball to Avila who passed it by the Hawks GK. GK Shaun Von De Bur once again had another strong performance for the Eagles recording four saves on five shots. IIT's goal came from a PK in the 37th minute.

Eagles look to rebound heading into conference play!

Off to an auspicious start, the RMC men's soccer program looks to rebound heading into Tuesday, September 14th CCAC opener versus IIT. The Eagles are coming off 0-1 (Bethel College), 1-3 (Missouri Baptist) and 2-3 (Hannibal-LaGrange) defeats all at home. "We're young and a little banged up right now, but we will get this turned around and on the right track. We've played four quality programs with close results, it's just a matter for us to find the right formula," states Coach Ryan.

RMC drops opener to 8th ranked Grand View College!

Robert Morris started their 2004 campaign with a road defeat to Grand View College 2-4. Facing the pre-season 8th ranked team in the NAIA, the Eagle's were never able to establish any offensive rhythm to their game. GVC jumped to an early lead with goals in the 22nd and 26th minute. Before the first half would end, RMC would see their fortunes turn as a GVC player received a straight red card in the 36th minute. With momentum heading into the 2nd half, RMC would cut the lead to one when Adrian Skital received a pass in the 59th minute, dribble two GVC defenders and laid off an easy finish for teammate Ruben Avila. However, fate would pay back the Eagles. Shortly after cutting the lead in half, senior Jose Carlos Jimenez picked up his second yellow card of the game and was sent off reducing the sides to 10 vs. 10. GVC would add two more in the 74th and 87th minute. RMC would get a very late goal by Ozzie Lopez in the 89th minute. Lopez was assisted by Zach Priddy. Senior goal keeper Shaun Von De Bur recorded 11 saves.

RMC must now prepare for their upcoming Labor Day Invitational featuring nationally ranked Bethel College (pre-season #7), Missouri Baptist, and conference foe Trinity International.

RMC gets result in exhibition action!

Traveling to Kenosha, WI to face NCAA Div. II Top 20 University of Wisconsin-Parkside in exhibition action, RMC faired well to get a decent 1-1 result. The Eagle's started strong and looked sharp from the opening whistle, but an experienced UW-P squad made tactical adjustments and play shifted in their favor. Poor marking by the RMC defense led to the Ranger's goal in the 30th minute as a UW-P forward was left unmarked on the six. RMC would strike back in the 75th minute as junior forward Ozzie Lopez cracked a 20 yard direct kick. The Eagle's would take the lead in the 80th minute on a goal by senior midfielder Jon Wen, however, the goal was disallowed due to a questionable off-sides call. The Eagle's defense held strong in the waining minutes as UW-P hit the post on two occasions and had one shot cleared off the RMC goal line. Senior goal keeper Shaun Von De Bur looked strong in his first 90 minutes of action.

The 2004 Eagle's take on a young look!

New additions to 2004 include seven freshman and one junior. They are: (Junior) Ruben Avila, College of Dupage, Oswego, IL; Krystian Skital, Naperville North HS, Naperville, IL; Ambo Mwakatapanya, Naperville North HS, Naperville, IL; Zachary Priddy, Lanphier HS, Springfield, IL; Samukai Dunna, Monrovia, Liberia; Shane Wooden, Rochester, IL; Vncent Cole, Merrillville HS, Merrillville, IN; and Stanoja Kuzmanovic, Downer's Grove South, Downer's Grove, IL.

A few should see immediate action. Ruben Avila looks to nail down a starting spot in the midfield, and freshmen Krystian Skital and Zach Priddy should contend for starting positions.