2000 Men's Soccer Season Outlook

The key to success for the University of Southern Indiana men’s soccer team in 2000 may be versatility and leadership.

The Screaming Eagles, who have won more Great Lakes Valley Conference soccer titles than any other school since 1979, will have eight multi-position players on the roster and it will be up to first year head coach Dan Hogan to mold them into a force to contend with in the conference.

The Eagles will be attempting to fly out of the cellar of the GLVC after finishing 4-12-1 overall record, 1-11-0 in the league.

Hogan comes to the Eagles’ program from Columbia College (Missouri) where he was 122-60-8 (.653) in nine seasons. He won two Show-Me Collegiate Conferences and three American Midwest Conference Coach of the Year Awards.

Hogan has a strong set of returnees to build upon, but he will have to find the right chemistry between players and positions.

FORWARDS:
The forward positions may be the deepest spot on the team in 2000-01. Leading the way are junior Ed Pieper (St. Louis, Missouri) and junior Tom Peroutka (St. Louis, Missouri).

Pieper led the team in scoring with 13 points on five goals, including a game winner against St. Francis University, and three assists. Tom Peroutka was second on the team in scoring, despite missing five games, with eight points on three goals and two assists.

Pieper and Tom Peroutka will be joined up front by sophomores Brian Peroutka  (St. Louis, Missouri), Tom’s brother; Ryan Williams (Greenfield, Indiana); Aaron Joppek (Portage, Indiana); and freshman Blake Darnell (Columbia, Missouri).

Darnell scored 18 goals and dealt 12 assists last year for Hickman High School and was named to the Missouri All-State team. He led the HHS teams that finished third in the state tournament in 1998 and fourth in 1999, taking home the team's Most Valuable Player awards each season.

“Since they all cannot play at once, look for Pieper and Brian Peroutka to help out in other areas if needed,” said Hogan. “We need both players to be on the field somewhere. Personnel and game situations will dictate where they play.”

MIDFIELD:
The midfield may be the biggest question for the Eagles in 2000. Top candidates to solidify a thin central midfield are senior Derek Stull (Ballwin, Missouri) and sophomore Nick Ingalls (Greenfield, Indiana).

For Stull, the central midfield position will be his fourth position in four seasons as an Eagle. He slowed down on the offensive side of his game in 1999, scoring one goal from starting outside back.

Ingalls tallied three points each on one goal and one assist in his first season of collegiate soccer.

“Stull could play any of the positions, but we are really looking for needed senior leader-ship,” said Hogan.

The outside midfield positions are a little deeper with the return of sophomores Josh Gregg (Newburgh, Indiana), and John Havill (Washington, Indiana). Havill was third on the team in scoring with four points on one goal and two assists, while Gregg tallied three points on one goal and one assist.

New to the midfield this fall are three freshmen, Reid Craig (Indianapolis, Indiana), Tyler Linder (Florissant, Missouri), and Matt Settles (Evansville, Indiana).

“Craig plays simple and smart at the outside midfield position,” said Hogan. “After redshirting last season, he should be ready to go for his first full season.”

Settles, a 6'0" Evansville Memorial High School graduate, was a part of the Tigers 1996 and 1997 sectional and regional championship teams. He was named first team All-State his senior season after leading his team to the SIAC championship. He also was named first team All-City by the Evansville Courier & Press and first team All-SIAC.

BACKS:
The key to lowering the team’s nearly two goals a game average is leadership. Hogan is looking to senior Ryan Tucker (Greenwood, Indiana) and junior Justin Wilson (Washing-ton, Indiana) to take the lead in the center.

“Tucker and Wilson have a good presence at stopper or in the center midfield,” said Hogan. “Tucker is a good ball-winner, while Wilson’s size will help us in the air both in attack and defense.”

Supplementing Tucker and Wilson in the center back positions is freshman Jared Anslinger (Evansville, Indiana). Anslinger was named first team All-City by the Evansville Courier & Press and first team All-SIAC conference his junior and senior seasons. He was also an All-District and honorable mention All-State selection his senior season at North High School.

At outside back, the Eagles will have some choices to make. Sophomore Kevin Ray (Ballwin, Missouri) returns to the team with a year of experience under his belt and has the mobility and size to help the USI defense.

Ray is joined at outside back by the return of seniors J.T. Doane (Bedford, Indiana), and B.J. Babb (Evansville, Indiana) as well as sophomore Andreas Schroeder (New Albany, Indiana).

GOALKEEPERS:
In goal, the Eagles will have to grow up quick. The leading candidate is sophomore Chris Davis (Evansville, Indiana), who saw action in only three games (73 minutes) as a freshman.

THE SEASON:
The first goal for the Eagles in 2000 is the GLVC schedule. USI will start the conference schedule in September with Kentucky Wesleyan College. A good conference season could put USI back into the regional ranking for the first time in five years.

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