Illinois Wesleyan 2005 Men's Soccer Stories

Contact: Stew Salowitz (309) 556-3206

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Illinois Wesleyan 2005 Preseason Fact Sheet (pdf)

January 10
Junior midfielder Chris Miller and freshman back Matas Cyvas were chosen as the most valuable offensive and defensive players, respectively, for the 2005 Illinois Wesleyan men’s soccer team. Miller led IWU with eight goals and 19 points with two game-winning goals. He was a second team all-CCIW selection and was named to the third team of the all-North Central region squad by the National Soccer Coaches Association. Cyvas was a first team all-CCIW selection. Ikenna Odinaka was chosen as the “Most Improved Player” for the Titans, who finished 7-7-4 overall and 1-3-3 in CCIW play. Senior Ryan Smith was also chosen to the third team of the NSCA all-North Central region squad.

November 15
Illinois Wesleyan University freshman Matas Cyvas was chosen to the first team and junior Chris Miller was named to the second team of the all-College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin men's soccer squads, chosen in voting by league coaches on Tues., Nov. 15. Cyvas is a defender from Downers Grove, Ill. (Benet Academy) and Miller is a midfielder from Normal, Ill. (University High). The Titans were 7-7-4 overall and 1-3-3 in league play in 2005.

October 29
The Illinois Wesleyan men's soccer season ended with a 3-1 loss to Carthage at IWU's Neis Field on Sat., Oct. 29. The Titans finish 2005 with a mark of 7-7-4 and a league record of 1-3-3. The Titans' Jeff Carqueville scored on an assist from Chris Miller in the 24th minute to tie the score at 1-1. Carthage (7-9-1 overall) got two second half goals 12 seconds apart that sealed the victory. Keeper Ryan Smith made five saves as the Titans were outshot, 14-13.

October 25
The Illinois Wesleyan men’s soccer team lost a nonconference game to Dominican University, 3-0, in River Forest, Ill., on Tues., Oct. 25. The Titans fell to 7-6-4 overall with the loss and will end their regular season with a College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin match against Carthage on Sat., Oct. 29, at 3 p.m. at IWU’s Neis Field. Against Dominican the Titans were outshot, 17-3, and Ryan Smith made six saves.

October 21
Junior Chris Miller scored a goal and provided an assist as the Illinois Wesleyan men's soccer team claimed a 2-0 nonconference decision over Rose-Hulman on Fri., Oct. 21 at IWU's Neis Field. Miller scored on an indirect kick in the 37th minute and assisted on Mark Opal's goal in the 68th minute. The Titans (now 7-5-4) outshot the Engineers, who fell to 9-4-1 and IWU keeper Ryan Smith made two saves in the shutout.

October 19
The Illinois Wesleyan men's soccer team played two overtime periods and came away with a 1-1 tie against North Central on Wed., Oct. 19 at IWU's Neis Field. The Titans are 6-5-4 overall and 1-2-3 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. Mark Opal scored the Titans' lone goal in the game on an assist from Colin Aubin in the first half. Goalkeeper Ryan Smith made three saves in the 110 minute game that featured 33 fouls.

October 14
After 18 straight losses in the series, the Illinois Wesleyan men's soccer team posted its first win ever against Wheaton, claiming a 2-1 decision on Fri., Oct. 14 at IWU's Neis Field. The Titans (6-5-3, 1-2-2 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin) got both goals from Ikenna Odinaka, who scored 17 seconds apart in the second half. Jeff Carqueville and Kevin Hegi had assists and Ryan Smith made five saves against the Thunder, who lost their third straight game and are now 10-4 overall (3-2 CCIW).

October 12
Four Illinois Wesleyan players scored goals as the Titans took a 4-2 win over Benedictine in a nonconference men's soccer game at IWU's Neis Field on Wed., Oct. 12. Jeff Carqueville, Chris Miller, Andy Oleson and Chris Sleezer all found the back of the net while Ikenna Odinaka, Steve Perona and Kevin Hegi were credited with assists. Reggie Lara made five saves as the Titans improved to 5-5-3 and the Eagles slipped to 0-11-1.

October 10
Steve Perona and Chris Miller each scored goals as the Illinois Wesleyan men's soccer team defeated Aurora, 2-0, in a nonconference game on Mon., Oct. 10 at IWU's Neis Field. Ryan Smith made five saves in the shutout and Mark Opal and Spencer Nedved each contributed assists as the Titans improved to 4-5-3 overall.

October 8
The Illinois Wesleyan University men's soccer team lost a 2-1 decision at Elmhurst in College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin play on Sat., Oct. 8 in the continuation of a game delayed by weather last weekend. Chris Miller scored on a penalty kick in the 78th minute to account for the lone Titan goal. IWU (3-5-3 overall and 0-2-2 in the CCIW) was outshot 17-10 in the game and Ryan Smith made 10 saves.

October 5
Goalkeeper Ryan Smith made 10 saves as the Illinois Wesleyan men’s soccer team battled Millikin to a 0-0 tie through two overtimes in Decatur on Wed., Oct. 5. The Titans had 11 shots compared to 19 for the Big Blue. The Titans are 3-4-3 overall and 0-1-2 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin and will resume play against Elmhurst at 10:30 a.m. on Sat., Oct. 8 in a game that was halted due to inclement weather with 23:19 remaining in the first half.

September 28
Kevin Hegi  had two goals and assisted on one more as the Illinois Wesleyan men’s soccer team defeated MacMurray, 5-0, on Wed., Sept. 28 in Jacksonville. The Titans, who outshot MacMurray 23-3 in the game, improved to 3-4-2 overall with the non-league win. Ikenna Odinaka, Spencer Nedved and Matas Cyvas also contributed goals for the Titans. Reggie Lara had the shutout as the keeper. In addition to Hegi, John Blodgett had two assists and Bryan Rea also contributed an assist in the victory.

September 24
The Illinois Wesleyan men’s soccer team battled North Park through 90 minutes of regulation and two 10 minute overtimes before settling for a 0-0 tie in a College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin match in Chicago on Sat., Sept. 24. The Titans are 2-4-2 overall and 0-1-1 in the CCIW. North Park is 4-3-1 overall and 0-1 in the league. Ryan Smith had the shutout for IWU, who plays next at MacMurray on Wed., Sept. 28.

September 20
The Illinois Wesleyan men’s soccer team fell to 2-4-1 as it lost a nonconference game to Washington U., 4-0, in St. Louis on Tues., Sept. 20. IWU outshot the Bears, 10-9, and had two shots on goal from Mark Opal and one each from Chris Miller and Paul Caracciolo but none of the attempts found the back of the net. The Titans next action is a College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin match at North Park in Chicago at 3 p.m. Sat., Sept. 24.

September 17
A goal midway through the first overtime period sent Augustana to a 2-1 win over the Illinois Wesleyan men’s soccer team on Sat., Sept. 17 in Rock Island. Trailing 1-0 at halftime, Colin Aubin scored an unassisted goal (his fourth of the year) in the 71st minute for the lone score for the Titans, who are 2-3-1 overall and 0-1 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. Ryan Smith made nine saves in net for IWU in the game that saw Augustana outshoot the Titans, 17-16 and both teams had 11 shots on goal.

September 14
Illinois Wesleyan allowed two first half goals, which were enough to propel the University of Chicago to a 2-1 nonconference win over the Titans on Wed., Sept. 14 at Neis Field. Colin Aubin scored the Titans' only goal in the 71st minute of play against the Maroons, who were ranked No, 10 in the weekly Division III national poll released by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. The Titans are 2-2-1 while Chicago is 4-0.

September 12
The Illinois Wesleyan men’s soccer team got three goals from junior Chris Miller and cruised to a 6-0 nonconference win over Knox College on Mon., Sept. 12 at IWU’s Neis Field. Reggie Lara worked all 90 minutes in goal to earn the shutout. Other Titan goals came from John Blodgett, Ryan Smith and Tuhin Abner in his first varsity home game. Ikenna Odinaka and Kevin Hegi earned assists as the Titans improved to 2-1-1 and will host No. 14-ranked University of Chicago on Wed., Sept. 14.

September 8
The Illinois Wesleyan University men’s soccer team lost to Webster, 3-1, on Thurs., Sept. 8 in St. Louis. Webster rallied with three second-half goals to take the victory. Mark Opal gave Illinois Wesleyan (now 1-1-1) a 1-0 lead at halftime with a first-half goal assisted by Chris Miller. IWU could not hold on despite ending with 14 shots on goal to 12 for Webster. Titans' goalkeeper Ryan Smith had eight saves.

September 4
Concordia (Wis.) and the Illinois Wesleyan men's team battled 110 minutes to a scoreless, double overtime draw on Sun., Sept. 4 in the Third Annual Titan Fall Soccer Classic at Neis Field in Bloomington. Concordia registered 16 shots and the Titans managed 13 with the Falcons having eight shots on goal to the Titans' five. Ryan Smith made eight saves in recording his second shutout.

September 3
Colin Aubin scored two goals and Chris Miller and Mark Opal each had a goal and an assist as the Illinois Wesleyan men's soccer team rolled to a 7-0 season-opening win over Lawrence on Sat., Sept. 3 as part of the Titan Fall Soccer Classic at Neis Field in Bloomington. Andy Oleson, Spencer Nedved and Andrew Schmitz also collected goals in the win as Ryan Smith made one save in preserving the shutout. The Titans outshot the Vikings, 14-4.

August 10
The Illinois Wesleyan men's soccer team was picked to finish seventh in the preseason College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin coaches poll. The Titans earned 15 points in the voting on the heels of a 5-10-3 campaign (1-5-1 CCIW) in 2004. Wheaton (18-5, 47 points) was picked first, followed by North Park (14-3-2, 43 points) and Augustana (7-7-1, 34 points). IWU will begin its 2005 campaign under new head coach Ryan Lakin on Sat., Sept. 3 against Lawrence at 2:30 p.m. at IWU's Neis Field. Lakin welcomes back 16 lettermen and the Titans will have exhibition tune-ups at DePauw (Aug. 27) and against Illinois College (Aug. 31 at IWU) prior to the season opener.

June 30
Ryan Lakin, a three-time College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin “Coach of the Year” while at Millikin, has been named head men’s soccer coach at Illinois Wesleyan, replacing David Barrett, who will concentrate on coaching the women’s team only. A 1995 graduate of Illinois State, Lakin was the men’s and women’s soccer coach at Millikin from 1998-2002. His men’s teams compiled a record of 54-29-3 (.645) in five seasons with a league co-championship in 2001 and he earned the CCIW coaching honors in 1998, 1999 and 2001. Most recently, Lakin has been assistant director of coaching at Barrington (Ill.) Area Soccer Association and FC Barrington, where he was responsible for the operation and oversight of 2,000 recreational players, 35 travel teams and 15 staff coaches.