* * * BREAKING NEWS * * *

KCACsports.com reports that Sterling defeated Bethel 4 - 0.
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PROFILE: AARON LAWLESS

AARON LAWLESS # 0

Position: Goalkeeper

Hometown: Wichita, KS

High School: Southeast High School

Previous school: Coffeyville CC

Coach's Comments: We are pleased to have Aaron transfer to Sterling College. With the graduation of standout goalkeeper, Cory Speed, we were pleased to sign someone like Aaron who brings veteran leadership to this position.

Major: Business

Class: Junior


KHC: Aaron has seen action this year against Central Christian College (KS) and Southwestern College (KS), and has not allowed a goal to be scored against him in his 65 + minutes on the field.
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PROFILE: COACH UNDERWOOD

COACH DAVE UNDERWOOD

Sterling College Athletic Director Andy Lambert announced today that Dave Underwood has been named the Head Men’s Soccer Coach at Sterling College. Underwood replaces Brandon Winn who resigned following the 2007 season.

“We are thrilled that Dave has decided to lead our men’s soccer program at Sterling College,” said Lambert. “Coach Underwood is an outstanding individual and is interested in using soccer as way to help young men develop spiritually and athletically here at Sterling College.”

Prior to coming to Sterling, Underwood has served as the head men’s and women’s soccer coach at Wheaton Academy in Chicago, Illinois Underwood has over fifteen years of experience at the high school, college and club levels.

In his time at Wheaton, Underwood guided the women’s team to their first IHSA state championship and has compiled a record of 59–24-13 in four seasons. The Warriors have won 4 conference championships and Underwood has been named PSL Coach of the Year three times.

“My wife and I instantly felt at ease and are looking forward to becoming a part of a very special community,” said Underwood. “Upon visiting the college, we were struck with the feeling that there is great momentum at Sterling. Some great things are happening and will continue to happen. I am looking forward to continuing the positive changes that have occurred at Sterling and leading the men’s soccer program to an elite level. Along the way, I am looking forward to establishing some great relationships with players. The people at Sterling have been wonderful and we want to be a part of God’s movement on the campus.”

Underwood has recently completed his Advanced NSCAA National Diploma, has attended coaching symposiums at the University of Notre Dame, Indiana University, and World Class Coaching.

Dave and his wife Jennifer have three children: Emily, Jacob and Madeleine.

Underwood holds a BS from Grace College Business Administration and Psychology, an MA from Grace Theological Seminary in Ministry, and is currently working on a Master’s in Athletic Coaching Education at West Virginia University that will be completed in 2009.

EDUCATION

HIGH SCHOOL:

Dayton Christian High School

COLLEGE:

Grace College - Winona Lake, IN Degree: B.A. - Business Admistration/Pychology

Grace Theological Seminary - Winona Lake, IN Degree: M A. Ministry

West Virgina University - Morgantown, WV Degree: M.A. Coaching Education ('09)

COLLEGIATE PLAYING EXPERIENCE

Grace College: Participated in Soccer

COACHING EXPERIENCE

2008 - Sterling College Head Men's Coach

6 Years - Wheaton Academy Head Soccer Coach

2 Years - Okinawa Christian School Head Men's Coach

2 Years - Warsaw High School Asst Coach-Lakeland High School Head Coach

1 Year - Grace College Assistant Soccer Coach

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NEW FEATURE ON BLOG

Today, I am beginning a new feature on the (unofficial) Sterling Soccer 2008 blog. Every day or two, I will include a "profile" of a Sterling men's soccer player or coach. The information and photograph will be taken straight from the official Sterling soccer website. If I have any additional information to add, I will try to do that. The official website has the players listed by uniform number, so after beginning with Coach Underwood, I will start with # 0 and work my way to the higher numbers.
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PREVIEW: STERLING @ BETHEL

Saturday evening, Sterling plays against the Bethel College Threshers in North Newton KS. Here is Bethel's preview of the 2008 season:

The Bethel men’s soccer team finished last season with its best record in recent memory, going 14-5-2 overall and finishing third in KCAC play with a record of 7-1-1. The team made the post season once again where it lost a close game in the NAIA Region IV quarterfinals.

With a large contingent of last year’s team not returning for the new campaign, this looks to be a rebuilding year for the Thresher men. The team will lean heavily on returning players for leadership on and off the field. One of these returning players is NAIA Regional All-American Brady Coffman who will provide a solid foundation as goalkeeper. Lone returning senior and team captain Yenikah Fon will be anchoring the back line with Will Nagengast. The midfield will again be led by returning midfielders Josh Laubenheimer and Barry Harrison, and Aaron Hull will led in attack. The few freshmen who are joining the returning players will be expected to step on the field and contribute right way. In the back Fon and Nagengast expect to be joined by Braden Eschete and Andre Hernandez. Assisting Hull in the attack will be Kevin Galo.

Coach Moore says that while this could be a rebuilding year, the team has a good mixture of talent and hard working players. “I think we’ll be able to surprise some teams in the KCAC,” said Moore. “We have brought in some new faces that will be able to contribute right away, and with the leadership we have returning [to help] those players mature on the field, I think this could be a good year for us.” The Bethel College men’s soccer team completed one of its most successful seasons in years. With nine new faces in the starting lineup, it seemed this would be rebuilding year, but the unique strategy and game play that each individual brought to the program made the team a contender for the KCAC crown. Bethel finished the season 14-5-2 overall with a 7-1-1 KCAC record and qualified for the NAIA Region IV Tournament for the first time since 1998.

The Threshers opened the season with a 6-0 victory over Central Christian College and had several key victories throughout the year, including a 1-0 victory over Bellevue University. Bethel was on a seven-game win streak heading into the KCAC Tournament semifinals but lost 1-0 to Friends University for the second time this year. Bethel had a shot at redemption, meeting Friends in the NAIA Region IV quarterfinals, but came up short again, 3-2.

Several players received KCAC honors during the season. Forward Jason Wood,
senior from Spanish Town, Jamaica, was named a KCAC Player of the Week for his
two-goal performance against Sterling College in Bethel’s first KCAC game of the
season. Goalkeeper Brady Coffman, freshman from Newton, was also named a
KCAC Player of the Week. The Threshers had five players named to All-KCAC Teams: Emanuel Batu, a junior midfielder from Porto Alegre, Brazil, was named to the 1st Team, with Romeo Ngati and Galidore Ngapeth, both sophomore defenders from Cameroon, Gareth Hamer, freshman from Shropshire, England, and Craig
Bonnyman, freshman from Glasgow, Scotland, named to the 2nd Team.

The team loses six seniors: four-year letter winners Wood, Franklin Ekue, a
defender from Beltsville, Md. (originally from Cameroon), Aaron Gaeddert, a
forward from Leawood, Jordan Penner, a midfielder from Reedley, Calif., and Jon
VanMaren, a midfielder from Bonner Springs, along with Braden Dragomir, a
forward and goalkeeper from Salt Spring Island, B.C., who transferred from the
University of Maine in 2006.

Our goal is always to be successful, but I feel with the group of guys we have coming together for this season the potential for success is unlimited, and that we are at the mercy of ourselves once game time rolls around. — Head Coach Steve Ralos

Bethel currently sits last in the KCAC with a conference record of 0-2-0 and 0-9-0 overall. Bethel has scored just 2 goals this season, while allowing 31. Earlier this season, Bethel lost 3 consecutive overtime games, including to current # 24 Baker KS (1-2) and # 44 University of Science & Arts of OK (1-2) , and have also lost to # 3 Hannibal-LeGrange College MO (0-1) and # 37 Rogers State OK (0-8). The Threshers are on a five game winless, scoreless streak.

Sterling stands at 1-1 in the conference and 7-3 overall, with a 6-2 victory against Southwestern in their most recent game.

In 2007, Bethel defeated Sterling 3-2 in 2 OTs (with a goal by Ryan Covey and a Bethel "own goal"), in 2006 Sterling won 2-0 (on goals by Ryan Covey and Jorge Bueso) and in 2005 Sterling won 3-2 (goals by Tyler Adam, DR Smith and Ryan Covey).

The year's game will be played in Thresher Stadium on Joe W. Goering Field in North Newton KS.

SOONER ATHLETIC CONFERENCE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Sooner Athletic Conference players of the week announced:

FERNANDES, SURRIDGE TAKE SAC MEN'S SOCCER HONORS

Posted by Ray Fink - Mon, Oct 6, 2008

Oklahoma Christian University's Christian Fernandes and Rogers State University's Sean Surridge are Men's Soccer Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, for the week of Sept. 29-Oct. 5. Fernandes, a 5-10 junior midfielder from Maringa, Brazil, had five goals for the week as OC went 1-0-1. All five goals came in a 6-1 win over Sterling College as Fernandes tied his own school record. Surridge, a 5-10 sophomore goalkeeper from Kent, England, had five saves in a 1-0 victory over St. Gregory's in SAC action. It was his fourth consecutive shutout.

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10-7-08: STERLING v SOUTHWESTERN

Sterling's summary of today's home game against Southwestern.

COVEY JINXES MOUNDBUILDERS

10/08/2008 - Sterling senior, Ryan Covey, led the way for the Warriors as he was involved in five of six Sterling goals for a 6-2 win. Covey scored three goals and added two assists. Southwestern struck first in the 11th minute when Jesse Welsh scored on a miscue between GK Zach Hallen and the Sterling backs, giving the Moundbuilders a 1-0 lead. The Warriors quickly responded when Covey got deep to the goal line and slotted a ball across for the charging Shawn Sajjadi. Warrior mid-fielder Mladen Bjelica scored the go ahead goal in the 22nd minute off of a Covey cross. Not to be outdone by his teammates, Covey scored two goals of his own before the intermission, giving the Warriors a 4-1 advantage. Charlie Oshner added another
goal for Southwestern in the 60th minute, but the Warriors were able to find the back of the net two more times on another goal by Covey and then Jorge Bueso. The win moves the Warriors to 7-3 on the season and 1-1 in the KCAC. Sterling will face Bethel College on Saturday night in North Newton, KS.

Although Southwestern's teams are known as the "Moundbuilders," their mascot is "Jinx" the black cat. Here is what Southwestern's website says under Campus Life / Traditions.

A unique tradition among colleges is Southwestern's story of the "Jinx." When old Fairmount College (modern day Wichita State University) was defeated in a football game 41 to 3, a Southwestern student prepared a tombstone with the figure of a black cat at the top and the score underneath. From then on, Fairmount couldn't defeat Southwestern! The black cat came to be called the "Jinx." With the Jinx on their side, Southwestern continued to beat Fairmount for the next 14 consecutive years.

10-7-08: STERLING v SOUTHWESTERN

My sources tell me that after falling behind 1-0, Sterling was able to get behind the Southwestern defense for several easy goals in the first half, which Sterling played with a strong north wind at their backs. In the second half, Sterling scored two against the wind and allowed another goal by Southwestern, for a final score of 6-2. Sterling was able to play all three goalkeepers in the game, with Jordan Cabrera seeing his first action of the season.

Sterling and Southwestern are now each 1-1 in KCAC play. Here is the Sterling scoring summary:

Goal - Time - Team - Goal Scorer - Assists
1. 10:50 - SW - Welsh, Jesse
2. 13:32 - SC - SAJJADI, Shawn - COVEY, Ryan
3. 21:28 - SC - BJELICA, Mladen - COVEY, Ryan
4. 33:21 - SC - COVEY, Ryan - BUESO, Jorge
5. 36:15 - SC - COVEY, Ryan
6. 59:09 - SW - Ochsner, Charlie - Neises, Shane
7. 74:39 - SC - COVEY, Ryan - MILLER, Jordan, SAJJADI, Shawn
8. 76:27 - SC - BUESO, Jorge - MARTENS, Justin

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NAIA TOP 25

The NAIA has released the Top 25 rankings for the week of October 7th. Here is the Top 10. For the full list of teams receiving votes, click here.

1. University of Rio Grande (OH)
2. Lindsey Wilson College (KY)
3. Hannibal-LaGrange College (MO)
4. Southern Nazarene University (OK)
5. Oklahoma City University
6. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (FL)
7. Park University (MO)
8. McKendree University (IL)
9. Azusa Pacific University (CA)
10. University of Maine at Fort Kent

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NATIONAL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

The NAIA's national players of the week have been announced:

2008 NAIA Men's Soccer Players of the Week

Oct. 7, 2008 - KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The NAIA Men's Soccer national weekly honors have been announced and Zack Schultze of Reinhardt (Ga.) was announced as National Defensive Player of the Week while Adam Worrall of Mount Vernon Nazarene (Ohio.) was named National Offensive Player of the Week, for the week of Sept. 29-Oct. 5.

Schultze, a 6-3 freshman goalkeeper from Newnan, Ga., was perfect in goal last week as Reinhardt went 3-0. Against Cincinnati Christian, Schultze recorded two saves in a 6-0 win. He followed that with an eight-save performance in a 1-0 upset of then-No. 16 Shorter (Ga.). Schultze finished the week with two more saves in the Eagles’ 5-0 win over Brewton-Parker (Ga.). For the week, he finished with 12 saves and no goals allowed.

Worrall, a 6-2 forward from Blacklick, Ohio, had a hand in every single goal Mount Vernon Nazarene scored last week. Against Houghton (N.Y.), the senior netted the game-winning goal in the 85th minute as the Cougars won 1-0. He scored another goal and added two assists in the Cougars’ 3-1 victory over then-No. 20 Roberts Wesleyan (N.Y.). For the week, Worrall had two goals, two assists and six total points. He leads the Cougars in scoring with 12 goals on the season and is now tied for sixth in school history with 34 career goals.

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PREVIEW: STERLING v SOUTHWESTERN

Today, Sterling hosts the Southwestern College Moundbuilders in the second conference match of the 2008 season. Sterling comes in at 0-1 in the conference, while Southwestern is 1-0 following their 3-2 win at Bethany. Southwestern is currently 3-4-1 overall, Sterling stands 6-3.

The teams have three common opponents. SWC beat SW Assemblies of God 2-1 in Waxahachie; Sterling won 6-1 at home. SWC lost to Mid America Christian 2-3 in Oklahoma City; Sterling lost 2-5 in OKC but won 5-2 at home. SWC tied Central Christian College at home; Sterling won at CCC 3-0.

SWC currently ranks number 27 in the NAIA in shutouts per game (0.220) and ranks number 31 in saves per game (7.560).

SWC's leading scorer is Leighton Schmidt (#11, a 6'00" senior defender/midfielder) with 3 goals in 8 games, followed by Jason Bond and Shane Neises with 2 each.

Sterling's current players have never lost to Southwestern. Sterling scored at 3-2 victory on a golden goal (by Justin Martens) at SWC in 2007 in the 2nd overtime, won 4-0 in 2006 in Sterling and prevailed 2-1 in 2005 in Winfield.

For their Sterling careers against SWC, Ryan Covey has 5 goals, 1 assist; Shawn Sajjadi 1 goal, 3 assists; Jorge Bueso 1 goal, 3 assists; Justin Martens 1 goal; and Jordan Miller 1 assist.
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NATIONAL STATISTICS AS OF 10/6/08

The NAIA's statistics, as of 10-6-08, include the following national rankings for Sterling's team and individual players:

TEAM RANKINGS

Ranks Number 18 in Assists per Game (2.220)
Ranks Number 33 in Goals per Game (2.560)
Ranks Number 45 in Goals Allowed per Game (2.220)
Ranks Number 50 in Shutouts per Game (0.110)


INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS

Mladen Bjelica Ranks Number 11 in Assists per Game (0.710)
Ryan Covey Ranks Number 30 in Shots on Goal per Game (2.330)
Shawn Sajjadi Ranks Number 46 in Assists per Game (0.500)
Ryan Covey Ranks Number 46 in Points per Game (1.890)
Ryan Covey Ranks Number 49 in Shots per Game (3.780)
Ryan Covey Ranks Number 49 in Goals per Game (0.780)
Jorge Bueso Ranks Number 49 in Game Winning Goals per Game (0.220)
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CONFERENCE STATISTICS UPDATE

The KCAC statistical leaders as of 9/28/08 include the following Sterling players:

Points per game: 2nd-Ryan Covey, tied 8th-Justin Martens and Jorge Bueso, 10th-Mladen Bjelica, 15th-Shawn Sajjadi, tied 18th-Aaron Baker

Goals per game: 2nd-Ryan Covey, tied 3rd-Justin Martens and Jorge Bueso

Assists per game: 1st-Mladen Bjelica, tied 3rd-Shawn Sajjadi, 5th-Aaron Baker, 6th-Ryan Covey, tied 11th-Jordan Miller

Game Winning Goals: tied 3rd-Jorge Bueso, tied 5th-Shawn Sajjadi, tied 8th Ryan Covey

Saves Per Game: tied 6th-Zach Hallen

Goals Against Average: 7th-Zach Hallen

As a team, Sterling ranks 1st in the conference in goals and assists, 3rd in shots and shots on goal, 7th in goalkeeper saves and 7th in fewest goals allowed.
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NAIA'S CONFERENCE RATINGS

Sterling dropped out of the NAIA's conference ratings for Week 5 - October 6, 2008.

KANSAS COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

1. Friends University (Kan.) (1-0 / 6-3-1)
2. Kansas Wesleyan University (1-0 / 3-6-1)
3. McPherson College (Kan.) (1-0 / 4-5)
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KCAC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Conference Players of the Week for Week # 4 - September 28th to October 4th

WICHITA, KS - The KCAC announced Armando Rodriguez of McPherson College and Jose Garay of Kansas Wesleyan University as Co-Offensive Players of the Week.
Robert Carrillo of Kansas Weselyan University was also recognized as the KCAC
Defensive Player of the Week for the second consecutive week.

KCAC OFFENSIVE Men's Co-Players-of-the-Week:

(1.) Armando Rodriguez, McPHERSON COLLEGE, Forward, 5-9, Junior, Dallas, TX. He had one goal in the one match of the week: #1 vs. Ottawa University (KS), W-3-0, he had 1 goal and 1 assist. TEAM RECORDS: Week 1-0-0, Season overall 4-5-0.
(2.) Jose Garay, KANSAS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY, Midfielder, 5-10, Junior, Palmdale, CA. He had 2 goals and 2 assists in two matches of the week: #1 at #9 ranked non-conference Park University (MO), L-1-4, he had 1 assist, and #2 at Sterling College (KS), W-3-0, he had 2 goals and 1 assist. TEAM RECORDS: Week 1-1-0, Season overall 3-6-1.

KCAC DEFENSIVE (including Goalkeepers) Men's Player-of-the-Week:

Robert Carrillo, KANSAS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY, Goalkeeper, 5-10, Senior, Los Angeles, CA. In two matches of the week, he had 3 saves with no shot on goal and allowed 4 goals in 180 minutes. TEAM MATCHES of week: #1 at #9 ranked non-conference Park University (MO), L-1-4, he had 2 saves with no shots on goal and 4 goals allowed in 90 minutes; #2 at Sterling College (KS), W-3-0, he had 1 save with no shots on goal and no goals allowed in 90 minutes. TEAM RECORDS: Week 1-1-0,
Season overall 3-6-1.

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10-4-08: STERLING v KWU

Kansas Wesleyan has posted its review of the victory over Sterling here:

BATTLE TESTED COYOTES OPEN KCAC PLAY WITH SWEEP OF STERLING
By: David Toelle, KWU Sports Information

Kansas Wesleyan’s soccer teams opened KCAC play with a pair of wins over Sterling College on Saturday in Sterling. The women posted a 5-0 win, while the men came away with a 3-0 decision over the Warriors.

Wesleyan’s teams wrapped up one of the most difficult non-conference slates of any school in the conference on Wednesday at nationally ranked Park. The Coyote women faced five teams that were ranked inside the NAIA Top 25 at one point during the year, and the men have faced several teams that have also been ranked at one point or another, including the 2006 national champions in Graceland University.

“Our very, very difficult non-conference schedule has gotten us prepared for the conference,” head coach Mike Dibbini. “We are a stronger team after facing this incredible competition.”

Jose Garay scored twice and assisted on KWU’s other goal as the men picked up the 3-0 win over Sterling. Wesleyan controlled the match offensively, outshooting the Warriors 25-8 in the match. Garay’s first score came at the 21-minute mark when he took a feed from Mario Rodriguez and found the net. Garay got goal number two in the 41st minute and then assisted on Marlon Beach’s score in the 48th minute.

“It was a good start to our conference season,” Dibbini said. “Both teams played well today, and I hope the trend continues the rest of the season.”

-- KWU SI --
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10-4-08: STERLING v KWU

Sterling's summary of the home conference game against Kansas Wesleyan:

LACKLUSTER PERFORMANCE LEADS TO KCAC LOSS

10/05/2008 - The Sterling College men's soccer team opened conference play against Kansas Wesleyan University, the defending KCAC champs, with a very uninspired performance. KWU dispatched the Warriors 3-0, handing the Warriors their second loss of the week, and first conference loss. The Coyote's Jose Garay led the way for KWU with a goal in the 21st and 40th minutes, giving them a comfortable 2-0 lead at the half. Wesleyan's Marlon Beach added a third goal in the 47th minute on a throw-in by Garay, and that is all that was needed as the Warriors were unable to generate any sort of dangerous attack. Sterling managed only one shot on goal that came early when Jorge Bueso got behind the KWU defenders in the penalty box only to have his shot saved by Coyote GK Robert Carillo. "I was very disappointed with our performance against Kansas Wesleyan.

They are a great team, and we knew that the best chance we would have to beat them would be to play more aggressively and outwork them, and we simply did not do that; therefore the result isn't surprising at all," noted Warrior coach, David Underwood.

The Warriors will try to quickly rebound from the loss as they host Southwestern College on Tuesday afternoon in Sterling at 4 p.m. The Sterling men's soccer team is 6-3 on the season.

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