Men's Soccer | 9/3/2010 2:55:09 PM
Game Notes (PDF)
Live Stats
Match Preview
The McPherson College men’s soccer team continues its battle with the GPAC conference Saturday afternoon against the University of Sioux Falls (1-1-0). The match is set to begin at 2:30 p.m. CST from
McPherson Stadium in McPherson, Kan. A link to Live stats will be provided on www.macbulldogs.com.
The Bulldogs (0-0-1) will be looking for their first win of the season against the Cougars. In their only other match this season, MC drew with Concordia, 1-1. McPherson was down until the 77th minute of the second half when Brent Mulford fought off a defender and beat the goalkeeper to tie the match an ones.
Senior forward Brent Mulford owns MC’s lone goal of the season to make him the team leader with two points and one goal. Sophomore Sam Tucker leads the team in assists with one.
Following Sioux Falls, McPherson continues its five-game home stand to open the season with a midweek match against Manhattan Christian College. Last season, the Bulldogs scored a near season high five goals against the Crusaders. The match is set to begin at 8:00 p.m. CST at McPherson Stadium in McPherson, Kan.
Recapping the Last Match
The Bulldogs men’s soccer program opened its 2010 season against Concordia University (Neb.) last Wednesday night at McPherson Stadium. The match remained scoreless until the 55th minute when Concordia’s Nathan Douglas connected on a volley, driving it past the diving McPherson goalkeeper. The Bulldogs tied the game 22 minutes later as Brent Mulford netted his first goal of the season. Mulford’s goal was set up by a Sam Tucker flick from just outside the penalty area. The two sides remained even through both overtime periods as the match ended in a 1-1 draw.
Scouting USF
The Cougars (1-1-0) play three of their first four matches on the road in 2010. USF earned a season opening win (3-1) against Park University (Mo.), while dropping their latest match against Davenport University (0-2).
USF finished 2009 on a 9-1 run to earn a 10-8-1 overall record and a 9-3-1 mark in the GPAC. The Cougars finished second in the GPAC conference regular season, but failed to get past Midland Lutheran College in the conference tournament. USF returns an experienced midfield comprised of All-GPAC selections Ryan Koehane, Connor McKee and Connor Shefte. Koehane, a first team all-conference team member, finished 2009 tied for the team lead with six goals, while leading the team with five assists.
USF’s primary question from a year ago comes from the goalkeeping position. The Cougars return junior Adam Wemhoff and sophomore Kyle Simons from a year ago. Coming into the fall, Wemhoff held a slight advantage as the starter, because of his three starts a year ago. Through the first two games this season, Wemhoff has made both starts. He has allowed three goals, while recording 16 saves.
Head coach Mekonnen Afa (National American University) is currently in his seventh season as the head coach of the USF men’s soccer program. During his tenure, Afa has amassed a 61-44-10 record overall record. Prior to the University of Sioux Falls, Afa was the head girl’s coach at Roosevelt High School (Sioux Falls, S.D.). At Roosevelt, he posted a 40-2-8 career record, including a trip to the South Dakota State Championships.
Series Breakdown
McPherson is 1-0-0 against the Cougars and 3-0-1 against the GPAC conference over the last two
seasons. In their last matchup, the Bulldogs defeated USF 1-0.
