Red Men Look To Maintain Tradition in 2017 Campaign
- Jul 30, 2017
- 3 min read
Photo appears courtesy of Carthage Athletics
The Carthage College Men’s soccer team will look to maintain its tradition of being one of the top teams in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin, the region, and in America. The Red Men will be tasked with the duty of defending their 2016 CCIW season and tournament titles following six first place votes. The Red Men headed into the 2016 NCAA tournament, as a host, no. 1 seed, and ranked seventh in the nation. The Red Men also start the 2017 campaign ranked 22nd in the nation by the United Soccer Coaches (formerly known as National Soccer Coaches Association of America).
The Red Men return a strong core group of players for the 2017 campaign including Jamie Tausend, Adrian Herrera, Johnny Rimkus, Kevin Mahoney, and Brayan Acre Justiniano. Four of these five returners consisted of the six players that were named All-CCIW in 2016.
Tausend finished 2016 starting all 22 games throughout the season on the defensive end scoring two goals, and five assists. Tausend was named CCIW All-Conference Second Team, and NSCAA All-Central Region Third Team.
Rimkus finished 2016 with five goals, four assists, and 14 points in 20 games. Rimkus garnered CCIW All-Conference First Team honors. In addition to his CCIW honors, Rimkus was named to the NSCAA All-Central Region Second Team, and NSCAA All-Wisconsin Second Team.
Herrera concluded his first season with the Red Men following his transfer from Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville with high accolades. Herrera was named to the CCIW All-Conference First Team, and as CCIW Newcomer of the Year with NSCAA All-Wisconsin First Team honors.
K. Mahoney scored five goals, and two assists in all 15 games he started before bowing out of 2016 with an injury. His statistical efforts landed him on the NSCAA All-Wisconsin Honorable Mention list.
Also returning to the roster is goalkeeper Bryan Arce Justiniano. Arce Justiniano finished his first campaign between the pipes with 58 saves in 16 games. Arce Justiniano was named CCIW All-Conference Second Team, and NSCAA All-Wisconsin Second Team for his efforts in 2016.
Goalkeeper Niko Mavrogiannis will also be returning to provide a defensive firepower, following a premature end in 2016 due to injury. Mavrogiannis remains in the top 10 statistically for Red Men saves.
Other returning players that clocked in substantial game minutes in 2016 include Sahr Mahoney, Jeffrey Montemayor, Matt Rojel, Alberto Eloyza, Ivan Esquivel, and Freddy Martinez. All will be expected to play additional field time alongside a slew of newcomers in 2017.
The Red Men will open the season Fri. Sep, 1, on the road against The University of St. Thomas in Houston, Tex. Carthage will host their opening match against Kalamazoo College on Tue. Sep, 5.
THINGS TO KNOW
Head coach Steve Domin is in his 22nd season as Carthage men’s soccer head coach. Domin holds a overall 218-159-35 record in his tenure as head coach.
The 2017 team captains are seniors Jamie Tausend and Johnny Rimkus, and juniors K. Mahoney and Herrera.
In addition to Rimkus and Tausend, the 2017 season features a senior class of Erik Boese, Joey Klawitter, and Sahr Mahoney.
Rimkus’s 17 goals is two shy of taking the eighth spot on the all time careers list, which is held by Brian Santella, '07, who has 18 goals.
Tausend is tied for ninth with 11 assists on the Carthage career assists list.
Tausend is also 15 starts shy of having the most starts by a Carthage player. Max Zbilut, '06 holds the top spot with 74 starts.
Bryan Arce Justiniano ranks 7th all time on the career saves list following his freshman campaign with 58 saves in 16 games.
Niko Mavrogiannis ranks 9th all time on the career saves list with 42. Mavrogiannis made six saves in 2016 before missing the rest of season due to injury.
2016 IN REVIEW
Carthage finished the 2016 season with an 18-4 record and a perfect 8-0 record in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin.
The Red Men successfully defended their CCIW Tournament Title defeating Wheaton College 2-1 in the championship game.
Six Red Men were named to the 2016 All-CCIW Team.
Carthage also swept all three CCIW Of The Year awards as Domin was named 2016 CCIW Jim Bean Coach of the Year, 2016 team captain Austin Bitta was named Player of the Year, and Herrera was named Newcomer Of The Year.
The Red Men would then host the first round of National Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament for the first time in school history. However, the Red Men would fall to Benedictine University 2-1 in the final minute of overtime in the first round.
The Red Men outshot their opponents 58-31, and 23-10 in CCIW regular season competition.
Carthage graduate Bitta, who was named D3 Soccer.com and NSCAA All-American, finished his career tied seventh all time for career goals.
Comments