Red Men to Open Season Friday

Photo appears courtesy of Carthage Athletics/Mike Gryniewicz

Concluding two weeks of preseason training, the Carthage College Men’s Soccer team will travel to Houston, Tex. and Dallas, Tex. for their season opener against Dallas Christian College. Kickoff for the match is set Friday, Sept. 1 at noon.

SCOUTING THE CRUSADERS

• Dallas Christian University competes in the National Christian College Athletic Association and the Association of Christian College Athletics.

• The Crusaders ended 2016 with a NCCAA Southwest Region semifinal loss to Ozark Christian College

• Crusaders Head Coach Maurice Uyokpeyi is in his fifth season as head coach, and currently the Interim Women's head coach

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.

• Carthage is ranked No. 22 in the preseason varsity poll organized by the United Soccer Coaches. The Red Men were also voted No. 1 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin preseason poll.

• The 2017 team captains are seniors Jamie Tausend and Johnny Rimkus, and juniors Kevin Mahoney and Adrian 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 goals shy of taking the eighth spot on the all time careers list which is held by Brian Santella who has 18 goals.

• Tausend is tied for eigth with 11 assists on the Carthage career assists list. Tausend is also 15 starts shy of having the most starts by a Carthage player.

• Bryan Arce Justiniano ranks 8th 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.

• The Red Men outshot their opponents 58-31, and 23-10 in CCIW competition.

• Six Red Men were named to the 2016 All-CCIW Team.

• Carthage also swept the 2016 CCIW Of The Year Awards: 2016 captain Austin Bitta was named First-Team and Player of the Year, Herrera was named 2016 Newcomer of the Year, and Domin was named The Jim Bean Coach of the Year

• Carthage 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 overtime in the first round.

• Carthage graduate Bitta, who was named D3 Soccer.com All-American, finished his career tied sixth all time for career goals.

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