Alma Kicks Off 2005 Season With Scrimmage at Macomb Community College
MACOMB, Mich. - The Alma College men's soccer team took to the pitch Friday (Aug. 26) with a pre-season scrimmage at Macomb Community College. The Scots played to a 1-1 tie as sophomore Ben Queen (Royal Oak/Shrine) scored Alma's only goal on an assist from Carl Hill (Haslett).
First year head coach Jamie Chiero brought the team back to campus on Aug. 20 for pre-season workouts. After the Maroon and Cream went 7-11 (7-7 MIAA) a year ago, Chiero steps in to return the program to its prominent place on the MIAA and NCAA stage.
Alma lost two first team All-MIAA players in 2005 graduates Wes Rasdorf and Jamie Shooks. Shooks was the MIAA's second-leading goal scorer in 2004 with 10 goals on the year while in Rasdorf the Scots lose their assist leader as he ranked second in final MIAA standings with eight assists. The Scots will also be without the services of second team honoree Luke Oostindie, also lost to graduation. In addition, Kyle Lieberman and Kyle Jean do not return in '05.
But Chiero and the Scots return honorable mention All-MIAA players Nick Kost (Holt) and Dan Weidman (Caseville/Elkton-Pigeon-Bayport). Kost and Weidman ranked among the league leaders for goals scored in 2004 with five, respectively. The Maroon and Cream will need the juniors to step up and create more scoring opportunities in front of the net in 2005 after being the team's third and fourth-leading points scorers a season ago.
Returning for the Scots, senior goalkeeper Josh Borgerding (Cheboygan) anchors the defense after playing behind 2005 graduate Kyle Lieberman last season. Entering the mix, senior Carl Hill joins the program after playing basketball for the Scots for three seasons. Hill has returned to the field and has made his mark with an assist in the first scrimmage of the season. Classmates Jacob Roberts (Ann Arbor/Pioneer) and Matt Saffarian (Saginaw/Heritage) will be looked to for guidance and leadership as well.
The Scots defense returns five players from last season's team - juniors Dominic Baker (Columbus, Ohio/Thomas Worthington) and Isaac Smith (Wheeler/Merrill) and sophomores Sonny Koch (Macomb/Chippewa Valley), Scott Snyder (Macomb/Chippewa Valley) and Nate Weirauch (Dansville).
Goal production will be a point of emphasis, but Chiero has the resources of a strong contingent of forwards, including Queen, Drew Hanley (Memphis) and Jason Wilbur (Troy/Detroit Country Day).
A host of freshmen will continue to push the upperclassmen and compete for starting spots in 2005.
The Scots return to pre-season scrimmage action Saturday (Aug. 27) against Schoolcraft Community College and open the regular season Sept. 7 at Div. II Northwood University at 3 p.m. in Midland, Mich.
Posted: Sat, August 27th, 2005 at 10:34AM
