Men's Soccer

South Africa:  One Gospel, One Goal

A missions team of men's and women's soccer players led by Coach Jeff Pill completed a two-week missions trip to South Africa. Full Story

2009 Season Review

The motto for the 2009 season was “Keep Moving Forward.” Head Coach Jeff Pill was pleased with the momentum at the end of the 2008 season in which the Crusaders won 11 games and hoped the team would carry that momentum into the 2009 season. However, the continued improvement did not translate into more victories. The Crusaders finished the 2009 season with a 5-11-1 record, and a 2-9 record in the Northern Athletics Conference.

Although the men’s soccer team did not improve in record, Coach Pill believes that the men’s soccer program is continuing to improve. “We have definitely moved forward in all aspects except for our record,” Coach Pill said. “We played a better style of soccer, our players had a better understanding of our style of play, and we were deeper as far as talent is concerned.”

“It was frustrating that the results didn’t come,” Coach Pill said. “But the players are still focusing on the process which is a healthy indicator of the long-term stability and health of the program.”

Coach Pill is also pleased with the addition of a junior varsity program. “This JV program is going to be really good for the future with the development of players,” Coach Pill said. “This year we saw players from the 2008 reserve program contribute on the varsity. We are looking forward to seeing if some of the effort that the JV players put into their season this year will continue over into a full varsity season next year.”

The men’s team will no longer have the services of graduating seniors Brett Hollenbeck, Chris Jochum, Jarid Lawson, and Ezekiel Leeds. Coach Pill says their leadership will be missed next season. “I really appreciated their determination, effort, and leadership the last 2 years,” Coach Pill said. “They all made great leadership contributions.”

The Crusaders will retain a solid core of contributors for the 2010 season. “I think there is a good core coming back,” Coach Pill said. “We had some solid contributions from first-year players this year, and we have some good returning upperclassmen.”

With the look towards next season, the missions trip in May cannot be overlooked. Coach Pill, JV Coach Andrew Solarek, and 12 players will be traveling to Zambia on a missions trip. The team will be helping a team of missionaries ministering in Kitwe, Zambia that includes the Hafler family, the Hunt family, and Tori Barrett. The players will have an opportunity to serve and aid the Bible college, orphanage, school, and church in Kitwe.

“Missions trips change lives,” Coach Pill said. “I am looking forward to the influence we can have while we are there and to the impact the trip can have on these young men’s lives.”

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