SKC Juniors in College Ranks

Last week, we took a look at the high school seasons for active U16 and U18 SKC Juniors players. Today, we catch our readers up on the collegiate seasons that several former Sporting Kansas City Juniors are now enjoying...

Division 1:
The Oral Roberts Golden Eagles concluded the season with a 13-6-1 overall record after falling 2-1 to Western Illinois in the championship of the Summit League. Juniors products Tom Adams and Paul Oliver helped propel ORU to the conference finals, appearing in 14 and 16 games respectively and each tallying six points on the year. Oliver gave ORU the 1-0 lead in the 33rd minute of the championship match this past weekend, but it wasn’t enough to earn the victory.

Christian Duke and San Diego University lost their season finale to St. Mary’s who went on to win the West Coast Conference. Duke started 17 games this season, notching three assists on the year to help SDU earn a .500 record of 9-9-1.

Wright State’s 1-0 victory on November 5th ended Butler’s season with a 7-8-3 record. However, Sporting Kansas City Juniors alumni Brandon Fricke earned individual honors. The redshirt freshman defender started 15 of the 16 games he appeared in for the Bulldogs this year and earned Academic All-District recognition. This selection deems Fricke eligible for the 2011 Capital One Academic All-America Team.

Asher Herbet played 16 games this year for Long Island University who ended their season on November 5th with a 3-0 loss on Senior Day to Fairleigh Dickinson.

Four Sporting Kansas City Juniors alumni were able to impact the University of Missouri Kansas City this fall. Konnor Knoll, Jordan Rideout, and Jimmy Simon each played in 17 games this year, while Michael Oakley made 16 appearances. Rideout started each of the 17 games he played in while Oakley started in each of the 16 games he played. Rideout tallied a team leading seven goals and 14 points this season and earned Newcomer of the Year and first-team all-conference honors. Oakley also earned a spot on the All-Newcomer Team after being the rock of the UMKC defense all season long. Knoll also tallied a game-winning goal and an assist on the season.

St. Louis Billikens dropped their season finale 2-1 in double overtime against Charlotte for their third OT loss this season. Sporting Kansas City Junior Raymond Lee started 17 games for the Billikens and totaled nine points this year with four goals and one assist.

Will Witherspoon played 18 games this year for Virginia Tech, who ended their season with a 1-0 loss to NC State in the ACC Tournament on November 7th.

Ohio State posted a 10-7-2 overall record, and came in second among Big Ten schools this fall. But Marques Mayoras and the Buckeyes fell to #7 seed Penn State in the quarterfinal round of the Big Ten Tournament in their final contest of 2011. Mayoras appeared in four matches during his freshman campaign.

Peter O’Neill started 20 games for Northwestern clocking 1,792 minutes to date for his senior season. O’Neill helped the Wildcats earn an 11-4-5 record, scoring one goal and adding five assists this season. NU finished atop the Big Ten at the conclusion of league play and won the Big Ten Tournament Title by beating Penn State in a come from behind 2-1 victory in the tournament finals. O’Neill scored the game-tying goal for Northwestern on a penalty kick. Northwestern will now face defending College Cup champions Akron in the first round of the NCAA tournament on Friday, November 17th.

Division 2:
Eric Hymer appeared in 12 games for Fort Hays State University, which finished their season with an 11-5-2 record. The season was the first for FHSU in school history and was highlighted by a ten-game unbeaten streak.

Eric Moore, Taylor Vinnage, Kyle Miller, and the rest of the Rockhurst squad boast a 17-2-2 overall record. Miller has started each of the 19 games so far for the Hawks, scoring one-goal and adding two assists. The Hawks are set to play in the Division II NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals on November 19th in Millersville, Pa.

NAIA:
Baker University and Leath Hamil host Oklahoma Wesleyan in the NAIA Men’s Soccer National Championship opening round on November 19th. Baker is 17-1-1 thus far with Hamil appearing in 18 of their 19 games this season.