Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Men's Soccer	SIUE Men's Soccer SIUE Athletics

Kevin Thibodeau Season Statistics

October 18, 2005 No. 2 Cougars Ready For Homecoming          EDWARDSVILLE, ILL. - The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville men’s soccer team returns for homecoming with its destiny in its own hands.          The second-ranked Cougars play host to Missouri-St. Louis and Missouri-Rolla. SIUE can clinch the No. 1 seed in the Great Lakes Valley Conference tournament with a win and a tie this weekend.          “Our goal is to win the national championship but also in order to do that we have to set the stage,” said SIUE men’s soccer coach Ed Huneke. “A big component of that equation is a No. 1 seed.”          The Cougars have secured a home game in the quarterfinals of the tournament after wins over Northern Kentucky and Bellarmine last weekend.          SIUE is 13-1-1 overall and 9-0-1 in the league having won seven consecutive contests while being unbeaten in its last 14 games.          “We are in the zone,” said Huneke. “We are really benefiting from our experience together so long. The vast majority of this team has been together through big games.”          The Cougars are unbeaten in their last 32 GLVC regular season games and have not lost in their last 22 GLVC regular or postseason contests.          SIUE’s defense is the main reason the Cougars have been so successful. This season, they rank in the top five in the nation with a 0.39 goals against average, while recording four straight shutouts.          Kevin Thibodeau (St. Charles) has been a defensive leader for the Cougars and he netted the game-winning goal against Bellarmine on Sunday.          “Kevin is a great two-way player,” said Huneke. “When you combine a good natural athlete with a smart, skilled player you get a top level player like him.”          Pete Cacciatore (St. Louis, Mo.) and Andrew Crider (Granite City) have been successful for the Cougars defensive unit.          “They have continued to do well in the backfield,” said Huneke. “Our team defense is more than just our backs, but those two did exceptionally well.”          SIUE goalkeeper Nicolas Frasca (St. Charles) has notched a record of 9-0 on the season with a GLVC leading seven shutouts.          “Goalkeeping is very much like goal scoring,” said Huneke. “Momentum is important and right now Nick’s hot.”                   -siue cougars-