SIUE Men's Soccer Aims for Same Lofty Goals
         EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. -- With back-to-back Great Lakes regional championships, the No. 4-ranked Southern Illinois University Edwardsville men's soccer continues to aim for the same goals.
         Excellence has been a perfect word to characterize the program which advanced to the national semifinal game in each of the last two seasons and three times out of the last five. Coach Ed Huneke and his teams have been in an enviable position, but that is the past, and 2006 is clearly a new season.
         The Cougars begin the 2006 season on the road against a pair of top 15 teams, including top-ranked and defending national champion Fort Lewis on Aug. 25 in a neutral site game in Denver. SIUE also faces No. 12-ranked Colorado Mines.
         "I like to look at the big picture more than the short-term view," said Huneke of his scheduling decision. "It will give us and our players an idea at the start what we need to do to be a champion."
         SIUE's core of returners provides for a promising outlook. Much of the scoring from last season returns, and key members of last season's 16-3-3 team are ready for another run.
         SIUE returns All-Americans Mike Banner (Washington, D.C.) and Kevin Thibodeau (St. Charles, Mo.). Banner led the team in goals scored with eight. Thibodeau made Great Lakes Valley Conference history as a defender being named the league's Player of the Year.
         Victor Pacheco (Sao Luis, Brazil) returns as the team's leading scorer after posting seven goals and six assists in 2005. John Matthews (Edwardsville) provides the power at midfield after both of his goals last season were game-winners.
         Ross Beveridge (Dunfermline, England) matched Banner with seven goals and is a key member of the Cougar scoring attack. In the back joining Thibodeau is Mike Zaegel (St. Louis), who was impressive enough last season to garner All-GLVC honors, despite missing much of the second-half of the league season.
         Bob Ridder (Quincy), who scored one goal in limited playing time, and Chris Johnson (Springfield) also return.
         SIUE's goalkeeper situation is fully covered with all three returning. Nicholas Frasca (St. Charles, Mo.) and Greg Crook (Columbia) have shared time for the past two seasons. Pat Kelly (Florissant, Mo.) also provides depth at the position.
         "It doesn't always work to have two players sharing the goalkeeper position, but in this case it seems to work," said Huneke
         While the returners are solid, Huneke said the newcomers will have to contribute.
         "We have a great core, but it is going to be important for the newcomers to come up and support the core."
         In the backfield, the Cougars will look to Zach Bauer (St. Charles, Mo.), Randy Roy (St. Louis), Mychel Jones (St. Peters, Mo.), and Tim Lindsay (Florissant, Mo.). Bauer is a transfer student-athlete from Boston University. The other three players are incoming freshman.
         The front line also has a solid list of potential starters. It includes midfielders Tim Weir (Florissant, Mo.) and Patrick Brazill (St. Charles, Mo.) as well as forwards Kevin Bielicki (St. Louis), Matt Harris (St. Charles, Mo.), and Dustin Attarian (St. Louis).
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