FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Indiana Tech men's soccer team, led by fifth year head coach
David Bokhart, opens its regular season on Tuesday when they take on Shawnee State University (Ohio) for a 4 p.m. kickoff.
Coming off a 7-9-2 record, a sixth place finish in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC), and an appearance in the WHAC quarterfinals, the Warriors welcome back 16 members from last year's squad.
Forwards The attacking third of the field has a plethora of experience for Coach Bokhart. Senior
Zachary St. Aubin, is back and looking to improve on a five goal, four assist campaign in which he was one of the Warriors top offensive weapons. Classmate
Braden Walker looks to add to the offensive output after notching two goals and assists last fall, while freshman
Brennan Cochran, younger brother to sophomore Brandon, will round out the starters. Juniors
Igor Guanaes and
Nathan Waits will provide depth off the bench.
Midfield The sophomore duo of
Mitch Smith and
Landon Cochran are back and ready to take the next step in their second collegiate season. Smith appeared in all 18 games last year, starting in eight of them while notching two goals and two assists. Cochran started 12 of the 17 matches he appeared in last year, recording two goals an assist in 910 minutes of action.
The senior trio of
Chad Brooks,
Nick Didion, and
Leo Gill, along with sophomore
Nyi Nyi Aung and freshman
Richard Doll, will battle for the remaining midfield spots.
Defense Junior
Fabian Kaufmann, along with sophomores
Andrew Higgins and
Brandon Dinsmore will look to anchor the Tech backline in 2015. Dinsmore played nearly 175 minutes than any other Warrior as a freshman, and his endurance will be counted on again this year. Kaufmann piled up 1,225 minutes while starting in 14 of the 17 games he appeared in and Higgins recorded five assists and a goal in nearly 1,200 minutes.
Senior
John Singstock and sophomore
Ryan Hayhurst will provide depth for the Warriors.
Goalkeeper The goalkeeping duties are up for grabs in 2015, with sophomores
Logan Kelly and
Adam Viviano battling freshman challenger Robin Strellen for the Warriors top keeper. Kelly started five games last season, going 1-3-1 while collecting 17 saves and allowing 15 goals in just over 470 minutes of action, good for a 2.87 goals against average (GAA). Viviano saw 630 minutes of action in seven games, all starts, going 2-5-0. He allowed 22 goals for 3.14 GAA and recording 52 saves and a .703 save percentage along with one shutout.
Scouting the Opposition The Bears are 0-2-0 on the young season, dropping their season opener to Columbia International University, 2-1, and most recently to #21 SCAD Savannah, 3-0. Marytn Sayer scored the lone goal for Shawnee State, while Brandon Pfeiffer has played all 180 minutes in goal.
Looking Ahead Following their season opener, the Warriors will return home to face off with Trinity Christian College (Ill.) on September 2 at 7 p.m. Three days later Tech will battle Bethel College (Ind.) at Michael A. Carroll Stadium on the campus of Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. Carroll Stadium is home to the Indy Eleven, a professional soccer club in the North American Soccer League. The Warriors and Pilots will play at 3 p.m. before the Eleven take on Jacksonville Armada FC at 7 p.m.
