This Week:
The Ohio Dominican men's soccer season gets under way this Thursday, Sept. 2 with a trip to the University of Indianapolis. The non-conference matchup between the Panthers and Greyhounds is set for 7 p.m. at Key Stadium.
For the full PDF version of the men's notes, click here
About the Panthers:
Competing at the NCAA Division II level in the GLIAC for the first time, the stakes could not be higher for the Ohio Dominican men's soccer team and third year head coach Willy Merrick in 2010. Merrick, who has a 17-13-5 career mark in two seasons at the helm, led the Panthers to a 7-7-3 mark in 2009 and a semi-finals appearance in the A.I.I. tournament. ODU returns 18 letterwinners, including seven starters and three all-conference selections from last season.
Senior defenders and First Team All-A.I.I. selections, AJ Mueller and Liam Fitzgerald, lead a returning stingy Panther defense that surrendered just 17 goals in 2009. Mueller tied for the team lead in goals (3) and finished second in assists (3) and points (9). Another First Team All-A.I.I. selection, Justin Wheeler, led ODU in points (11) and assists (7) from the midfielder position. Also returning for the Panthers is senior goalkeeper Tyler Gleason. Gleason posted an .828 saves percentage, allowing 17 goals in 1531 minutes of action.
About the Greyhounds:
The UIndy men's soccer squad returns 10 starters and 17 letterwinners from last season's 8-7-2 team. The Greyhounds, led by interim head coach John Higgins, were chosen to finish 10th in the Great Lakes Valley Conference in 2010, after finishing ninth with a 6-7-1 mark in 2009.