Justin Jenkins
The Wittenberg University men's soccer program has consistently been in contention in the North Coast Athletic Conference in recent years, only to fall short in the closing weeks of the season. In 2007, Head Coach Steve Dawson has a veteran squad, including eight returning starters and a total of 13 returning letterwinners, that hopefully has the right combination of talent and experience to break through.
The strength of this year's squad is right through the middle of the field in juniorsMatt Borland (Kettering, Ohio/Alter),Shane Price (Minford, Ohio/Minford) andJustin Jenkins (Dublin, Ohio/Coffman)and senior Joe Zeller (Springfield, Ohio/North), a quartet of all-conference performers.
Borland, a midfielder, has been the team's leading scorer each of the last two years and was rewarded for his efforts with third-team all-region honors in 2006, while Price has battled injury problems in his career but has been a productive forward when on the field. Jenkins, the 2005 NCAC Newcomer of the Year, is one of the conference's top defenders. He will be joined on defense by Zeller, a tremendously versatile three-year starter who has made significant contributions during his collegiate career at defense, midfield and forward.
Matt Borland
Senior Ben McAnnis-Entenman (Portland, Ore./Cleveland) is the incumbent at goalkeeper after earning honorable mention All-NCAC honors a year ago. He allowed 16 goals in 15 games, including 14 starts, in 2006. Also returning to the starting lineup in the backfield are junior Jay Knox (Gahanna, Ohio/St. Charles) and sophomore Michael Condon (Powell, Ohio/Watterson).
There is plenty of additional experience and talent in juniors Anthony Ianiro (Mayfield Heights, Ohio/University School) and Anthony Cain (Hilliard, Ohio/Davidson), who figure prominently in the defensive mix in 2007 after earning varsity letters and occasionally gaining starting assignments in the first two years of their collegiate careers. Similarly, the midfield rotation includes juniors Michael Hosket (Yellow Springs, Ohio/Yellow Springs) and Jimmy Thinnes (Cincinnati, Ohio/LaSalle), both of whom have been key players in their first two years in the Red & White.
The schedule kicks off in 2007 as it always does with the Wittenberg Invitational, in which the Tigers will take on Tri-State University, coached by former Tiger player and assistant coach Kris Hazard, and perennial Ohio Athletic Conference powerhouse Otterbein. The tournament, which also includes NCAC rival Kenyon, coached by former Wittenberg assistant Chris Brown, is slated for Edwards-Maurer Field Sept. 1-2.