Competition on the pitch, even in practices, is at a high level for Allen County Community College’s 2011 men’s soccer team.
ACCC head coach Doug Desmarteau will see quickly how that practice competition is working out. The Red Devil men kick off their fall season today against Crowder College in Neosho, Mo.
“We have competition for all the spots on the field, including goalkeeper this year. And it is great to see,” said Desmarteau, who begins his sixth year at ACCC.
Allen County opens the season with four straight games on the road. Its home opener is Aug. 31 against Northwest Kansas Technical College in Goodland.
The Red Devils had a four-year run into the Region VI playoffs broken last year. They finished at 4-7-1 for ninth place in Region VI and eight teams move into the playoffs.
“We were disappointed not making the playoffs last year. We had had great success in the playoffs the past four years,” Desmarteau said. “Every year our goal is to move into postseason play and that’s no different for this year’s squad.”
Allen County has nine returning sophomores plus a red-shirt freshman back from last year’s 5-12-1 squad. The Red Devils will have a new goalkeeper as Zack Hanks graduated after being in goal for ACCC the past two years.
“We have a good battle for the starting spot in goal which is good. We have three guys who come in technically good. That is not always the case for our goalkeepers,” Desmarteau said. “These guys are pushing each other.”
That three-way battle for goalkeeper is among Aurelio Ramierez of Las Vagas, Nev., Jordan Drake of Wichita and Lucas Martin of Beatrice, Neb. Desmarteau said Ramirez and Drake are battling for the No. 1 spot as “Lucas is so good on the field for us that you hate not to have him moving on the field.”
Returning for the Red Devils are sophomores Matt Searcy, Tyler Jordan, Henrique Pinto, Chase Tjelmeland, Melvin Gray, Andrew Sullivan, Tommy Hoppough, Dalwinder Dosanjh and Riley Schaffer, Louis Caldera was here last year but red-shirted.
Searcy scored goals for ACCC last year and is expected to play a major role at forward. Jordan is a midfielder who started a year ago as did forward/midfielder Henrique Pinto.
“Chase and Melvin are our links on the field. They pass well and possess the ball. Melvin and Andrew are our captains,” he said.
“We have a pretty good core of players to build from last year. Our freshmen are going to give us a lot more overall team speed. We’re going to be able to plut pressure on teams up top.”
Other freshmen on the team are Johnny Acker and Lance Minner of Topeka, Leon Guy of Tulsa, Okla., Austin Price of Atchinson, Jordan Drake and Isacc Huffman of Wichita, Colton Burk of Louisburg and George Uttute of England.
Uttute is one of three players from England on the squad. Gray and Dosanjh are the other two.
“Those three have been around soccer a lot and have helped on the field as there’s not a lot of coaching from me during the game because the field is so big and there’s not much stoppage time,” Desmarteu said.
Allen County Community College
2011 Men’s Soccer Roster
No. Name Hometown Position Height Class
0 Jordan Drake Wichita GK 6-0 Fr.
1 Aurelio Ramirez Las Vegas, Nev. GK 6-0 Fr.
1 Tyler Jordan Topeka MF 5-11 So.
2 Chase Tjelmelan Topeka MF 6-2 So.
3 Tommy Hoppough Fairbanks, AK. MF 5-9 So.
4 Andrew Sullivan Las Vegas, Nev. D 6-2 So.
5 Colton Burk Louisburg F 5-9 Fr.
6 George Uttute England D/MF 5-11 Fr.
7 Leon Guy Tulsa, Okla. MF/D 5-8 Fr.
10 Henrique Pinto Brazil MF/F 5-7 So.
11 Dalwinder Dosanjh England MF5-8 So.
12 Lance Minner Topeka F/MF 5-7 Fr.
13 Riley Shafer Perry D 5-7 So.
14 Isacc Huffman Wichita D 5-7 Fr.
15 Matt Searcy Topeka F 6-4 So.
16 Johnny Acker Topeka F 6-0 Fr.
17 Luis Caldera Las Vegas, Nev. D 5-10 Fr.
20 Lucas Martin Beatrice, Neb. GK 5-10 Fr.
21 Austin Price Atchison MF/D 6-0 Fr.
22 Melvin Gray England MF 5-9 So.
Head coach: Doug Desmarteau
Assistant coaches: Chas Frisco, Jordan Knowles
Allen County Community College
2011 Men’s Soccer Schedule
Aug. 18 — Crowder, 3 p.m.
Aug. 24 — McPherson, 7 p.m.
Aug. 26 — Jefferson CC, St. Louis, 1 p.m.
Aug. 28 — St. Charles CC, St. Louis, 3 p.m.
Aug. 31 — NWTC, 4 p.m.
Sept. 7 — Hesston, 4 p.m.
Sept. 13 — Independence, 4 p.m.
Sept. 15 — Kansas City, Kan., 1 p.m.
Sept. 17 — Pratt, 4 p.m.
Sept. 20 — Cowley County, 7 p.m.
Sept. 26 — Johnson County, 4 p.m.
Oct. 1 — Neosho County, 7 p.m.
Oct. 5 — Cloud County, 4 p.m.
Oct. 9 — Dodge City, 4 p.m.
Oct. 12 — Barton County, 4 p.m.
Oct. 15 — Coffeyville, 4 p.m.
Oct. 18 — Northern Oklahoma, 4 p.m
Oct. 20 — Northeastern Oklahoma, 4 p.m.
Oct. 25-29 — Region VI playoffs
Home games in bold.
