Men's Soccer Preview Part 1: UIC
Aug. 22, 2005
Five years ago, the University of Illinois at Chicago men's soccer program built something special.
Fresh off back-to-back conference titles and a second consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, which culminated in a Sweet 16 finish, the Flames were on the verge of creating a Horizon League power for years to come.
But the construction of the program began to slow, and the team became stuck in a middle-of-the-pack routine. A 5-12-2 record in 2004 brought upon the need for a new architect, someone who could finish building up from a foundation laid just a few seasons earlier.
Enter John Trask.
Fresh from a five-year coaching stay in Major League Soccer, including a season in Dallas helping develop current U.S. National Team sensation Eddie Johnson, Trask takes the reigns of the Flames with experience in creating a winner. In fact, Trask was vital in the cultivation of the most storied program in men's collegiate soccer, spending nearly a decade as an assistant at Indiana University. Under the legendary Jerry Yeagley, Trask learned the ropes of the college game and helped the Hoosiers capture eight Big Ten titles, make five trips to the College Cup and take the sport's ultimate prize twice, earning National Championships in 1998 and 1999.
As impressive as his resume looks, Trask doesn't have time to dwell on his past. The first-year manager has his sights set on developing talent that will take the Flames to Horizon League titles and beyond.
Trask doesn't have to look far from his current pool of athletes to complete such tasks. While the Flames amassed only five total victories last season, UIC featured 15 players in their first or second season in Division I soccer. Even with such a young group, the Flames were able to finish 3-3-1 in league play, including a win over eventual champion UW-Milwaukee. UIC returns nine starters and 13 letterwinners from 2004.
Among UIC's returnees are 2004 All-Horizon League First Teamers Eric Cervantes and Pavle Dundjer. Cervantes, a junior forward, knocked in a team-high six goals in 2004 and is the team's active career scoring leader with 22 points. Dundjer, an attacking midfielder, scored four goals and dished out two assists en route to the league's Newcomer of the Year award.
Another clutch scorer returning for UIC is junior Kenneth Nightingale, who scored four goals and assisted on five other scores for 13 points. Nightingale led the team with two game-winning goals.
One of the unsung heroes throughout the 2004 campaign was Tonci Skroce. Now a junior, Skroce scored four goals in his first season at UIC while playing everywhere on the field. Starting the season at forward, playing midfield throughout the season and dabbling at defense, Skroce's versatility and ability to create scoring chances made the U-21 Croatian National Team player one of UIC's most valuable performers last season and will make him a key to any chance for success this year.
While a very young team, the Flames also feature strong veteran leadership. Junior Derek Kosek (2 goals, 1 assist in 2004) and senior Pawel Otachel (2 goals, 3 assists in 2004), along with seniors Jed Schenkier and Russ Pleskunas and juniors Sam Reindl and Brodey Simkins, are expected to contribute on the field as well as off the pitch by tutoring their younger teammates.
Among some of UIC's other young field players include aggressive sophomore midfielder Nick Sutter and newcomer Brandon Bilbrey, who were part of the U-19 National Champion Sockers FC Chicago this past July. Another critical sophomore is Pawel Ligas, who earned valuable minutes last season that should help him become a regular contributor in 2005.
The situation between the posts is even more crowded than last season. Senior Ross Cain comes in with the most experience, having started 36 matches while stopping 193 shots in his three seasons at UIC. Sophomore Jeff Engelbrecht made 15 starts in 2004, making 85 saves, while junior Roman Tulis has eight games under his belt. Joining the fray is Jovan Bubonja, a Belgrade native who trained with the Serbia & Montenegro U-18 national program.
Newcomers on the field include Dallas native Conner Hickey and Dan Simek, a forward out of LaGrange, Ill. Freshman defender Patrick McMahon will provide needed depth in the backfield, while Cesar Zambrano joins the squad ready to provide some firepower.
The cupboard was anything but bare for Trask and his staff. But getting his young players to mesh and focus their talents to the success of the team will be the task at hand for Trask, the new architect in charge of returning a program to a postseason place it last saw five years ago.
Story Provided by John Jaramillo, UIC Sports Information
