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2006 Season Preview
Oakland City Men's Soccer team enters their second season under the guidance of Coach Botterill hoping to surpass their record-breaking season of 2005. An overall record of 7-12-1 matched the school record for wins in a season and also included the first ever NCAA DII tie and win, and the first ever post-season win (NCCAA Mid-East Regional). The Mighty Oaks will have to blend some new faces, however, as only 11 of last year's squad return fit to play (including 7 returning starters). 16 new players make up what is arguably the Mighty Oaks strongest ever recruiting class and are expected to contribute immediately.
The Mighty Oaks lost their top 3 scorers last year but are looking to Sophomores Ernesto Becerra (Lima, Peru) and Shawn O'Neil (Newcastle, England) to push on after promising freshman campaigns. Also looking to contribute goals are Freshmen Tito Fernandez (Hammond, IN), Gaius Snyder (Jeffersonville, IN), Jonathon Lee (Stanley, England), Adam Richardville (Vincennes, IN) and Brandon Gengelbach (Evanston, IN). Fernandez scored 42 goals for Morton HS to finish as the top scorer in the state of Indiana in 2005
Last year's Rookie of the Year and ever present starter Murray Aitken (Haddington, Scotland) highlights a strong returning class in Midfield. He is joined by returning starter David Hay (Glasgow, Scotland). Zablon Njuguna (Birmingham, AL) rounds out the returners in midfield. The 2006 Mighty Oaks look to have a wealth of talent across the middle with the addition of Robert Sherard (Manchester, England), Jason Morgan (Brampton, Ont.), Callum Grindlay (Milnathort, Scotland), Jan Weirum (Greve, Denmark) and Adem Ali (London, England).
Darryl Wilson (Haddington, Scotland) returns for his junior season to lead the OCU back line in 2006. Nate Sefton (Milan, IN) and Nick Winters (Schnellville, IN) are also returning starters on the outside. Ronald Stanislaus (Trinidad and Tobago) joins the Mighty Oaks as a junior after leading Herkimer College to the NJCAA National championship last year. Craig Barclay (Musselburgh, Scotland) follows Wilson from Telford College and will have 3 years of eligibility. Andrew Johnson (Minnetonka, MN) and Daniel Armstrong (Evansville, IN) join the OCU defense as freshmen.
In goal, Scott Cliff (Sudbury, Ont.) returns as a junior to reclaim his starting gloves. He will face strong competition this year, from Andre Gomes, an incoming freshman from Woodbridge, Ontario.
Botterill is excited about the prospects of his young squad, "I feel that we have successfully replaced those players that we lost last year, as well as adding the depth that was lacking last year. We'll be young but talented and if we can learn the system and play without fear; and if we have a little luck this could be a great year."