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Coach Dino Raso had high expectations for the Mighty Oaks soccer team heading into this season, and those expectations were fulfilled in the form of a National Christian College Athletic Association Division I Men's Soccer Mid-East Regional Championship, which earned a berth in the National Tournament, where the Oaks earned the fifth seed and finished with wins over Southwestern Assemblies of God University and Palm Beach Atlantic University to take fifth place.

In the opening round, the Oaks squared off against the #4 seed Cedarville University, losing by the score of 2-0. Cedarville went on to earn third place in the tournament. In the consolation semi-finals, OCU faced Southwestern Assemblies of God University, the tournament's #8 seed, winning in penalty kicks after battling to a 2-2 tie in double overtime. Paul Keys, Sascha Schmidt, Nico Gercke, Nathan Andijanto and Nick Little each made their PK attempt, while goalkeeper Matt Ball was able to stop the shot of Rolando Hernandez in SAGU's fourth attempt to seal the victory.

That win moved OCU into the consolation finals, where they played the defending national champion and this season's #2 seed Palm Beach Atlantic Sailfish. After the Sailfish went up 1-0 in the second half, on an own goal deflected in by an OCU player, freshman Nico Gercke scored the equalizer off of an assist by Nick Little to lock the score at 1-1. The score remained tied until the horn went off, sending the game into a penalty kick shootout. Paul Keys connected on his first attempt, while Matt Ball stopped the shot of Chris Karafilov to give the Oaks an advantage. Sergio Petre's shot hit the crossbar, followed by a solid mark by Kenny Hogg to bring the PK score even at 1-1. Nico Gercke connected on his attempt, followed by a score by Palm Beach's Kevin Ireland. Sascha Schmidt scored in the fourth round and Matt Ball was able to stop the shot of Charlie Hubbard to set up Nick Little in what could be the deciding shot. When Little sent the ball into the back of the net, the victory was earned by the Oaks, capping off the best finish in Oakland City University history.

Nick Little, junior midfielder from Renfrewshire, Scotland, was named to the All-Tournament Team, capping off a solid tournament by a number of the Oakland City players.

The Mighty Oaks soccer team will be honored during the basketball double-header on Saturday, December 10.

The Mighty Oaks are headed to the National Christian College Athletic Association Division I Men's Soccer National Tournament, hosted in Kissimmee, Florida. Four members of the team were named to the NCCAA Mid-East All-Region Team, including Adam Sell, Andrew Stolz, Chris Brind, and Nick Little. Coach Dino Raso was named the 2011 NCCAA Mid-East Region Coach of the Year after the team won the Regional Championship.

The Mighty Oaks game schedule, as well as live video streaming, may be found on the NCCAA website (www.thenccaa.org).

The Oakland City University men's soccer team held off #4 Trevecca Nazarene on Friday, winning 3-0, advancing to the NCCAA Mid-East Regional Championship against #3 Covenant College. Covenant defeated the #2 Asbury University 4-2. The Oaks and the Scots each held the other scoreless into overtime when Carlos Castano took advantage of a ball played in by Sascha Schmidt with less than two minutes remaining, scoring just outside of the keeper's reach to give the Oaks the win.

The Oaks outshot the Scots 23-3 in the game, but John Eger, senior goalkeeper for Covenant, tallied nine saves on the day to keep his team in the game.

Nico Gercke scored two header goals in Friday's win, while Jon Stroup added a third goal to the victory.

Next up for the Oaks is a trip to the NCCAA National Championships in Kissimmee, Florida.

The Mighty Oaks will host the 2011 NCCAA Division I Men's Soccer Mid-East Regional Tournament on Friday and Saturday, November 18-19, at Aigner Field. The game schedule will be as follows:

#1 Oakland City University
#2 Asbury University
#3 Covenant College
#4 Trevecca Nazarene University

Friday, November 18:
11:00 AM CST - #2 Asbury University vs. #3 Covenant College
2:00 PM CST - #1 Oakland City University vs. #4 Trevecca Nazarene University

Saturday, November 19:
1:30 PM CST - Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2

The OCU men's soccer team has broken into the top ten rankings for the first time this season, ranked ninth in all of NCCAA Division I.

The complete rankings include:
#1 Azusa Pacific University (CA), 7-1 (70 Total Points)
#2 The Master's College (CA), 7-1-1 (60)
#3 Judson University (IL), 7-4 (51)
#4 Asbury University (KY), 7-1-2 (50)
#5 Southern Wesleyan University (SC), 5-3 (37)
#6 Grace College (IN), 7-2-1 (35)
#7 Oklahoma Wesleyan University (OK), 6-3-1 (26)
#8 California Baptist University (CA), 5-2 (13)
#9 Oakland City University (IN), 6-2 (12)
#10 Greenville College (IL), 5-3-3 (11)
Others schools receiving votes were: Palm Beach Atlantic University (FL), 5-3 (8), Roberts Wesleyan College (NY), 6-4-1 (5), Bethel College (IN), 6-4 (4), and Trinity Christian College (IL), 6-2-2 (2).

The Mighty Oaks were ranked as high as fourth last season and spent three weeks ranked in the top ten.

The Mighty Oaks continued their 5 game road swing with 2 more victories this past weekend.  On a rematch from last season’s game that witnessed a 2-0 loss at home for OCU on September 17, the Mighty Oaks battled fellow NCAA Division II opponent Lindenwood University to a 4-2 victory. 

Adam Sell got the Mighty Oaks on the board first, scoring around the 20 minute mark with a curling shot around an outstretched LU keeper.  OCU would take that lead into the half.  At the start of the second, with rain starting to fall in the area, the Lions managed to score off of a scramble near the goal to tie the match.  This did not phase the Mighty Oaks as Chris Brind scored his second goal of the season off a set piece about 20 yards from the LU goal.

It was at this point that the Lions started to press, forcing OCU keeper Matt Ball to come up with a couple of big saves to keep the game close.  After weathering the attack, Ben Hosie was able to hit a long distance volley that seemed to catch the LU goalkeeper off guard for OCU’s third goal of the game.  Again, LU pressed and managed to score a second goal very late in the game.  The final nail came when, in the press to equalize, LU sent their goalie to send in a free kick near the half line.  Upon OCU’s clearance, he was forced to make a decision and went after the loose ball.  Josh Wirey, who had had an excellent game to that point, beat him to the ball and sent a header to a sprinting Nathan Andijanto who was able to tap the ball into an empty net.

The following afternoon, with some new faces gracing the starting lineup, OCU saw themselves down 1-0 in the 18th minute to an adrenaline filled Harris-Stowe State University.  The Mighty Oaks were able to maintain composure and Marvin Alyas scored the equalizer from a header into an exposed goal ten minutes later.  Not three minutes after that Nick Little received a cross from Alyas that he also headed in to give the Oaks the lead for the first time.  With 25 minutes remaining in the game, Alyas finished his string of points by slotting in a goal from close range after receiving a cross from Nathan Andijanto.

The solid play during the weekend gave the Oaks a record of 5-1 heading into their next match, scheduled for Thursday, September 22, when they travel to Lebanon, Illinois, to face McKendree College. Game time is set for 6:00 PM CST.

The OCU men’s soccer team left the comfortable confines of Aigner Field for their first road match of the regular season on Saturday, September 10, when they traveled to Belleville, Illinois, to take on the Lindenwood University-Belleville Lynx.  The two teams squared off last season in Oakland City on October 16, with the Lynx prevailing by the score of 2-0.

This time, the opposite was true. After 25 minutes of fast-paced soccer that gave both sides an opportunity to get the lead, Aljosa Stankovic was able to net his first goal of the season from a powerful shot from 25 yards out.  It was at this point that the Mighty Oaks began to control the game.  The Oaks scored an insurance goal fifteen minutes into the second half when Nick Little sent in a through ball to a racing Marvin Alyas who was able to slot in a composed shot past an outstretched cougar keeper.

The game was intense throughout, with the Cougars picking up three yellows and a red card in the match.

The Mighty Oaks next travel to St. Charles, Missouri, to take on Lindenwood University, the only other team to beat them 2-0 last season, at 7:30 PM on Friday, September 16. 

The Oakland City University Mighty Oaks hosted the St. Joseph’s College Pumas on Tuesday, September 7, hoping to move above .500 for the first time this season. The Oaks dominated the first half of play, taking a 3-0 lead into the second period, while the second half saw the Oaks increase their lead to 4-0 before two late goals by the Pumas finished the scoring with OCU still leading 4-2.

Playing with passion, OCU was able to capitalize on a steal by Pablo Graells deep in St. Joseph’s end 22 minutes into the match and give the Mighty Oaks a 1-0 lead.  By the end of the half, freshman forward Jon Stroup was sent in on 2 separate occasions and his finishes were clinical, sending OCU into the locker room with a 3-0 lead.  Nick Little tallied an assist on Stroup’s first goal, while Ben Hosie and Marvin Alyas each helped on his second.

The start of the second half saw the Mighty Oaks playing into the stiff wind, but OCU managed to get on the board early on a through ball by Marvin Alyas to Nathan Andijanto for his second tally of the season.   The second period was marked by ebbs and flows in the performance of both teams but Matt Ball saw the majority of the action making some critical saves in the remaining 15 minutes to solidify the victory.  He was unable to maintain the shutout, however, as St. Joe’s sent extra players into attack and managed to sneak two goals past Ball, one off of a deflection, the other off a rebound.

OCU returns to action on Saturday, September 10, in a doubleheader with the women at Lindenwood-University Belleville. Game time is set for 3:00 PM CST.

Bouncing back from their 3-2 loss to NCCAA opponent Mid Continent University, the OCU men’s soccer team scored seven goals on their way to their first regular season victory of the season against the NCAA Division II University of Illinois-Springfield.  The first goal was scored by Nick Little who was forced to sit out the game versus Mid-Continent.  His presence would be felt as he then proceeded to add three assists to his tally on the day.  Other players scoring multiple points were Marvin Alyas (two goals), Adam Sell (one goal, one assist), Nathan Andijanto (one goal, one assist), Sascha Schmidt (two assists), Paul Keys (one goal) and Nico Gercke (one goal).

OCU was under pressure early from UIS, who were playing their first regular season game.  Once the Oaks settled in however, they were able to apply ample pressure in the remaining minutes of the first half, leading 2-0 at the break.  At the start of the second half, Marvin Alyas was able to put away two goals early helping to put the game out of reach.  As a result, Coach Raso was able to give a number of players time on the field in order to help them gain some experience.  After conceding a goal, Matt Ball was replaced by Byron Baamonde, which was the first time he had seen action in the 2011 season.

The Oaks outshot the Prairie Stars 21-10 for the game and also led 10-2 on corner kicks.

Oakland City will be back in action on Tuesday, September 06, when they host St. Joseph’s College. Game time is set for 2:30 PM CST.

The Oakland City University Men’s Soccer team played its only pre-season exhibition match in Terre Haute, Indiana, against Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, pre-season pick to be 3rd overall in the Division-3 HAC conference. The game ended in a tie 1-1.

The first half was a very even in possession and although RHIT dominated in Corner Kicks, OCU dominated in shots. Ultimately this resulted in Junior, Ben Hosie, scoring in the 36th minute. Ben said he saw the keeper off his line and took advantage to cross the ball over his head into the back corner.  In the second half, the Mighty Oaks became more dominant in possession of the ball and seemed to be working well together as a team.  However, in the dying seconds of the game, Clint Vatterodt tapped the ball into an empty net after a corner kick scramble left OCU without a clean clearance.

The OCU players were disappointed with the score but were happy with much of the play as different formations and personnel were used throughout the game in preparation for this week’s opening home match versus NCCAA Mid-East conference rival Mid Continent. Game time is scheduled for Thursday, September 1, at 3:00 PM CST.

Mar. 31, 2011 - Mighty Oaks Soccer to Host Open Tryouts April 3rd and 16th

Jan. 25, 2011 - OCU Futsal Winter Camp Registration Now Open

Nov. 30, 2010 - Trio of Sophomores Named to NCCAA Mid-East Region Team, Little Named NCCAA D-I Men's Soccer Athlete of the Week

Nov. 12, 2010 - Mighty Oaks to Host Regional Game Against Mid-Continent

Oct. 28, 2010 - Mighty Oaks Senior Day

Oct. 26, 2010 - Mighty Oaks to Advance to Regional Tournament, Senior Day Approaching

Oct. 4, 2010 - Offense/Defense Lead OCU Back Into National Rankings

Sept 16, 2010 - Mighty Oaks Set to Host First Annual Gibson County Tourism Board Men's Soccer Invitational Tournament

May 10, 2010 - Mighty Oaks Soccer Receives NSCAA Academic Award