QUINCY, Ill. – Quincy University men's soccer coach Mike Carpenter announced the signing of seven student-athletes in the program's 2013 recruiting class. The newest Hawks will begin their collegiate careers in the fall of 2013.

The Hawks added six freshmen to the program and one senior transfer student-athlete from Regis (Colo.) University. 

Quincy advanced to its second NCAA Tournament in three seasons last year and finished with a 12-2-6 overall record and a 9-1-5 mark in Great Lakes Valley Conference play. The Hawks finished second in the GLVC regular season standings.

 

Following are the bios for each of the seven student-athletes who will join the QU men's soccer program.

Xhovani Dokaj

Defender/Midfielder | St. Louis, Mo./Christian Brothers College Prep

Prior to Quincy: The Post-Dispatch All-Metro Player of the Year, Dokaj was the stabilizing force as the Cadets came on strong to capture the Missouri Class 3 soccer state championship this past fall. He earned All-State, All-Metro and All-Midwest honors and also competed in the High School All-American Game in Alabama. For CBC, 'X' spent time in a holding center midfield role, but truly excelled anchoring the team's defense as a vocal center back.

Coach Carpenter's Comments: "X possesses strong leadership qualities and sees the game extremely well. Besides excelling as a center back for his high school and club teams, he is capable of playing as a center midfield player and target striker. His combination of versatility, soccer intelligence and natural leadership abilities will make him an instant success at the college level."

Nathan Dreyer

Defender/Midfielder | Quincy, Ill./Quincy Notre Dame

Prior to Quincy: Dreyer was full-time starting defensive player in his junior and senior seasons and was versatile enough to play up to five different midfield and backfield positions during his high school career at Quincy Notre Dame. He was a full-time starter on QND's 2011 Illinois Class 1A State Championship team.

Coach Carpenter's Comments: "Nathan is a very competitive individual and we aim to recruit that type of soccer player. He is very good in 1v1 defensive situations and is a natural leader. It is nice to have some local, Quincy talent on our roster, especially ones that were good enough be state champions in high school. I'm looking forward to coaching Nathan and helping him develop from a good high school player to a good college soccer player."

Artan Emini

Forward | Yorkville, Ill./Yorkville

Prior to Quincy: Emini is from Yorkville High School where he was an Illinois all-sectional selection in 2012. He finished his senior season as his team's top offensive player with 26 goals and 11 assists. Emini is a right-footed striker who displayed natural leadership qualities as team captain.

Coach Carpenter's Comments: "From my first opportunity to see Artan play, I knew he could be a special college player. He is a quality goal scorer with great feet and the drive to compete at his very best every day. At Quincy, he will enjoy a step up in his daily soccer training routine and get to develop through playing with and against quality college soccer players daily. With his skill set and excellent work ethic, he will enjoy a very good college soccer career at Quincy University."

Nathan Griffin

Goalkeeper | St. Louis, Mo./Christian Brothers College Prep

Prior to Quincy: Regarded as one of the top goalkeepers in the Midwest, Griffin was an All-State and All-Metro selection. He also was a key factor in helping CBC capture the Missouri Class 3 Soccer State Championship. He finished the 2012 season with 25 wins, 14 shutouts and a 0.50 goals-against average.

Coach Carpenter's Comments: "Nate is a very good shot-stopping goalkeeper with excellent distribution skills. He is technically very sound and possesses great hands. I am excited he accepted my invitation to become part of an exceptional goalkeeping tradition at Quincy that dates back to the 1960s. I expect him to have a fantastic college soccer career at Quincy University and be a huge part of our future success."

Justin Ortinau

Midfielder | St. Louis, Mo./Bishop DuBourg/Regis (Colo.) University

Prior to Quincy: Ortinau was a three-year starter at Regis University (NCAA Division II) including on the 2012 team that finished 17-2-1 and earned a #1 ranking NSCAA National Poll for much of the year (final ranking #7). In his three years at Regis, Ortinau recorded eight goals and 18 assists for the Rangers. Originally from St. Louis, Mo. and Bishop DuBourg High School, he is primarily a center midfield player.

Coach Carpenter's Comments: "Justin is a ball-winning center midfield player. He comes to Quincy as a seasoned college soccer player and will make an instant impact in the QU midfield. He possesses a unique balance of technical abilities, soccer smarts and athleticism."

Jordan Stephens

Forward | St. Charles, Mo./Francis Howell

Prior to Quincy: Stephens was a first team Missouri All-State selection and a St. Louis Post Dispatch All-Metro selection from Francis Howell High School, which had one of the top teams in the St. Louis area in 2012. Stephens came into his own as one of the more productive players in the St. Louis area, coming up with 26 goals and 15 assists this fall.

Coach Carpenter's Comments: "Jordan is a natural goal scorer and possesses exceptional pace. He is will give us instant depth in the striker position. I expect him to develop quickly while enjoying quality training and getting to play along quality college soccer players on a consistent basis. I'm excited about how much unreached soccer potential Jordan still holds."

Michael Timmermann

Midfielder | St. Charles, Mo./Francis Howell

Prior to Quincy: Timmermann was a standout midfield player at Francis Howell High School, scoring 10 goals and handing out 13 assists as the midfield general for a high-powered Vikings attack that accounted for 101 goals. He was a St. Louis Post Dispatch All-Metro second team selection and a Missouri All-State selection. He is a product of the Scott Gallagher Soccer Club.

Coach Carpenter's Comments: "Michael is a dynamic midfield player who is capable of filling a few different roles in our system. He enjoyed a good high school career at Francis Howell High School, but he is extremely excited to move on to the collegiate level. His positive attitude and competitive spirit will be his greatest asset at Quincy University."

QU

Zach Venvertloh: First Team Academic All-Region

12/23/11

Zach Venvertloh, the Hawk's junior Co-Captain and central defender, already selected to the GLVC All-Conference Team and the the NCAA All-Midwest Region Team for his performance on the playing field, has recently been chosen as a NCAA First Team All-North Central Region Scholar. Venvertloh, who along with fellow Co-Captain and All-America striker Grant Ellison, led the Hawks to the 2011 GLVC Championship, has completed five straight 4.0 semesters as a dual major in Biology and Chemistry. Semester-end grades show a total of 14 Soccer Hawks with over a 3.0 GPA, seven of those being between 3.5 and 3.99, with Zach, and his freshman brother Ethan (a 7 goal scorer), both with perfect 4.0's. Quincy University, along with its alumni and fans, can be proud of the quality of the student-athletes within the Men's Soccer program, with Zach being the "leader of the pack".

Grant Ellison Selected All-America

12/16/11

Grant Ellison, QU's senior striker, tops off his record breaking season with his selection to the NCAA Division II All-America Third Team. Ellison's award comes as a reward for him scoring 16 goals while leading the Hawks to the GLVC Championship as their inspirational Co-Captain. His 16 senior-year goals pushed his career total to 45 allowing him to move up to a 7th place tie (with Mark Thomas) on the Hawks All-Time Top Scorers list. Grant's All-America selection is QU's first such honor received since Josh Worth's selection in 2004.

All in all, Hawks players since 1966 have appeared on 32 All-America teams. Carl Schwarzen, Mike Villa, John Schneider, Mario Camacho, Mark Mathis, Sam Bick, Neil Frederickson, Emilio John, Eric Delabar, Brian Belobradic, Mike Gallo, and Mark Roome, were selected once each during QU's NAIA reign, while Jim Pollihan, Tor Duner, Steve Lux, and Claes Sandstrom were all selected twice. Edmundo Camacho and Al Harte were each honored three times as All-America players.

In 1984 QU affiliated with the NCAA and played as a Division I team up until the end of 1995. During these twelve seasons, Jock Lagerstedt (1987), was the only Hawk to be awarded All-America honors.

In 1996 the Hawks became part of the GLVC Conference at the NCAA Division II level. In this time five Hawks have won selection as All-America honorees: Jay Wright and Jonathan Douglas in 1998; Matt Vollink in 2000; Josh Worth in 2004, and now Grant Ellison, a 2011 award winner. Here's hoping that there are many more to come.

QU Hawk Soccer: Season Ending Wrap-up.

12/15/11

It has been a very long time since our last posting (10/10/11). That posting came after two exciting GLVC wins over Drury and Missouri S & T. The next weekend the Hawks lost two GLVC matches. No, the postings didn't stop just because of those two losses. Rather, the postings stopped because on the weekend of those two losses the University transferred over to a new internet delivery system and all previous e-mail address were lost to the writer. Because your blog writer is somewhat technologically challenged, and because the soccer season was still going on "hot and heavy", it has taken until now for said "writer" to re-gather all the e-mail addresses and then type them into the new delivery system. (Whew!) So, here goes a shortened (maybe) season wrap-up.

On the weekend of October 14-16 the Hawks were at home and lost 1-0 to Northern Kentucky (defending National Champion and GLVC front runner at the time) on a goal in the 82nd minute of a fiercely contested match; and then lost 3-2 to Bellarmine University in another one goal deciding contest. Wing forward Jeff Vaninger scored both Hawk tallies in this game, one on an excellent free kick from about 30 yards out.

On the weekend of October 21-23 the Hawks took to the road and defeated Kentucky Wesleyan 7-0 with Grant Ellison netting two goals, Ethan Venvertloh 3,and Ryan Seifert and Jordan Roberts each getting one in the Friday match. On Sunday, the Hawks came from behind to tie the University of Southern Indiana 1-1 with Grant Ellison scoring with just 8 seconds remaining in the first half. Then, on Wednesday 10/26 the Hawks traveled to play at the University of Illinois-Springfield (formerly Sangamon State from the NAIA days)and defeated them 5-1 on two goals apiece by Grant Ellison and Ethan Venvertloh that followed Eddie Ragsdale match-opening score.

The Illinois-Springfield game wrapped up the regular season with the Hawks sporting a 10-5-2 overall record and a 9-4-2 record in GLVC play that found them seeded fourth in the GLVC post-season tournament and matched up to play Lewis University's number 5 seeded team. That match took place on Saturday, October 29th at North Campus Field, and saw the Haks come away with a thrilling 2-1 win on freshman Ethan Venvertloh's goal in the 78th minute. Freshman Jordan Roberts had opened the scoring for the Hawks in the 6th minute of action and Lewis squared the match in the 19th minute. This win propelled the Hawks into the GLVC semi-finals to face the #1 seed Rockhurst on their field. Readers might remember that Rockhurst had earlier destroyed the QU Hawks 5-0 at North Campus Field. However, in this semi-final match on Friday, November 4th, it was a different story as QU went out and battled fiercely from kick-off and got out on top 1-0 on a long range shot from freshman striker Jordan Roberts in the 5th minute. Rockhurst leveled the score at 1-1 in the 12th minute and the battle waged on for 78 more minutes during regulation time and for 20 minutes of overtime with the game still deadlocked at 1-all. The 110 minutes of game action was a combination of good soccer and a real "war" waged by two teams who refused to back down. With the match oficially declared a draw after 110 minutes the teams were pitted in a PK shootout battle to determine who would advance into the Sunday Championship match. And, just like the actual game itself the PK shoot-out was an intense nail-biter with QU emerging as 3-2 victors thanks to successful PK's by Grant Ellison, Jordan Roberts, and Stephen McAnany, and TWO PK saves by Hawk keeper DJ Lampert, the final one putting the Hawks into the Championship match against Drury University on Sunday Novembver 6.

In the Sunday Championship game Drury jumped out in front 1-0 in the 15th minute of the match and had the better of the play throughout the entire first half. During the haltime interval the Hawks regrouped and began at the second half kick-off to assert themselves into the match. In the 70th minute mark the Hawks finally got on the scoreboard when Grant Ellison beat the Drury keeper to a bouncing ball at the 18 yard line and flicked it over him toward Drury's goal. Ellison's flick was a looper that was going to bounce before it got to the goal mouth and two Drury defenders were chasing back in an attempt to clear it out before it entered the goal. However, Ethan Venvertloh saw what was about to happen and raced in from his wing position and headed the ball off the bounce into the goal just before the Drury defenders got to it. HAWKS SCORE. Game tied. Venvertloh got the goal. Ellison got the assist, AND was flattened and almost knocked out by the much larger Drury keeper who smashed into him as he flicked the ball goalward. Grant had to come out of the game for several minutes before he was able to return to action.

The game remained deadlocked at one apiece throughout the rest of regulation time with both teams having chances to snatch the title. However, as in the semi-final this match was destined for overtime. Early in the first overtime period the Hawks cleared a ball from around their 18 yard line out to midfield where Grant Ellison picked it up and made a move toward the right sideline. After several dribbles Ellison found wing midfielder Mike Andres making a run up the touchline and sent him a through pass down the wing. Andres caught up with the ball and was immediately put under pressure by a Drury defender who tried to "shield" Mike away from the ball seeking to let it roll out of bounds for a goal kick. Miraculously though, Andres stole the ball from him just at the endline and dribbled it into the penalty area and delivered a pass toward the penalty spot where Jordan Roberts had rushed in to "split" two Drury defenders and calmly took Andres pass and slotted it between the Drury keeper's legs for the WINNING GOAL! HAWKS WIN. HAWKS ARE CHAMPIONS! What a finish to a truly exciting season. This is the Hawks first GLVC Championship since joining the Conference in 1996, and it's the first Championship of this magnatude since winning the Big Central Conference at the Division I level in 1988.
No, it wasn't a National Championship like back in the glory days. However, with the status and parity of college soccer today it may just have been as hard to win.

For their successful performances throughout the 2011 season the following Hawks received various honors.

Grant Ellison, First Team All-Conference; GLVC Outstanding Forward; First Team All-Midwest; QU Leading Scorer Gold Boot Award Winner (16 goals & 3 assists AND moved into a 7th place tie on the All-Time Top Scorer list with 45 career goals) and QU MVP.

Zach Venvertloh, Second Team All-GLVC and Second Team All-Midwest, and QU Best Defender.

Jeff Vaninger, Third Team All-GLVC and All-Midwest and QU Most Improved Player.

Jordan Roberts, Silver Boot Award winner with 7 goals and 3 assists, and Rookie of the Year Award winner.

Ethan Venvertloh, Silver Boot Award winner with 7 goals and 3 assists.

This about wraps up the 2011 season. All the current Hawks can feel good about what they achieved this fall. All former Hawk Soccer Alumni and Hawk fans can feel good about the state of QU soccer. This 2011 team built on the foundation that the good 2010 team laid last year and has rekindled the pride of HAWK SOCCER. With most of this year's team returning for 2012 more good things can be expected.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all, and remember that the 9th Annual Quincy Soccer Alumni Golf Shootout will take place on Friday, May 4th, 2012 at the Forest Park Golf Course in St. Louis MO. Mark this on your calendar as the place to be that day. Please come and join in with us. It's a GREAT TIME.

HAWKS SNATCH TWO VICTORIES

10/10/11

With two road wins this past weekend the Soccer Hawks improved their over-all record to 8-3-1, and to 7-2-1 in the GLVC.

On Friday 10/7 the Hawks defeated Drury University 2-1 in overtime with a 20 yard blast by senior striker, Grant Ellison (St. Dominic HS)off a nifty assist pass from freshman midfielder Steven McAnany (Vianney HS)at 96:20 on the stadium clock. Drury had jumped out ahead of the Hawks with a score at 22:26, but at the 38:56 mark junior winger, Jeff Vaninger (CBC) leveled the game with a perfectly placed free kick from outside the penalty area. From that time on the two sides battled back and forth until Ellison could notch the game winner, his 10th goal of the season, and his fourth match decider. Hawk keeper, Drew Duncan (freshman from CBC)kept the Hawks in the match throughout the game with several stellar saves.

On Sunday 10/9 against Missouri S & T, the Brown & White got an early goal at the 9 minute mark from freshman striker, Jordan Roberts (Durham, England)on a cross angle shot from 15 yards out. Steven McAnany provided the assisting pass. With 10 seconds left in the first half the Hawks launched a long pass up the field deep into the Miners half that was headed by one of their defensive backs as the timer's countdown was at about 4 seconds remaining. As this headed ball descended to the ground Hawk striker, Grant Ellison, hit it off the half volley with about 2 seconds still on the clock and drove it into the upper far corner of the net from about 25 yarsds out for one of the most amazing Hawk goals in a long, long time. Throughout the second half the Miners pushed to try to get back into the game but Hawk keeper Drew Duncan and his back four of junior, Mike Andres (DeSmet HS), junior, Zach Venvertloh (Quincy HS), freshman, Chris Garavaglia (Vianney HS), and sophomore, Eddie Ragsdale (DeSmet HS) kept them pretty well in check.

Currently the Hawks are in fourth place in the 16 team GLVC. This weekend they entertain second place and nationally ranked NKU on Friday 10/14 at 7:30 PM and then host Bellarmine University on Sunday 10/16 at 2:30 PM. Like all GLVC soccer matches these two will be hard fought, spirited contests. If you are anywhere near QU's North Campus Field come on out and support the team.

From Ecstasy to Agony...

10/3/11

This past weekend saw the QU Hawks experience the ecstasy of a thrilling 3-2 sudden death overtime win on Friday night, and then suffer the agony of an embarrasing 0-5 loss on Sunday afternoon.

On Friday 9/30, the Hawks with their usual slow start, saw themselves on the end of a 0-1 deficit at half-time in their match with GLVC newcomer Wm. Jewell University. However, the team regrouped at half-time and surged on to a 2-1 lead just 12 minutes into the second stanza thanks to a penalty kick goal by Grant Ellison in the 51st minute and his second tally in the 62nd minute from an assist by Nate Heryford. Then, with the game seemingly in hand the Hawks gave up a tying goal in the 84th minute on a well taken Jewell free kick into the upper 90 that forced the game into overtime. Once the OT began the Hawks came flying out and put immediate pressure on the Cardinals with 5 quick shots, including the game winner by Jordan Roberts who knocked in a rebound from a Grant Ellison shot that came down off the crossbar, sending the home squad into a jubilant frenzy as the ball crossed the line.

On Sunday 10/2 against Rockhurst University, one of QU's all-time biggest rivals, the Hawks once again got off to their usual slow start but this time never got into the game at all. Rockhurst, who almost scored in the opening seconds of the match got their first goal at the 4 minute mark, and their second came just 8 minutes later after applying almost constant pressure on QU's defense. RU pushed their lead to 3-0 just before half-time giving them a commanding margin they'd never relinquish. RU added tallies in the 59th and 75th minutes running the score up to 5-0 in their favor, dooming the QU Hawks to one of their worst defeats in recent years.

The upcoming week has the QU Hawks on the road for two more crucial GLVC encounters.
On Friday 10/7 they face Drury at 7:30 PM in Springfield MO, and then on Sunday 10/9they visit Missouri S & T in Rolla at 2:30 PM. Both of these matches are vital to the teams success this year. The Rockhurst loss has to be put behind them and and the team's focus must be on "getting the job done" this weekend.

HAWKS SPLIT ON WEEKEND

9/26/11

This past weekend saw the Hawks split two GLVC matches. On Friday 9/23 the Hawks got an early first half goal from junior defender Mike Andres (DeSmet HS) on a shot blasted in from outside the penalty area. Andres tally, notched in the 9th minute, stood up for the rest of the match giving the Brown & White a 1-0 victory over St. Joseph's College. Freshman winger Ethan Venvertloh (Quincy High) provided the assisting pass. From then on, keeper Drew Duncan (spohomore from CBC) and the Hawk midfielders and backline held off several Puma attacks to preserve the shut out victory.

On Sunday 9/25 the Hawks were upended 2-0 by a very good University of Indianapolis squad. The Greyhounds were gifted an unfortunate Hawk "own goal" in the 10th minute that clearly put them on the "back foot" for a long stretch before U of I struck again in the 42nd minute to pretty much "seal the deal". The Hawks tried to put on a second half rally but the Greyhounds wouldn't fold.

The Hawks are now 5-2-1 overall and 4-1-1 in the GLVC. This weekend the Hawks host new GLVC member William Jewell University on Friday night (9/30) at 7:30 PM, and then host long time rival Rockhurst University on Sunday (10/2) at 2:30 PM. If you're anywhere near QU's North Campus Field this weekend stop by an support your team.