Soccer Hawks Prepare for Spring Season

3/22/10

On Monday, March 29, the Soccer Hawks will begin their preparations for the 2010 season. This will be 148 days after their hard-fought 1-0 loss last November 1, to Lewis University in the GLVC Tournament. That defeat closed out the Hawks 2009 campaign with a 9-8-2 record while Lewis moved on to make it all the way to the NCAA Tournament semi-finals.

Even though the Hawks haven't played a game in almost 5 months it doesn't mean that nothing
has happen during this time. Six new recruits have signed Letters of Intent to play for QU and one more is in the final stages of the recruiting process. Already signing with the Hawks are St. Louis area products: defender Tony Auck (Chaminade/Scott Gallagher); defender Tim Berra (Vianney/Scott Gallagher); goal keeper Drew Duncan (CBC/ Scott Gallagher); midfielder Ryan Seifert (St. Dominic's/Scott Gallagher); along with Quincy resident Jake Darnell (Notre Dame/Quincy United) a midfielder; and Dylan Corrigan-Mook, a defender from the Cleveland area (St. Ignatius Prep). For the past couple of years former Hawk striker Bob Radice ('79) has been quite helpful in identifying St. Louis area prospects for the QU coaching staff including Auck/Berra/Duncan in this year's recruiting class. Former Hawk winger, Josh Woodworth ('99) tipped the Hawk staff off to recruit Ryan Seifert who played club ball for him; and former Hawk defender, Mike McLaughin ('89) put the Hawk coaches on the trail of Dylan Corrigan-Mook who played on his high school team. Thanks to these alums for their recruiting help.

Since January 19th, the first day back from Christmas vacation, the current Hawk players have been heavily engaged in a strength and fitness program featuring weight training three times per week along with plyometric and fast foot-work activities on two of those days also. Every Friday they got together to play a full indoor match as their soccer "treat of the week". Often they would also get together and play small-sided 3 v 3 and 4 v 4 games whenever a court was available in the Health & Fitness Center.

When practices begin on 3/29 the Hawks will have 19 returning players available for spring drills. The spring squad will be made up of 6 current Juniors, 7 sophomores, and 6 freshmen.
Jack Wedemeier and Abe Dirnberger, both from Cape Girardeau (MO), Notre Dame HS have been elected to serve as Co-Captains for the 2010 season with Jack leading from the front at the Striker position, and Abe leading from the back as a Central Defender. The "on-field" leadership of the team should be in good hands (plus feet and heads).

The spring (tentative) schedule has the Hawks playing at WIU in Macomb (IL) on Saturday, April 10th at 2 PM; and playing HOME games on Saturday's April 17 (Wm. Woods); April 24 (Hannibal-LaGrange); and May 1 (Wm. Jewell) with all matches starting at 2 PM. Because the weather and ground conditions are always iffy during the spring it is always a good idea to check with us in advance to see if there are any changes. To do this you can call Coach Jack Mackenzie at 217-617-1166 or Coach Mike Carpenter at 217-653-1558).

Updates on our training progress will be made at least each week during the spring.

Let's make 2010 the Year of the HAWK.