SCOREBOARD SEARCY STEEL SCORES TEAM POINTS Univ. of Ark. - Fayetteville ... 3-4 University of the Ozarks .. . .. 12-1 Central Ark . Univ . . ........ . . 5-0 Hendrix College .. . ........ . . 8-2 Ouachita Baptist ............. 2-1 The one and only~ Coach Mike Burchett was the only player/coach at Harding. Burchett while viewing a Searcy Steel practice, notices the team's skill. - photo by Bill Tripp. 142 Athletics Searcy Steel Soccer IRl~~~se s~~ d:~ offense benefiting from tremendous depth were two of the key factors in the Searcy Steel Soccer Club, finishing in first place in the Arkansas Intercollegiate Soccer Conference. The team compiled a 9-1 conference record and finished 15-2-1 overall. ~ "Winning the confer- "ence was the team's number one goal," explained Mike Burchett, coach of the team. "After having to settle for a second place finish last season, we were not going to be pleased with anything except the conference title this year." Even though the Steel tied for first last season with the University of Arkansas, the team had to settle for second place due to a tie breaker system that awarded the title to U of A. Sea,,rcy Steel Soccer "We had the majority of the team return this season," continued Burchett, "and nobody wanted a repeat of last season. The team exhibited the intensity, determination, and motivation that are necessary to win conference championships. This was not a recreational league" said Burchett "and anybody who does not demonstrate a desire to win and have team unison will not find a place on the team." The league is highly competitive and first place does not come easy. This year, the outcome of the team was determined on the last weelcend of the schedule. On the field, the efforts of the Steel were headed by the dazzling play of Jeremy Lewis, Wade Gillespie, Lovemore Sik:aale and Franco Zengaro on offense. The important midfield positions were manned by Joe Mai, team captain; Gerry Smith, Richard Reid and Cesar Angulo. The defense was lead by Jon Raley, voted team M.V.P. by the steel players. Falmy Marin, Samuel Nwaneri, Pedro Velasquez, Ty Webb and Crais Uys all played excellent defense with Raley. David Hale, returning for his second season with the team, shined as the goal keeper. "We cannot win championships if we don't keep the other team from scoring. This is where David takes over. He kept us in some games this year by not allowing the opponent a big lead at times when the rest of the team was struggling," explained Burchett. The Steel was looking forward to a championship next season, also. - Mike Burchett Searcy Steel Soccer. Front row: Lin, Reid, Gillespie, Mai , Neill, Emanuel, Raley, Zengaro, Hale. Back row: Burchett- coach, Phillips, Pierce, Bradley, Angulo, Guys, Marin , Smith, Lewis, Rockwell, Burns, Narawi. Ground: Hale. - photo by Ty Webb.
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