JagBytes

Issue date: 11/28/07 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Julie Andrews Midfielder Chris Wey drives the ball down the field (photo at left) during the Jag's game against Oakland for the Summit championship on Nov. 18.

Media Credit: Julie Andrews Junior Ryan Brumbaugh goes for the ball.

Media Credit: Julie Andrews Vangel Nacovski moves past a player from Oakland but the Jags eventually fell to Oakland in the Jags' first championship game since 2001.

Chilly November temperatures did not hamper the spirit of the men's soccer team and their fans last weekend when the team attempted to become the 2007 Summit League Champions, a feat that hasn't been accomplished by the team since 2001. However, the team fell in the championship finals to Oakland University 0-2.

Coming into the Summit League Championship game, the Jaguars were 5-1 in Summit League play, which the team has never done under the leadership of head coach Steve Franklin.

The team took on Oral Roberts in the first round of the four-team championship on Nov. 16. The Jaguars came away with the win over ORU 2-0 and a trip to the championship finals.

The Jaguars were on the prowl early in the game. Nick Lance took a shot just one minute in that went wide left of the goal. None of the Jaguars were successful at getting a goal until 66 minutes into the game when Eric Weigman, with an assist from Chris Wey, scored his fifth goal of the season and what became the game-winning goal.

The Jaguars stayed on the heels of the Oral Roberts team making sure they did not score a goal to tie the game. Goalkeeper David Barszczowski did his part with six saves during the game, making this his third career shutout in his two years on the team.

In the 75th minute of the game, the Jaguars sealed the game when Vangel Nacovski scored his ninth goal of the season.

On Nov. 18, the Jaguars had one thing on their mind and it was to take a win from Oakland, which no team had done this season in Summit League play. However, key mistakes from several members of the Jaguar team made them struggle in the game before falling to Oakland 0-2.

After the first period, the Jaguars were down 0-1. Team members along the sideline were constantly chanting "Let's Go White," hoping to raise the spirit and game play of the team.

"I give Oakland credit, they were a strong team," said Coach Franklin. "I am very proud of my team."

After the game, Coach Franklin congratulated the team on a great season.

"I told the seniors that I was proud of them because they brought this team out of the valley and brought the team to elite play status to compete against a team like Oakland," Franklin said. "I challenged the younger players to build on that success for next season."

During the awards ceremony, three members of the IUPUI team were named to the 2007 All-Tournament team. They were Ryan Brumbaugh, Nacovski, and Adrian Conrad. Nacovski was named earlier that week as the 2007 Summit League Player of the Year. This marks the first time an IUPUI player has been given this honor.

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