The Allen Community College soccer teams find themselves on opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of returning experience. ALLEN’S MEN will bring experience up and down the field, Desmarteau said, and will feature the exploits of Wichita sophomore midfielder Dorian Fox. MCGINNIS IS no less optimistic about the Red Devil women’s chances, despite returning only three players from a two-win squad from last year. Allen Community College 2013 Soccer Rosters
The Allen men, under eighth-year head coach Doug Desmarteau, return 16 players, including its leading scorer, from last year’s playoff team.
The women, on the other hand, return just three players, and have a new coach to boot.
Jeremy McGinnis, a former soccer player and assistant coach at ACC, returns to take the helm of the women’s program.
“Allen holds a special place in my heart,” McGinnis said. “It’s where I played, where I met my wife. It’s even where I proposed to her.”
It also happens that Desmarteau was a groomsman in McGinnis’ wedding. McGinnis, 35, jumped at the chance to return to his alma mater, particularly with the additions to the ACC women’s coaching staff.
No longer is a single coach — Desmarteau — coaching both the men’s and women’s programs.
“This is a great thing for the women’s program and the men, for that matter,” Desmarteau said. “The women’s program has grown a great deal in recent years, to the point that it was pretty tough for one person to manage. I had talked to John (Masterson, ACC president) about bringing in another coach, and when Jeremy agreed, everything fell into place. The support from our administration and trustees has been tremendous.”
Now, each squad has two coaches. Desmarteau is assisted by Matt Abbott; McGinnis by Hiram Raby.
Fox led the Red Devils last year with six goals and two assists.
“Dorian is good on defense, too,” Desmarteau said.
Also expected to contribute heavily are Charleston, S.C., native Leonel Martinez and Waipahu, Hawaii’s Brett Rex, each of whom scored a pair of goals in 2012.
As freshmen, Oscar Marrufo, Topeka, and Josh Parker, Manhattan, had three and one assist, respectively. Desmarteau expects their play to improve as well.
About the only place the Red Devils lack experience is in goal. Both Victor Ortega, Topeka, and Chase Tonkin, Overland Park, are freshmen.
“Chase is a big, athletic kid who can move,” Desmarteau said. “He’s got talent. He’ll be challenged by Ortega.”
Allen will deploy an aggressive, attacking offense, the coach said.
“We’ve got speed outside, and up the middle,” he said. “With our footwork and athletic talent, we’ll be good with our back pressure as well. There’s a lot of strategy involved. Patience is the key.”
With a crop of 15 freshmen certain to challenge for playing time, depth will be one of Allen’s strengths as well, he said.
Allen will not be content with just qualifying for the playoffs this fall, Desmarteau said.
The top four teams in the region will get automatic berths in the national tournament, he noted. Allen’s task is to improve enough to become one of those four.
The Red Devil men are in Neosho, Mo., this afternoon to take on Crowder College at 3 p.m.
One of the sophomores, Chugiak, Alaska, native Beka Zellars will be counted on to lead the way. She didn’t score in 2012 but did have a pair of shots on goal.
“She’s a good, attacking center, somebody we can build our midfield around,” McGinnis said.
The other key sophomore for Allen is returning goalkeeper Keelie Arbuckle of St. Joseph, Mo. She started 10 games in 2012, and registered 67 saves and a .657 save percentage. She also recorded two shutouts.
“She will be a key performer for us,” McGinnis said. “She’s aggressive on goal, and she has great hands.”
Among the incoming freshmen expected to contribute early on are Topeka freshman Lexi Goodlove and Kalynn Gallarde and Kaya Pelen, both of Kapolei, Hawaii.
“I expect a lot out of them,” McGinnis said. “They’re able to get out and attack and apply some great pressure on the opponents.”
McGinnis also praised his entire team’s ability to work together.
“Our passing is going to be a strength,” he said. “We’re not really tall, but we have a high soccer IQ, with players who have great footwork and strong technical abilities.
“I expect us to challenge for a playoff spot,” McGinnis continued. “Allen’s women haven’t made it to the playoffs in the past four years, but we have some good talent coming in here. If we can do well in conference and in Region VI, we’ll have a good shot at being one of those teams.”
The Allen women travel to Ottawa at 10:30 a.m. Sunday to open their season.
Allen Community College 2013 Soccer Schedules
Women Men
Aug. 17-Crowder 3 p.m.
Aug. 18-Ottawa 10:30 a.m.
Aug. 21-Sterling U 5 p.m.
Aug. 21-McPherson 2 p.m. 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 25-NEO 2 p.m. 4 p.m.
Aug. 27-NOC 2 p.m. 4 p.m.
Aug. 30-Lewis & Clark 3 p.m. 1 p.m.
Sept. 1-SWICC 1 p.m. 3 p.m.
Sept. 4-Hesston 2 p.m. 4 p.m.
Sept. 7-KCK 2 p.m. 4 p.m.
Sept. 12-Maple Woods 1 p.m. 3 p.m.
Sept. 17-Cloud 2 p.m. 4 p.m.
Sept. 21-Barton 2 p.m. 4 p.m.
Sept. 25-Coffeyville 2 p.m. 4 p.m.
Oct. 2-Pratt 2 p.m. 4 p.m.
Oct. 9-Johnson 2 p.m. 4 p.m.
Oct. 13-Dodge City 1 p.m. 3:30 p.m.
Oct. 16-Cowley 5 p.m. 7 p.m.
Oct. 20-Independence 3 p.m.
Oct. 22-Independence 3 p.m.
Oct. 26-Neosho 5 p.m. 7 p.m.
Oct. 30-Butler 4 p.m.
Home games in bold
Women Position Class Home Town
13 Carliegh Konrade CB FR Topeka
7 Kyleigh Rowe OFR FR Topeka
10 Savvy Fairall ACM FR Lenexa
1 Kalynn Gallarde TF/OFR FR Kapolei, Hawaii
2 Kaya Pelen ACM FR Kapolei, Hawaii
3 Lacy Kimura DCM/OB FR Wahiawa, Hawaii
15 Carlee Brinkman CB/OB FR Merridan
11 Natile Leiker OFR FR Kansas City, Kan.
00 Lacie Throton GK FR Lansing
14 Jazlyn McCoy CB/OB FR Waianae, Hawaii
18 Beka Zellars ACM SO Chugiak, Alaska
0 Keelie Arbuckle GK SO St. Joseph, Mo.
4 Tayrnn Huckabay OB FR Topeka
20 Samantha Moore OB/OFR FR Olathe
6 Jordan Vigola ACM FR Topeka
8 Raegan Vigola DCM FR Topeka
9 Lexi Godlove OFR FR Topeka
19 Arline Panuco CB/OB/DCM FR Topeka
17 Rachael Little TFR FR Newcastle, Australia
5 Estefana Garcia OB/DCM SO Topeka
16 Kristen Tainatongo DCM/ACM FR Junction City
Men
0 Victor Ortega GK FR Topeka
0 Chase Tonkin GK FR Overland Park
1 Xzavier Torres D/MF FR McPherson
2 Corey Hudson MF/D SO Topeka
3 Neil Jantzen MF FR Topeka
5 Brett Rex F SO Waipahu, Hawaii
6 Julio Guerrero D/MF FR Sanger, Texas
7 Dominic Nwagwu MF/F FR Nigeria
8 Dorian Fox MF SO Wichita
9 Leonel Martinez MF/F SO Charleston, S.C.
10 Dallas Fiszel MF SO Andover
11 Josh Parker MF SO Manhattan
12 Ben Loflin D SO Andover
13 Erick Rivera F FR Topeka
14 Oscar Marrufo MF SO Wichita
15 David Lam D/MF FR Aiea, Hawaii
16 Caleb Mills MF/F FR Wichita
17 Pedro Ortega MF/F FR Topeka
18 Presston Derige MF/D FR Mililani, Hawaii
19 Tyler West D FR Wichita
20 Dylan Orian F FR Kapolei, Hawaii
21 George Georgiev D SO Mililani, Hawaii
22 Tyler Knight F/MF FR Topeka
23 Tyler Coleman F FR Wichita
RS Elijah Munganga MF SO Topeka
RS Brandon Mitchell MF FR Rosehill
RS Juan Gonzalez MF FR Ecuador
Optimism abounds for ACC squads
