Crusader Club Project

People have been talking about a scoreboard for the soccer field for as long as I have been here at Maranatha and now it looks like it could become a reality! Check out this link to the latest Crusader Club letter and feel free to donate!

Unless,

. . . you would rather give a give toward women's soccer warm-ups. We are very close to our goal. All gifts are tax-deductible and much appreciated. If you can help or know of a company that might be interested, please contact me by email: jcaucutt at mbbc dot edu. -C

Soccer Preseason IV

Here is the final adjustment to preseason. This just came in an email:

NEW SCHEDULE:

NO TEAM MEETINGS OR ACTIVITIES ON SATURDAY. We can make the weight room, and fitness balcony available, but it MUST be totally voluntary, NO CAPTAINS PRACTICE, NO COACHES, NO PLANNED ACTIVITY, NO TEAM BUILDING ACTIVITIES (Soccer, Volleyball, XCountry)

Friday, 7:00 – Any preseason athlete that has already made flight/train reservations may come in at that time, and we will accommodate them with housing and meals for Saturday/Sunday. Please do not encourage those who are driving to come at that time, only those who have already confirmed transportation issues.

Saturday, 7:00: All freshman and transfer students should arrive (returning players can return on Sunday)

Sunday afternoon (TBA): Freshman/transfer student testing.

Sunday, 8:00 pm: NCAA Administrative Meeting for all Fall Athletes, including returning players

Monday: Resume schedule as before

I will be making up new preseason schedules within the hour. Email me if you would like a revised version. -C

Preseason Date Change III

The latest preseason start date is the following:

Arrive Saturday afternoon.
Freshmen testing on Sunday afternoon.
NCAA III and eligibility meeting on Sunday night.
First practice first thing Monday morning.
Registration at 10 am on Monday morning.

You may also want to consult this post and this post.

Stay tuned. . .-C

Wedding

Susie Ferris, four year player, former assistant coach and all-time leader in games played is getting married this weekend. Unfortunately, the wedding is in Phoenix, so I probably will not be making the trip. Here is their wedding blog. Congratulations, James and Susie! - C

Better Late Than Never

Four year soccer player and two year assistant coach James Solarek and his wife, Aisling are new parents. James Converse Solarek IV ("Conor") was born on Friday, July 20 at 12:30 pm. He weighed 8 lbs. 3 ozs. and was 20 1/4 inches long. Check out their blog and leave a comment. - C

Check Out Some Pictures from Rochelle

Here is an online gallery from the Rochelle High School Boy's Soccer Camp from two weeks ago. Feel free to order any pictures of me that you find attractive. #23 is particularly inspiring. . .to me. . . to. . . go. . . on a diet. Just wish I had been wearing a Maranatha Soccer shirt on the day they were taking pictures.

Remember this post? At church yesterday, a lady came up to me and said they were watching a soccer game on Sunday afternoon and that the coach of Toronto FC looked like me. -C

Latest Update on Preseason Date

Those who have already scheduled flights back to school for preseason on the 17th will be housed and fed on campus during the weekend. You might even be able to hang out at my house. . . and watch my kids. . . while Sarah and I go on a date. . . hmm, maybe this is working out better than I had thought. . . stay tuned. - C

Preseason Date Change

Due to a recent (last Thursday) ruling by the NCAA, players may not arrive for preseason until Sunday, August 19th. I know that many of you have already made flight reservations and the college is working on a proper solution to this problem. As a result there will be some major changes to the preseason schedule. Stay tuned. . . - C

Soccer Camp Starts on Monday!

Okay, this post is really messed up and I don't have time to fix it. Hopefully you get the idea. If there is anyone who can edit HTML code. . .I could use your help. . .

Campers may begin to register by 4 pm on Sunday afternoon in the foyer area of the Denney Gymnasium. Staff can begin to arrive around that time as well - although it would be nice to have a few here early. Here are the staff assignments for registration:

Payment/registration: Coach Adam, Coach C

Room Assignments/ Camp Schedule: Swift, Muse

Information Card: Kutz, Campbell

Soccer Gear Sales: Martinez, Dow

Field supervision: Ashton, Hollenbeck

We are expecting our largest group of campers in the history of Maranatha Soccer Camp, but there is still some room available. Campers can register on Sunday, but it would be nice to know if you are coming. Email me or fill out a website feedback form at mbbc.edu.

Can't wait to see everyone next week! - C

I need a geek . . .

One of My Favorite Pictures

The purpose of this blog is not to raise money, however, I think it is appropriate to share a need from time to time.

In 2003, Xactware provided the funds necessary to purchase a nice set of warm-ups for the women's soccer team. The contact was made through a parent of one of our players. In 2005, Xactware once again generously provided warm-ups for the women's team and they have served us well. This year, the women's team is once again in need of a new set of warm-ups. We could use the old ones for a third year. . .but they are not in the best shape. This last winter, we were able to take advantage of an internet deal and purchased new jackets that look sharp and will fit the team very well. The problem is, we did not have the finances to purchase the matching pants. We have some of the money necessary due to some fundraising and a lead gift by a member of the college admnistration, but we still need approximatelly $700 in order to finish the project.

If you know of an individual or company who may be interested in this cause, please contact me. All gifts are tax-deductible and I will gladly post an ad for their company on this site if requested.-C

Register for Soccer Camp!

I drove up to Green Bay yesterday to conduct a one-day clinic for Bay City Baptist. I always enjoy going up there. We had a little bit of bad weather, but everything worked out just fine. I was almost late because I41 is down to one lane near Fond du Lac - a warning to those of you who might be travelling up that way.

My real reason for this post: Maranatha Soccer Camp starts a week from Sunday! Make sure you are registered and ready to go. We already have players signed up from Arizona, Oregon, Virginia, Illinois, Indiana and a better than average contingent from good 'ole Wisconsin. Not too many from Michigan this year. If anyone is coming from that direction, Swifty wouldn't mind a little company.

Mr. Thompson, Larry Carlson and myself lined our fields this morning. They are in good shape, but the upper field is a little dry. We hope for a few showers this weekend. Next week, I will be driving to Rochelle, IL every day for a boys camp at the public high school. Go Hubs! -C

Itinerary and Schedules

Next week, I will be conducting a soccer camp at Rochelle High School in Illinois. If you are in the area, you are welcome to contact the high school there and sign up for the camp. The Rochelle camp is for boys.

The following week is our own Maranatha Soccer Camp here at the college. We have ordered the new t-shirts for the year and we will once again be selling Maranatha Soccer sack packs. If there is anyone out there who is interested. Email me and you can purchase a sack pack for $5 or a t-shirt for $8. Purchase both for $12. There may also be a charge for shipping. You can pay by check, credit card over the phone, or paypal. My email address is jcaucutt at mbbc dot edu. Email me and we can work out the best way to do payment. The t's are ice gray with a dark blue logo. The sack packs are navy with a white logo.

For college athletes who are planning to attend preseason in August, I have the following documents available through email:

Preseason Training Schedule, Regular season game and training schedule, and Summer Workout. -C

Uj

Stephanie Ujvary (pronounced "yoo - vai-ree", but she doesn't have to worry about that anymore) was married last Saturday. She was a member of the women's team in 2003 and 2004. In 2003, she ranked 18th in the in goals scored and 22nd in points in the NCAA III with 22 goals and 7 assists - and led the nation in cell minutes on the phone with her boyfriend who is now her husband. Wish we could have been there. . . I love WY. . . may the Lord bless Steph and Joel as they seek to follow the Lord together. - C

NCCAA II Nationals

Maranatha has been a part of the NCAA III for over ten years. Prior to 1997, we were only members of the National Christian College Athletic Association II. We are now dually affiliated, although when dates conflict, we are committed to D3. I will soon do a post on why Maranatha has chosen to be a part of the NCAA III. The answer has nothing to do with athletics.

Because of the date conflicts, the men's soccer team has been unble to participate in the NCCAA II national play-off since my junior season in 1995 when we lost in a regional semifinal to Moody Bible Institute (in a shoot-out after Jason Boe put on one of the greatest performances between the pipes that I have ever seen. We lost in the 7th round of PK's when one of our players shot over the crossbar. I won't tell you who it was... No, Sandy, it wasn't me...) There were several years when we could have done well at that level, especially 2000 when the men's team defeated the eventual national champions during the regular season 3-1 and 2001 when most of that squad returned. Last year the men's team was a late entry into the regional playoff when one of our conference matches was cancelled. It was our first appearance at the Midwest Regional since I have been the coach of the men's team. The Midwest region includes Northland Baptist, Moody Bible, Lincoln Christian, Grace Bible, Great Lakes Christian and Maranatha.

The women's side of the NCCAA II has only had a national tournament since 2003 and a national championship since 2005. Since 2003, our women's team has won the Midwest region, but has been unable to advance to the national championship because of date conflicts with the old Lake Michigan Conference and now the Northern Athletics Conference. I believe that our 2003 and 2006 teams would have had a good shot at winning that tournament. Our region orginally included Northland, Maranatha and Lincoln Christian and the region representative was determined through a regular season round robin schedule. Unfortunately, LCC dropped their women's program this year, hopefully, Grace and Moody can get their club teams off the ground.

That is the history. Here is the point: After a great deal of work and lobbying, the NCCAA II has moved their playoff dates in order to allow Maranatha and other D3 schools to participate in both the regional playoffs and the national tournament! The men can advance by playing Northland, Moody, Lincoln, and Great Lakes during the regular season and then winning the Midwest Regional being held at Northland this year. The women's road is both easier and harder... they must simply defeat Northland at Northland... on September 8th.

Here is the best part: the dates allow us to advance in the NAC playoffs and the NCCAA II playoffs! I can't wait. - C

Opportunity

for any players who are in the Watertown area on August 11th. The Watertown Soccer Club is holding a 4v4 soccer tournament and they need referees. Here is some of the information from Jim Schmidt:

Hello ref’s and other interested parties,
Hopefully you’ve about the 4v4 soccer tourney on Aug 11 , 2007. This tourney is sponsored by the HAWC , WSC and Park-n-Rec. It will be held Brandt/Quirk park. I’m looking for ref’s for this day. You don’t need to be a certified ref. However , you should know soccer and it’s basic rules. This tourney will be an all day event. If your only available for part of the day, please let me know. If you can go all day , we’ll get you plenty of work. This is our first year running this tourney, so I’m hopeful we’ll have plenty of teams sign up.

If you are interested in this opportunity, contact me. I am not certain if this is a paid or volunteer situation, but I can find out for you. -C

Joel Smith

Please pray for forward Joel Smith from Salisbury, Maryland. He broke his arm badly while working at Bible camp in Pennsylvania this summer. He had surgery last week, but will probably will miss the entire soccer season. Joel had a solid season as a freshman last year, but was poised to have a breakout year this year as a sophomore after wrestling in the winter and having a good spring season. Give him a call if you can.

Who will step up to take his place? -C

Summer Groups

I am a soccer coach and I love any type of athletic competition, however, while I was in college, I had the opportunity to be a member of the Chamber Singers choir and the Watchmen Quartet while a student at the college. My experiences while traveling with these groups helped to form some of my fondest memories of college and taught me a great deal about dealing with people. I was also able to visit over 40 states in the Union on Maranatha's dime. . . I loved these trips and never wanted them to end - even when the 12 week, 13,000 mile Watchmen tour was over, I still wanted to continue. Anyway, I have enjoyed reading the blogs of the two Maranatha groups who are on the road this summer: the Heritage Singers and the Triumphant Brass. The updates bring back a lot of memories. I would travel with a singing group again in a hearbeat - but they probably would not like having a three kids along. Maybe I can get my CDL when my kids leave home and drive for a choir. . . If any of you are in college and you have the opportunity to travel - do it! - C

Sommer Rodolph Update

Sommer and Jen, circa 2004.

Sommer Rodolph stopped by our house on Saturday. It was fun to see her again - for those of you who don't know - she is the all-time leading goal scorer on the women's side. She was also a great leader on our team and continues to serve the Lord in any way she can. Since her graduation in 2005, she has taken missions trips to Uruguay, Germany, Zambia and is currently serving at Camp Fairwood right here in Wisconsin. - C