The Penn men finished 2007 at 6-6-5 (3-3-2 Midwest Collegiate Conference), but much of the scoring offense returns and third-year head coach Kevin Rushing successfully recruited even more offense. Those two factors give the Statesmen high hopes that they should find themselves on the winning end of many more contests this fall.

"2007 was up and down for us," Rushing said. "Going to overtime eight times shows that we had a very strong midfield defense and a couple of great goalkeepers. The downfall was that we could not put the ball in the back of the net. I worked hard in the offseason to find kids that I know can finish."

Fernando Sanchez (Sr., Baytown, Texas, Lee HS) leads a large crew of returners back onto the pitch. The senior, who was an honorable-mention all-MCC pick last season, will be utilized in several areas, while a committee of individuals look to lead the offense.

Rushing is looking forward to having his two-headed goalkeeping monster return as both Tadeo Cavazos (So., Baytown, Texas, Lee HS) and Mark DeRee (So., Wichita, Kan., Bishop Carroll Catholic HS) are back between the pipes. The pair allowed just 1.69 goals per game and had three shutouts last season.

The Statesmen defense was strong overall as the team gave up one or no goals in nine games.

"Tadeo and Mark did really well sharing time and I am thrilled to have both of them back," Rushing said.

Many freshmen and junior college transfers will battle with the returners for starting spots and some are expected to win those battles. Headlining the group is Javier Del Toro (Jr., Joliet, Ill., Joliet CC), a two-time Junior College All-American.

"We are here to win and the guys know that and they plan to work hard to do that," Rushing said.

Forward

The Penn offense will have plenty of variety as several individuals have the ability to score. Leading the charge for the returners is Vince Beseau (Jr., Florissant, Mo., Hazelwood Central HS), who finished with two goals and an assist in 2007.

"Vince is a hard-nosed player who goes and goes the whole time he is out there," Rushing said. "He will give it his all and will not hurt the team by staying out there if he doesn't have anything left."

Del Toro figures to be a tremendous complement to Beseau.

"Javier can finish anything inside 30 yards," Rushing said. "He is not a fancy player; he just gets the job done. I cannot wait to work with him and see what he can do."

Although just a freshman, Omar Zepeda (Groves, Texas, Memorial HS) has probably the best chance of all the freshmen to earn playing time.

"Omar is a born striker and could be a great asset this fall," Rushing said. "He has been contacting me all summer, so that shows me he has the drive to play."

Returners Rudy Bear (Jr., Baytown, Texas, Sterling HS), Tim Schneider (So., Wever, Aquinas HS), and Brian Smith (Sr., Joliet, Ill., Joliet CC) join transfer Dan Fischer (Jr., Council Bluffs, Iowa Western CC) as individuals who could also work into playing time at the forward position.

"Rudy had a great spring and will earn playing time with his work ethic," Rushing said. "Tim should be a really good target player for us and can make things happen."

"I am really glad to have Dan on our team," Rushing said. "He is a big kid and one of the several really good kids we brought in from a good Iowa Western CC program."

"Tim played some wing for us last year, but it was not a good fit for him, so he has been moved up top. He is pretty fast and can get some time during the season."

"Overall, our forwards should do a nice job putting us on the board and giving some relief to our defense and goalies," Rushing said.

Midfielder

Sanchez has been a mainstay in the defense his first three years in the navy blue and gold, but Rushing has decided he is too good of an attacker not to use offensively so the senior has been moved to the midfield. Despite playing on the defense last season, Sanchez proved he has scoring skills by putting two in the back of the net.

"Fernando is one of the greatest readers of the game I have ever seen," Rushing said. "His vision, control of the ball, and presence make him a solid player. He will be difficult to lose after this year."

Numerous other returners will add experience and depth, including Angel Contreras (Sr., Joliet, Ill. Joliet CC), Tim Eyer (Jr., Palos Heights, Ill., Shepard HS), Armando Irias (Sr., Baytown, Texas, Lee HS), Marc Keane (Jr., Enniscorthy, Ireland, Gorey Community School), James Lawrence-Forbes (So., Nottingham, England, South Nottingham College), Kuda Mabiza (So., Leighton Buzzard, England, Richmond College), Byron Munguia (So., Baytown, Texas, Lee HS), Jacob Plocher (Sr., West Plains, Mo., West Plains HS), and Cesar Villarreal (Sr., McAllen, Texas, Memorial HS).

Keane led Penn with six goals a year ago, while Contreras and Lawrence-Forbes had two scores each.

"All of these guys bring something different to the table that will help us," Rushing said.

Newcomers Ben Beary (Fr., Knoxville, Knoxville HS) and Eli Bradley (So., Marion, Ill., Marion HS) will try to steal minutes as well. Newcomer Brandon Wood (Jr., Smithfield, Utah, Iowa Western CC) will be asked to push his fellow midfielders.

Beary, an area product, really has Rushing's eye as he enters his first year of collegiate soccer.

"Ben is electric on the wing," Rushing said. "He is a great kid and I hope this is the start of bringing in more and more area talent. Like most of the freshmen, this year will be mostly used to groom them into varsity players as sophomores."

"Offensively or defensively, our midfield is going to be strong and will be a great anchor for us," Rushing said.

Defender

Speed and toughness are the two most effective ways to describe the qualities Rushing desires in his defense and are exactly the type of players he will have at his disposal this fall.

Returners Tim Schultz (Sr., Foxfield, Colo., Grandview HS) and Matt Oppelt (Sr., St. Louis, Mo., Bishop DuBourg HS) will join 2007 redshirt Steve Olson (Fr., Cedar Rapids, Linn-Mar HS) as individuals with experience.

"Tim filled a hole we had and did a great job in the back last year," Rushing said. "He has a magnet on his foot and can dribble into a group and come out with the ball. Matt has solid skills and will help us out in the back. Steve is a tenacious player with tremendous speed. Speed will definitely be his greatest asset."

A foursome of newcomers look to make an immediate impact when they walk onto the pitch in August.

Matt Saner (Jr., West Plains, Mo., Neosho CC) heads the group as someone who will be noticed simply because of his size.

"Matt is a brute," Rushing said. "He punishes anybody that tries to come in the middle and he wins every ball that is played within ten yards of him."

The trio of Patrick Christian (Fr., Baytown, Texas, Lee HS), Jamie Gibbons (Jr., West Des Moines, Iowa Western CC), and Dexter Tobie (Jr., Joliet, Ill., Joliet CC) will be strong on the defense as well.

"Patrick is rough around the edges, but he would run through a brick wall if his coach asked him to," Rushing said. "He is the type of kid you want to build a team around, academically and athletically."

"Jamie is a tall kid that wins a lot of 50/50 balls," Rushing said. "Dexter is a speedy guy. He, Steve Olson, and Armando Irias are the fastest guys I have ever seen with the ball at their feet."

Goalkeeper

The two-way battle at goalkeeper will be defaulted to Cavazos at least in the early going as DeRee gets back into ‘goalie' shape after a summer away from the game at military boot camp.

Cavazos was 2-2-4 last year with a 1.58 Goals Against Average and three shutouts, while DeRee was 4-4-1 with a 1.79 GAA and one shutout.

"Tadeo will get the first looks, but just so Mark can get ready as a goalie," Rushing said. "Mark will be in tremendous physical shape, but he has not had any time being a goalie. Eventually we will get to the point where they are fighting for the starting spot."

Bram Vermeulen (Jr., Oskaloosa, Oskaloosa HS) will back up the pair in his third year in the program.

Schedule

The Statesmen begin the 2008 slate on August 23 with a home matchup with Trinity Christian (Ill.). The team has an extremely loaded home schedule, playing ten of its 17 contests in Oskaloosa.

"We have added lights to the field and the grass is really good, so I am very excited to have so many games at home," Rushing said. "Hopefully it will give us an extra advantage."

Penn also plays in the Calumet-St. Joseph Tournament in Indiana in late August.

Conference

A season after placing fifth in the nine-team MCC, Rushing has grand expectations for his squad in 2008.

"I am biting at the bit for the conference season to begin because I believe we are one of the best teams in the league," Rushing said. "This may not have been one of the elite programs in the conference before, but once this season is over, no one will be able to overlook us."

Grand View and St. Ambrose finished at the top of the league in 2007, but Rushing believes his Statesmen will be right there as well.

"I think this is the year that we bust through," Rushing said. "The key for us will be to put our nose down, work hard, and finish games."

"We have a lot of juniors and seniors on our team that have great experience so that should be key throughout the year," Rushing said. "I am sold that this is going to be the best team I have ever coached and I think that we have a great chance to make a run at the national tournament."