Forward Kyle Perkins, junior, scores the first goal against Baker University.

Men's Soccer

Team 2-0 in exhibitions

By: David Cordill

Posted: 8/21/06

The UMKC men's soccer team went 2-0 in exhibition matches against Rockhurst University and Baker University. Wednesday evening at Rockhurst, the Kangaroos overcame a very early 1-0 deficit and came back to beat the Hawks 2-1. On Saturday afternoon, they posted a 4-2 victory over the Baker Wildcats at Swope Park.

UMKC quickly found itself in a hole against Rockhurst as the Hawks' Travis Ogogor broke loose past a scrambling defense after the opening kick and deposited the ball into the Kangaroo net. After only 11 seconds of play, UMKC trailed 1-0.

"That's the kind of stuff we went through last year and that's the kind of stuff we've been trying to cut out," said forward Kyle Perkins, junior.

Stunned and somewhat shaky, UMKC tried to maintain its composure. The team started to find some cohesiveness as the first half progressed.

Still looking for their first shot on goal, the Roos responded late in the first half at the 35:41 mark with a goal from forward Shawn Andrews, senior, who put a six-yard shot past Rockhurst goalkeeper Chad Becker. Sophomore midfielder Omar Rivero got the assist. At the half, the game was tied 1-1.

In the second half, the score stayed deadlocked while much of the action occurred near the middle of the field as both squads struggled to maintain ball possession. Then, at the 83:01 mark, forward Ryan Kaufman, senior, tallied the game winner for the Roos from a throw in on the backline. Oran Andrews was credited with the assist and UMKC got the win 2-1.

"It's always good playing Rockhurst. They're a good team, a good program - just always a real good preparation for us," said Coach Rick Benben. He said the Roos started out "a little nervous and tentative" in the first half and gave credit to a stubborn Rockhurst squad for their effort.

At Swope Park on the following Saturday, the Kangaroos bested Baker with an effective passing attack - which set up scoring opportunities - and mostly solid defense. At 21:26, Kyle Perkins scored first for UMKC, taking a pass from Shawn Andrews around 20 yards out and promptly putting it past Baker goalie Bret Clark.

Baker University penetrated the UMKC defense on several downfield opportunities during the middle of the first half but was quickly thwarted by good individual efforts exemplified by the play of defender Oran Andrews, junior. Andrews made several nice stops and displayed hustle in the first half as well as throughout the match.

Nearly 13 minutes into the second half, the Kangaroos made it 2-0 with an unassisted goal- a low lining shot into the back corner of the net from the foot of midfielder Garret Guthrie, sophomore.

The Roos were controlling much of the action throughout the contest; however, a handball foul called against defender Alex Yanovych, sophomore, set up a free kick for Baker at 64:32. The Wildcats' Jerad Grehan sent a looping kick over the UMKC defense for their first goal of the match, and the Kangaroos' lead was trimmed to 2-1.

UMKC then surged ahead by two consecutive goals as the match moved past the 75-minute mark with a straight-on shot from Shawn Andrews and a penalty kick effort from forward Caleb Mitchell, junior.

"I was in front of the goal, so I couldn't really miss it that much," Andrews said of his goal, "so I kinda buried it."

Kyle Perkins and Caleb Mitchell both assisted on the score.

The Wildcats struck back with an impressive 40-yard strike from defender Scott Appell, who sent a missile into the top right corner of the UMKC net for Baker's second score of the afternoon.

The afternoon belonged to the Kangaroos, however, as they were decisively the more effective team, winning 4-2.

"I think we played better," said Coach Benben. "The big part of it is that the goals went in. Whenever you score, it takes the pressure off. It certainly was an improvement."

Impressive during the two exhibition matches were Kyle Perkins and Shawn Andrews - both sidelined with knee injuries during the 2005 season.

Perkins, who suffered a torn ACL last year, played 66 minutes at Rockhurst and 56 minutes against Baker, scoring UMKC's first goal.

"I feel really strong now. I'm starting to finally get back to where I was," said Perkins. "I played all summer. I was a little tentative, but I think it helped me get my strength back."

He maintains that he is back at 100 percent physically and is ready for the upcoming season.

Andrews, who battled tendonitis in his knee in 2005, has scored a goal in each of UMKC's exhibitions and has averaged around 40 minutes of play time during each contest.

The Kangroos, 3-10-3 (2-4-0 in conference) during a disappointing 2005 campaign, are ranked fifth in the pre-season Mid Continent Conference (Mid-Con) coaches poll with seven returning starters. Head Coach Rick Benben (61-75-10, 23-20-0 Mid-Con) is back for his ninth season.

UMKC's men's soccer team takes on Drake University at Des Moines, Iowa, this Friday to open the regular season and returns home to play Missouri State on Sunday, Aug. 27 at 1 p.m. in Swope Park.

dcordill@unews.com