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1972 Men's Soccer Team
1972 Men's Soccer Team
  • Induction Year:
    2017
  • Sport(s):
    Men's Soccer

Bio

The 1972 Eastern Nazarene College men's soccer team, under the direction of first-year head coach Neil Nicoll, opened the season with their first-ever win over King's College in a 3-2 thriller.  Despite a couple of difficult losses early in the season the young team improved daily and went on to finish the regular season with eight victories, three losses, and three ties. The Crusaders defeated Western Connecticut State 5-1 in the first round of the NAIA District playoffs before dropping a hard-fought 1-0 match to Babson in the semifinals. The Crusaders soccer team finished with a 9-4-3 record.

ENC poured in an astounding 61 goals throughout the season as Steve Shoff paced the team with 19 goals and 11 assists. Del Bieber added nine goals and three assists while Abel Espada netted five goals and dished out four assists. Ron Mazza, Espada, and Shoff were all selected to the All-CISC first team for their outstanding play.

The 1972 team was comprised of 24 players, who each contributed their own unique talents, abilities and mental attitude to the game.  They were willing to dedicate themselves to being a member of a team and the year-end results were a testimony to the close bond that they created.   They were a team that worked and laughed hard together.  This team's success marks the year that ENC moved from being an unknown to a well-known soccer name in the NAIA.

The Crusaders that made up the 1972 men's soccer team were Del Bieber, Jerry Blank, Gary Calhoun, Donovan Cole, Steve Davis, Abel Espada, Mike Freeman, Joe Gomes, Geren Gordon, Tim Hughes, Ron Mazza, Brian McCleery, Bob Medianis, Herb Newell, Roger Parrott, John Reese, Dave Rouse, Doug Rummel, Mark Sanford, Steve Shoff, Howie Simonson, Dean Stinson, Jon Stinson, Keith Swain, Mike Wheeler (manager) and Coach Neil Nicoll.