March 11, 2003
Bowling Green, Ky. - The Western Kentucky University men's soccer team paid tribute to their 2002 season on March 7th at Mariah's Restaurant in downtown Bowling Green, Ky. This year's Hilltoppers went 8-10-1, thanks in large part to senior Ben Buerger and junior Daryl Sattler, who were named the offensive and defensive most valuable players, respectively.
Buerger, who served as team co-captain along with junior Ron Plute, led the Hilltoppers in points (12) and game-winning goals (two), while tying for the team lead in goals scored with five. His play this season earned him a spot on the Missouri Valley Conference's second team as well as the most valuable player award at the University of Louisville's Seelbach Classic, where he led the Hilltoppers to the tournament championship. Buerger, who ranks fourth on WKU's all-time list with 75 starts, came up big several times during the year for the Hilltoppers, scoring a goal in WKU's conference win over Tulsa as well as the game-winning goal in Western's 1-0 double overtime win over Louisville.
"Ben asserted himself in 2002 as a formidable leader of a young Hilltopper team," said head coach David Holmes. "He was one of the top midfielders in the MVC and one of the best at that position in the history of the Hilltopper soccer program."
Satler, WKU's goalkeeper, was named the defensive MVP after a stellar junior campaign in which he posted a 1.84 goals against average and made 104 saves. Satler ranks second on WKU's all-time list with 13.5 career shutouts and could surpass Lee Walton's school record of 17 next season.
"Daryl has developed into one of the top goalkeepers in the country this year, anchoring a young WKU defensive unit," said Holmes. "He kept us in games and gave us the confidence to compete against some of the top NCAA Division I teams in the country. He will certainly be touted as an All-American candidate in 2003."
Freshman Richard Mupfudze was given the Newcomer Award after leading the Hilltoppers in assists (four) and shots on goal (43). The redshirt freshman from Bulawayo, Zimbabwe was named MVC all-conference honorable mention in 2002.
"Richard has a powerful athletic presence," said Holmes. "He's a dominating force in the air, an excellent passer and a deceptive player with great individual skills. He has the promise to be a top player in the MVC in future years."
Freshman midfielder Jacob Isenhour earned the Coaches' Award after scoring six points on two goals and two assists in his first year on the Hill. The Lexington, Ky. native's six points tied him for sixth on the team in points scored.
"Jake made a tremendous contribution as a freshman. He was a force off the bench who added strong competitive desire and determination," said Holmes. "He was a pleasant surprise as a freshman and added depth to the team, which was important in early season non-conference wins."
The Hilltoppers also recognized WKU men's soccer alum Doug Gorman (WKU class of '85) for his 20 years of service to the Hilltopper soccer program. Gorman, the owner and president of Booth Fire and Safety, Co., was captain of the 1985 WKU team and has served as the team's public address announcer since 1986. He also acts as the alumni coordinator for WKU men's soccer alumni events.
The men's soccer team returned to action this past Saturday with a pair of spring games against "two worthy opponents." The Hilltoppers opened with a match against the Indianapolis Dynamo, the top-ranked under-18 club team from Indiana, and played to a 1-1 tie thanks to a goal from sophomore Brad Benz. Western followed that up with a 2-1 victory over Mid-Continent College, who was ranked ninth in the NAIA in 2002 after finishing with a 16-4-1 record, as Mupfudze and freshman Steven Medlock both tallied goals.
"It was our first time out and we were a bit rusty, but overall it was a positive outing," said Holmes.
The Hilltoppers next take the field March 13th, with an Alumni game scheduled for 7 p.m. (CST).
- WKU -
