2006 Men's Soccer Preview

Published: April 13, 2021

GREENVILLE, Ill. - The 2006 edition of the Greenville College men's soccer team has returned to campus to continue the tradition of strong Panther soccer. Seven starters return from the 2005 team, while 15 first-year players are a welcome addition to the squad. Last season, the Panthers ranked as high as seventh in the NCCAA and finished second in the SLIAC tournament. The 2005 squad also was ranked as high as seventh in the NSCAA south central NCAA Division III regional poll. Among Greenville's losses from the 2005 squad are all-conference defenders Greg Muehlfeld (Belleville, Ill., East HS) and Brett Malone (McPherson, Kan., HS), midfielder Saul Huber (Coffeen, Ill., Home-Schooled), and forward Matt Reynolds (Decatur, Ill., Meridian HS) who was leading goal scorer. Greenville returns five SLIAC all-conference performers to the team this year, including two players who received honors playing in the summer Professional Developmental League (PDL). Senior midfielder Jeremiah Essmyer (St. Louis, Mo., Zumwalt South) was one of over 90 players who tried out for the Saint Louis Lions and played in 16 games, earning the fourth most minutes for the team. Sophomore forward Brian Limbaugh (Sedalia, Mo., Smith-Cotton) also earned quality time in the PDL playing for the Sioux Falls Spitfire in 13 games. On defense, senior NCCAA all-American defender Jon Fields (Marion, Ind., HS) and junior Cody Parker (Edwardsville, Ill., HS) return to anchor a back line who led the NCCAA in goals against average last season with a 0.62 gaa. Senior all-conference and NCCAA all-region goalkeeper Travis Siebert (Cape Girardeau, Mo., Notre Dame HS) also returns and already holds the all-time Greenville record with 21 shutouts for the program. In the midfield, two-time SLIAC all-conference performer Jameson Ramirez (Harrisburg, Pa., Christian HS) and newcomers Frankie Ellis (Cape Girardeau, Mo., Notre Dame HS) and Jomo Akpore (Galesburg, Ill., HS) will look to provide immediate contributions. Greenville brings in a solid recruiting class of 15 new freshmen from across the country that complements the squad's previous classes of talented newcomers. Freshmen defender Andrew Banks (Carbondale, Ill., HS), midfielder Justin Herfst (Brantford, Ontario, Canada) and forwards Terrance Cosby (Jefferson City, Mo., HS) and Tyler Thornton (Soldotna, Alaska, HS) will help to solidify the Panther attack. Also new to the Greenville program this year is the introduction of a reserve team. With 35 players trying out for the team this year, Greenville has the luxury of playing a complete 10 game reserve team schedule. Coaching the reserve team this year will be Greenville graduate Seth Huber. During his career at Greenville as a player, Huber was the leading point scorer all four years while receiving all-conference honors three times. In Huber's final year at Greenville, he was named the Kyle Rote Jr. award winner which is the NCCAA's player of the year award. Brian McMahon is in his sixth year as head men's soccer coach and fifth year as head women's soccer coach at Greenville College. Now in his 14th year of coaching soccer, McMahon has coached in the club, high school, and collegiate settings.As a player, McMahon competed at Indiana Wesleyan University where he received NCCAA national honors. He also played overseas in England, Ireland, and North Ireland.McMahon graduated from Indiana Wesleyan University in 1998 with a bachelor of science degree in psychology. Following graduation, McMahon earned his certified chemical dependency counselor (CCDC) license while counseling juvenile delinquents in a treatment facility. In 2002, he completed a master's degree in sports psychology at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.In addition to his coaching responsibilities, McMahon is the SLIAC men's soccer chair and serves on the NCAA and NSCAA central region ranking committees.With only losing four starters and returning 19 players from last year's squad, the Panthers will be considered one of the favorites again to win the SLIAC championship.