2007 Men's Soccer Preview

Published: April 13, 2021

GREENVILLE, Ill.- The 2007 edition of the Greenville College men's soccer team will return to campus this fall to continue the tradition of strong Panther soccer. Seven starters return from the 2006 team, while 19 first-year players are a welcome addition to the squad. Last season the Panthers ranked as high as 10th in the NCCAA and finished second in the SLIAC. The 2006 squad also was ranked for the second straight year in the NCAA central region.Among Greenville's losses from the 2006 squad are all-conference defender Jon Fields (Marion, Ind., HS), midfielder Jeremiah Essmyer (St. Louis, Mo., Zumwalt South) and goalkeeper Travis Siebert (Cape Girardeau, Mo., Notre Dame HS). Greenville returns three SLIAC all-conference performers to the team this year including two players who received honors playing in the summer Professional Developmental League (PDL). Junior midfielder Brian Limbaugh (Sedalia, Mo., Smith-Cotton) played with the Springfield Rage while freshman forward Frankie Ellis (Cape Girardeau, Mo., Notre Dame HS) earned quality time in the PDL playing for the Saint Louis Lions. Junior defender Peter Claassen (McPherson, Kan., HS) also rounds out the returning All-Conference members.On defense, senior captain and All-SLIAC tournament defender Cody Parker (Edwardsville, Ill., HS) returns to anchor a veteran back line. Senior goalkeeper Ryan Cook (Harrisonville, Mo., HS), junior goalkeeper Sean Murphy (Idaho Falls, Idaho, HS), sophomore Joel Robinson (Decatur, Ill., HS) and newcomer Will Lange (St. Louis, Mo., Vianney HS) look to fill the void in the nets with the loss of Travis Siebert. In the midfield, two-time SLIAC all-conference performer Jameson Ramirez (Harrisburg, Pa., Christian HS) returns from an ACL injury this season and senior captain Justin Buller (McPherson, Kan., HS) look to solidify the midfield for the Panthers. Greenville brings in a solid recruiting class of 19 new freshmen from across the country that complements the squad's previous classes of talented newcomers. Freshmen defenders Tim Johnson (Springfield, Ill., Chatham Glenwood HS) and Chris Allen (Decatur, Ill., Eisenhower HS); midfielders Jake Madden (St. Louis, Mo., Vianney HS) and Josh Mulholland (Jackson, Mich., HS); and forwards Joe Madden (St. Louis, Mo., Vianney HS) and Matt Ellis (Effingham, Ill., HS) will look to provide immediate impact for the Panthers this season.Also for only the second year to the Greenville program is the introduction of a reserve team. With 44 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 College graduate Tommy Simpson. During Simpson's career at Greenville as a player, he received Prairie College Conference all-conference, NCCAA all-district, and NCCAA honorable mention all-American honors.Brian McMahon is in his seventh year as head men's soccer coach and sixth year as head women's soccer coach at Greenville College. Now in his 15th 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 21 players from last year's squad, the Panthers will be considered one of the favorites again to win the SLIAC championship.