Tag: East Central college soccer

High Honors for Top Men’s Soccer Falcons

June 28, 2021 | Campus News

Three East Central College men’s soccer players were recognized with “high honors” following the 2020-21 season.

ECC Athletic Director Dr. Jay Mehrhoff noted that the Falcons finished the season 8-4 and ended the season ranked No. 16 in the final National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) DII Men’s Soccer poll.

“Despite a postponed and shortened season, excitement was proven by hard work and determination by some of the top players on the team,” he said. “Several Falcons were recognized with high-level postseason honors.”

Joseph McInnes, Airdrie, Scotland, was named to the NJCAA DII Men’s Soccer All-American Second Team for the 2020-21 season. He led the Falcons in scoring with 10 goals and five assists.

“His offensive output and tenacity in attacking the opposition’s goal helped garner the honors, with support from a skilled cast of teammates,” Mehrhoff added.

Diego Navia, a sophomore transfer from Lincoln College and hailing from Guayaquil, Ecuador, was named to the United Soccer Coaches, Scholar All-American team.

In addition, Navia and fellow sophomore teammate Guy Baskerville, London, England, were recognized with United Soccer Coaches Distinction Award Players for Junior College in 2020-21.

Photo Credits:

Diego Navia and Joe McInnes – Farhatt Photography

Guy Baskerville – ECC Athletics

Grimes Returns as Head Men’s Soccer Coach

July 27, 2016 | Campus News

East Central College has hired Benji Grimes as the head men’s soccer coach heading into the 2016-17 academic year. Grimes had a two year stint as the head coach at ECC in 2007 and 2008,

Originally from Union, Grimes brings a level of experience from a number of different coaching and playing areas. Last year he served as a volunteer assistant with the St. Francis Borgia boys’ soccer team which finished 19-4-1, falling to Kansas City O’Hara in the Class 2 state semifinal match.

After graduating from Union High School where he played under Coach Bob Brotherton, Grimes attended Lindenwood University in St. Charles, He suited up all four years for the Lions and earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration.

His college coaching career began as an assistant coach at his alma mater under Coach Carl Hutter. In 2004 Lindenwood finished as NAIA National Champions.

As head coach of the Falcons in 2007 and 2008, Grimes lead his team to winning seasons finishing 8-7-5 and 17-5-1 respectively. In 2008, the team won the Midwest Community College Athletic Conference by winning both the home and away matches against Jefferson College, St. Louis Community College-Florissant Valley and SLCC-Forest Park. ECC split their contests with SLCC-Meramec that year. In that stretch run, Grimes had eight players named to the NJCAA All-Region teams, 10 MCCAC All-Conference players and two NJCAA All-Americans: Seymour Williams and Nickardo Blake.

Williams continued his playing career at Lindenwood University while Blake played at the University of Connecticut for two years and was selected by Toronto FC in the MLS Superdraft. Blake and ECC and UConn teammate Lionel Brown played professionally in the NASL for the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers.

“Coach Grimes is a student of the game and has the communication and leadership skills to guide the Falcons to prominence in the Missouri Community College Athletic Conference and NJCAA Region 16,” stated ECC Athletic Director Jay Mehrhoff. “Coach knows how to recruit and put together a squad capable of winning championships.”

Grimes replaces Kean Barclay who recently accepted a position as assistant coach at Northern Kentucky University, a NCAA Division I school in Highland Heights, KY.

Two Falcons Named Second Team Scholar All-Americans

December 18, 2015 | Campus News

Two members of the ECC soccer team have been named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America 2015 Scholar All-American Second Team for their dual accomplishments on the field and in the classroom.

Goalkeeper Zeke Little and midfielder Matt Hampton were two of the 11 students named to the Second Team. To be named to a Scholar All-America Team, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.30 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) throughout his career; start more than 50 percent of all games; be a significant contributor to the team; and be nominated by an institution that is a current NSCAA College Services member.

Little achieved a 3.6 GPA and Hampton achieved a 3.4 GPA.

The academic honors come on the heels of recognition for accomplishments on the pitch this season.

Freshman defender Darren Hamilton was an NJCAA All-American Third Team selection, becoming the sixth soccer NJCAA All-American in program history.

Hamilton anchored one of the stingiest defenses in ECC history. The Falcons didn’t give up many goals as they marched to a 16-4-1 season record and finished runners-up in Region 16 for the second straight year. Hamilton was also named First Team All-Region 16 and First Team All-Conference.

Other First Team All-Region selections were Alejandro Garcia and Archibald Darko-Boateng, while Second Team All-Region selections included Hampton and Jacob Moore. Falcons on the Missouri Community College Athletic Conference First Team include Hamilton, Hampton, and Boateng. Named to the Second Team were Garcia, Moore and Joseph Drake.

Soccer Ends Season With Loss in Region 16 Championship

November 6, 2015 | Campus News

East Central soccer ended the season with a 4-3 loss to Jefferson College in the championship match of the NJCAA Region 16 tournament Saturday (October 31). The Falcons got on the board early with two quick goals but Jefferson came back and tied the game before the half. The Vikings kept the momentum going to start the second half pulling ahead 3-2, but Coach Kean Barclay’s team came back to tie things up. Jefferson scored the go-ahead goal late in the second half and held on for the win.

ECC ends the 2015 campaign with a record of 16-4-1, three of the losses being to Jefferson.

ECC’s Joe Drake scored the first goal in the Region 16 semi-final match played October 27 at East Central.

The Falcons soccer players versus St. Louis Community College

Freshman Umoh Ufot contributing to ECC's second half offense — Freshman Umoh Ufot was one of three freshmen contributing to ECC’s second half offense against McKendree JV.

ECC sophomore defender AJ Bannister and St. Louis Community College's Steve Lilako — ECC sophomore defender AJ Bannister and St. Louis Community College’s Steve Lilako go for the ball during the September 29 match at ECC.

ECC freshman defender Darren Hamilton controls the ball at midfield during a match against the St. Louis Community College Archers Tuesday, September 29