2003 Miracle Yearbook

The Cedarville University men's soccer team went farther in the National Association ofIntercollegiate Athletics(NAIA)tournament in this year's campaign than ever before. By upsetting heavily favored Notre Dame with a goal from John Waldo late in the game,they advanced to the NAIA Regional IX Final Four. Matt Reid also recorded his seventeenth career shut-out. The team then held offthe nation's number one ranked team until late into their next contest. Although they remained tied with twenty minutes left, they eventually lost 3-1 to Rio Grande in the regional semifinals. Cedarville's only goal came from Andy Levesque in the sixty-seventh minute. Led by captains Reid, Levesque,and Steve Palmer,the Yellow Jackets started the season with a perfect 7-0 record through seven straight-away games. They finished the season 14-6,taking fourth in the conference. Waldo led the team with 16 goals, placing him third in the league,and Palmer handed out a team high eight assists. The opening ofthe new soccer field was a major highlight ofthe soccer season. With a brand new playing surface fully equipped with lights for night games, Cedarville's athletic facilities continued to improve. The Yellow Jackets won their first game on the new field, defeating Ohio Dominican 3-1 on goals from Waldo, Phil Ellis and John Sommer. They soon followed on Homecoming weekend with a 4-1 victory over Olivet Nazarene in front ofa crowd ofabout 1,500. Waldo,Ellis, and Tyler Schumacher all netted goals. With a team ofonly three seniors and sixteen freshmen and sophomores,the outlook looks bright for the upcoming years. While the team will miss their three captains on the field, many players are ready to step up and take over for the Yellow Jackets in the years to come. Stephen Palmer races to beat his opponent to win the ball. UNDERTHELIGHTS 144 ATHLE