Oakton Looks to Four-Peat

The Oakton Community College men’s soccer team has gone 21 consecutive matches without a loss in the Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference. If the Raiders hope to keep up their streak then it will come with hard work as they prepare for their 2011 season opener Saturday.

“I equate our unbeaten streak to when a pitcher is throwing a no-hitter in baseball,” says coach Steve Brody, who enters his 13^th season with the Raiders. “It’s not something you like to talk about because you don’t want to jinx it. Of course winning another conference title would be great, but the ultimate prize is always getting to the national tournament.”

Oakton came within one victory of making an appearance in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division I Men’s Soccer National Championship. To surpass last year’s campaign, Oakton, 16-2, will need to rely on new talent as only three players return from the 2010 squad: Nikoljan Sinani (Taft), defender Alberto Sanchez (Maine West), and midfielder William Groeings (Kirkwood).

Brody views that turnover not as problematic, but a welcoming act.

“When players have success sometimes they can get cocky and automatically expect that to repeat itself. It’s almost better to have a team filled with new players and this is one of the best recruiting classes we’ve had since I’ve been here,” claimed Brody. “Incoming players are aware of our history and tradition, but haven’t experienced that success for themselves yet. That’s what helps when you’re building from scratch.”

Having only surrendered eight goals in 18 matches last season, it’s easy to say that the defense and goalkeeping was strength for Oakton and Brody doesn’t expect much of a drop off in 2011.

Front-runners to take over the goalkeeping position are Daniel Niedzielski, who posted a school-record 12 shutouts for Niles West last season, and Javier Martinez, a prospect from Amundsen. Also in with a shout is Jose Rodriguez from Evanston Township.

“I haven’t established a depth chart yet,” Brody said. “All three are very strong in net and there is little separating them.”
The Raiders are blessed with a crop of ballyhooed newcomers including: midfielder Emanuel Guzman (Lane Tech), defender Cody Uidl (Judson University/ Maine West), defender Bobak Khalili (Schaumburg), and midfielder Franco Alcocer (Proviso).

“We have a roster filled with quality technical and tactical players,” Brody claimed. “Our only weakness is that we have so many athletes who haven’t played together collegiately.”

Brody knows about looking for a fourth straight conference championship.

“We’ve had a bull’s-eye on our back for a long time,” Brody says. “Teams measure themselves against us.”

The Raiders open the season at home against Truman College on Saturday, August 27 and begin conference play Tuesday, August 30, at Morton College.