Spartan Men’s Soccer NCAA Bound for First Time

AURORA, Ill. November 6, 2006 - Aurora University’s men’s soccer team will represent the Northern Athletics Conference in the 2006 NCAA Division III Men’s Soccer Championships. The Spartans received a Pool B berth, one of four in the country, and will travel to NAC rival Dominican University on Saturday, November 11, 2006, to take on the host Stars. Game time has been set for 11:00 a.m.

The Spartan Men’s Soccer program, under the direction of fourth year Head Coach Pete Watkins, will make its first NCAA Division III Men’s Soccer Championships appearance in the program’s history as a NCAA institution.

AU enters the opening round of the NCAA tournament with a 12-4-4 overall record and finished second in the Northern Athletics Conference regular season to Dominican with an 8-1 record. The Spartans under Watkins have a 50-22-11 record in four seasons

This season, the Spartans are led by sophomore forward Chase Corricelli (Peoria, IL/Notre Dame H.S.), senior midfielder Alex DeGurian (Naperville, IL/Neuqua Valley H.S.) and junior goalkeeper Nick Kimmer (Alsip, IL/Shepard H.S.). Corricelli leads the Spartan offense with 12 goals, two assists and three game-winning goals, while DeGurian chips in eight goals, two assists and one game-winning goal. Kimmer has been a solid for the Spartans in net. He has a 5-1-2 record with three shutouts and 28 saves with a 0.93 goals against average.

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