Dec. 7 | Senior defender honored

Baker University’s Scott Appell, a senior defender from Wichita, has been named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America/adidas Scholar All-North/Central Region second team.

Appell is majoring in math education.

Nov. 8 | Baker soccer players honored

Three Baker University men’s soccer players — Scott Appell, Marty Johnston and Bret Clark — have received all-Heart of America Athletic Conference honors.

Appell, a senior defender from Wichita, and Johnston, a senior forward from Leawood, were first-team all-HAAC picks. Clark, a senior goalkeeper from Shawnee, was named to the second team.

Oct. 25 | Seniors shine in the spotlight

Baker seniors stepped up big time, accounting for five of the six goals scored Wednesday night against Missouri Valley College. The 6-0 win returns Baker to the .500 mark and keeps alive the slim chance of moving onto postseason play.

Battling cold and wet conditions the Wildcats controlled the ball, picking the correct times to capitialize against the Vikings. Like many of the previous home games, the Wildcats scored there goals in bunches. In the 12th minute of play the Wildcats received scores from junior Gerard Grehan and a penalty kick score from senior Marty Johnston. Shortly before the half the two would hook up with Grehan putting the pass from Johnston.

In the 61st minute senior Josh Marchbank would net his second goal of the game, increasing the lead to 5-0. His first goal came seconds after the start of the second half. Johnston would add another score late to complete the six goal night.

The Wildcats, now 8-8-0 overall and 3-3-0 in the HAAC, played their final home games. The seniors were all announced and recognized before the game for their service during their playing years at Baker. For information on the seniors check the roster page. The Wildcats will travel to Graceland University this weekend and conclude their regular season with a game against Avila University.

Oct. 14 | Appell scores twice in win

Baker improved to a 6-7 overall record with a convincing 4-0 win at home over Central Methodist University.

The Wildcats scored twice off corner kicks one minute before the half, with both corners from Travis Moore finding defender Scott Appell at the top of the box for the score.

In the second half, the Wildcats controlled the ball and scored twice more on penalty kicks by Josh McDaniel in the 66th minute and Marty Johnston in the 87th.

Baker hosts MidAmerica Nazarene University at home on Tuesday beginning at 3 p.m. The women play MidAmerica at 1.

Sept. 26 | Free kick difference against Lions

A free kick in the 75th minute proved to be the difference as No. 10 Lindenwood University was able to leave Baldwin City with a 1-0 men's soccer win over Baker University on Wednesday at North Park.

Baker, playing arguably its toughest opponent of the season, had scoring chances but was unable to capitalize. In the second half, senior Travis Moore slid a beautiful pass into the box that went untouched. He also had a breakaway but lifted the ball too high and over the crossbar.

Six yellow cards were issued in the physical contest, including one to Baker. The loss snaps Baker's three-game winning streak, which started during its trip to Oregon.

The Wildcats' next game will be on the road against Hannibal-LaGrange on Sept. 30. They will resume conference play against Culver-Stockton College at 3 p.m. Oct. 1.

Sept. 23 | Johnston named offensive player of the week

Baker University senior forward Marty Johnston has been named Heart of America Athletic Conference men’s soccer player of the week for his performance in the Wildcats’ victories over Ottawa and Simon Fraser.

A small crowd witnessed a rare feat in men's soccer Thursday at North Park in Baldwin City. Baker University established a dominant offensive attack from the start and scored nine goals, including four from senior Marty Johnston, to beat Ottawa University 9-0.

Baker's first goal was a beautifully placed free kick from Ryan McAloon, a junior from Scotland, in the 11th minute. Baker scored in the 18th minute on a goal by Gerard Grehan, a junior forward from Dounbroune, Ireland, with an assist from Johnston. Johnston scored in the 30th minute as he used his speed to outrun three defenders for his first of four goals. Baker scored three more times in the first half and four in the second half for its third consecutive victory. Since returning from a hamstring injury, Johnston has scored six goals in the past two games.

The Wildcats (3-4) scored mostly out off transition, as Ottawa was unable to find a rhythm on offense. Baker looks to reach the .500 mark for the first time this season when it plays host to conference and region rival Lindenwood University, ranked No. 11, at 4 p.m. Sept. 27 at home.

Scoring

11th - #3 Ryan McAloon goal (free kick) -

18th - #15 Gerard Grehan goal - #21 Marty Johnston assist

30th - #21 Marty Johnston goal

31st - #7 Kome Okiomah goal - #8 David Russell assist

36th - #21 Marty Johnston goal

71st - #21 Marty Johnston goal - #15 Gerard Grehan assist

72nd - #21 Marty Johnston goal - #4 Owen Barnhart assist

73rd - #2 Travis Moore goal - #4 Owen Barnhart assist

78th - #17 Matt Hodges goal

Baker University fell behind early but scored two goals before the half and went on to win 2-1 against Concordia (Ore.) University Sunday afternoon.

The Wildcats (2-4), coming off their first victory of the year over Simon Fraser University (B.C.), allowed a goal in the 16th minute. Senior Marty Johnston, nursing a hamstring injury, scored both goals for the Wildcats.

In the 33rd minute senior, David Russell fed Johnston the ball, allowing him the 10-yard breakaway chance. Two minutes later Johnston scored again, this time from the left side after a nice lead pass.

Senior goalkeeper Bret Clark recorded six saves in the game. The Wildcats return home to face Ottawa University at 4 p.m. Sept. 21 at North Park.

Baker University posted its first victory of the season with a 1-0 decision on Friday over Simon Fraser University, the alma mater of first-year Wildcat coach Alan Koch.

Just before the half, the Wildcats scored the only goal of the game. Sophomores Bradley Eigenberg and Peter Weeks connected with Eigenburg netting the goal in the 41st minute.

The Wildcats shut down Simon Fraser for their first victory of the year. The Wildcats play Sunday against Concordia in Oregon.

Baker University allowed a goal in the 52nd minute against Missouri Baptist, which held on to win 1-0.

The Wildcats (0-2) made a run at tying the score late in the second half. Forward Shaun Nicklin, of Wichita, came off the bench to spark the Wildcats, who placed several shot towards goal with time ticking away.

Baker will travel to Des Moines, Iowa, next to take on Grandview University.

Oklahoma City University hung on for a 3-2 victory over Baker University on Tuesday on the new artificial surface at Liston Stadium.

Josh Marchbank, a senior from Kearney, Mo., and Matt Germain, a freshman from Sacramento, Calif., scored late in the second half for the Wildcats, 0-1, in their season opener. Baker will play host to Missouri Baptist at 1 p.m. Saturday.

The Wildcats next game will be on Saturday, with Missouri Baptist.

Koch

Baker University men’s 2006 soccer season should be interesting with the addition of new head coach Alan Koch.

The Wildcats finished with a 10-8-1 record and placed fourth last year in the Heart of America Athletic Conference.

“Our goal is to compete in every match,” Koch said. “If we get on a roll, the sky is the limit.”

Baker returns a talented senior class. Defender Scott Appell and midfielder David Russell return for their second year as captains, while forwards Marty Johnston and Shaun Nicklin hope to provide a potent offensive attack.

Appell, a Wichita native, is recovering from knee surgery and should be ready for the season opener Aug. 29 against Oklahoma City. Nicklin, also recovering from an injury, should be ready to start the season. Russell, a former defender, moves to the midfield to provide a physical presence. Upfront, Johnston hopes to return to the form that made him offensive player of the year in the Heart of America Athletic Conference two years ago.

“Our team spirit is good and the team’s desire is second to none,” Koch said. “Experience will help us a lot and what we really need is a couple of players to step up big time, and turn us in the right direction.”

In 2005, Baker was on the verge of a conference championship before losing its final two HAAC games. Baker qualified for the postseason tournament, where it lost 4-1 to Graceland in the first round.

Koch,a former assistant at NCAA Div. II perennial power Midwestern State University, takes over for coach Ron Pulvers, who accepted a position with California State University-San Marcos.

From 2001 to 2003, Koch was an assistant coach at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, Canada. He coached the Okanagan Challenge Soccer Club in Kelowna, Canada, in the summers of 2004 and 2005. The 2004 team reached the finals of the Pacific Coast Soccer League championship.

Koch, a native of South Africa, was an NAIA All-American soccer player for Simon Fraser in 1998. He also was a member of the South African Olympic Team player pool in 1995 and played professionally in South Africa, Germany and Ireland.

Newcomers to watch are transfers Ryan McAloon, Jaron Downing and freshman Kome Okiomah.