The Capital University men's soccer team returns for the 2013 season looking to improve on their 9-6-4 record from 2012 under second year head coach Alan Yost. They return many of their top players including their top three goal scorers and junior captain R.G. Flory who led the team in goals and points last season. The team added 13 freshmen who coach Yost expects to make an impact. Their season opens on September 1 against Wittenberg and their goals are to win the OAC conference and qualify for the NCAA tournament.

1. 2013 Capital University Men’s Soccer Preview
Jeremy Morgan, Assistant Sports Information Director
Head coach Alan Yost leads the Crusaders in his second year at
the helm. (Andrea Kjerrumgaard photo).
After winning four of their last six matches to end the 2012 season, the 2013 Capital University men’s
soccer team returns to the field this year looking to continue their vast improvement under a familiar
regime.
In his first year at the helm, head coach Alan Yost, who served as the team’s interim head coach last
season, looks to improve upon the squad’s 9-6-4 overall record and 4-3-2 mark in the OAC. The Crusaders
also advanced to the quarterfinals of last year’s conference tournament, before falling 3-2 in a match
against Heidelberg.
With just four players leaving due to graduation, the Crusaders added to their already experienced roster,
welcoming in 13 incoming freshmen and two transfers to support their returnees from a season ago.
“I’m very pleased with the incoming and returning talent we have,” Yost said. “Our senior class especially
is full of solid leaders both from a character and numbers standpoint.”
Offensively, the Crusaders retain three of their top four goal scorers from a year ago. Senior’s Tim
McCarthy and Nick Eley look to top off their playing careers by adding to their combined twenty three
points from a season ago. Eley was selected to honorable mention All-Ohio Athletic Conference a season
ago.
Junior captain and honorable mention All-Ohio Athletic Conference midfielder R.G. Flory looks to once
again guide an offense in which he was tied for the team lead in goals (8) and points (20), a mark which
placed him in the top ten in points in the OAC.
“Only healthy players will help generate our offense,” Yost said. “Hopefully R.G. (Flory) stays more
healthy than last year and we can take more advantage of our set pieces on the offensive side of the ball.”
On defense, the Crusaders begin upfront with senior captain and goalkeeper Bob Weisgarber protecting
the net. Weisgarber, who started in all 17 matches he appeared in last season, posted a 1.21 goals against
average, while recording a save percentage of .804.
Sophomore Josh Spaw looks to help bolster the defense as well, staring all 18 games that he appeared in
last season. Spaw also netted his lone goal last year, a game winner against Mount Union.

2. Senior’s Tony Macicoe and Zach Inman also return to the defensive lineup for their final season. Macioce
started on defense in 18 matches last season, while Inman appeared in 17 matches, finishing sixth on the
team in points (4).
“Our defense may not play like normal this season,” Yost said. “A lot of our defensemen will be taking on
new roles in how we approach each match.”
The incoming freshmen class will also present new opportunities for both sides of the ball to add to their
strategy for each match.
Specifically, midfielder Jacob Pulliam, forward-midfielder Cheyn Roux, and forward Zachary Matheny are
three fresh names to keep an eye on come opening day.
“I am expecting big things from some of our incoming freshmen,” Yost said. “There are potentially six of
them competing for starting spots to complement our captains.”
Like every team, the Crusaders will have their fair share of strengths and weaknesses, but the core group
of upperclassmen will be looked upon to stifle anything that gets in the way.
“Our team’s greatest strengths come from our fitness and leadership,” Yost said. “We have a core group of
seniors who have a great deal of leadership and understanding of what our team needs to do in order to
succeed.”
For the second season in a row, the Crusaders open up the regular season on September 1 against
Wittenberg in a non-conference matchup in which they were defeated last season by a final of 1-0.
Following this matchup is no small task as the team faces back-to-back NCAA Tournament qualifiers from
a season ago, taking on Colorado College and Christopher Newport (Va.) in the Fred Myers Invitational at
Ohio Wesleyan University.
Overall, the Crusaders are scheduled to face nine non-conference opponents to begin the season.
“There are a lot of good tests on our schedule,” Yost said. “The OAC is tough enough as is, so to schedule
these challenging non-conference matches allows for the potential for an at-large bid to the NCAA
Tournament.”
Within conference play this season, the Crusaders look to improve off of their record in the OAC, which
earned them a fifth place finish a season ago.
A double overtime tie at John Carroll from a season ago prompts a rematch on home turf for the
Crusaders, as they open up conference play against the Blue Streaks on October 5.
The Crusaders then travel to Ohio Northern on October 9, the 2012 Division III NCAA Finals runner-up, a
team they look to measure themselves against for a potential bid to this year’s NCAA Tournament.
“Our goal is to win the OAC and make the NCAA Tournament,” Yost said. “I think that is every team’s goal
to begin the season, but it will be a tough road through the conference, and we have to generate some
offense in order to meet these goals.”
In total, Bernlohr Stadium will be the site for five of the team’s nine OAC matches.
Opening kick of the 2013 season will take place at Bernlohr Stadium on September 1 at 3:30pm, as the
Crusaders are slated to take on the Tigers of Wittenberg University.