NEWBERRY, S.C. – The Newberry men’s soccer team took new steps this season towards becoming a legitimate champion contender both in the South Atlantic Conference and in the Appalachian Region.

The Indians matched their team record for wins in a season with their nine victories this year. The team also managed to improve on the offensive end of the pitch this season after struggling to score in 2006.

Newberry entered 2007 with high expectations; the Indians were returning three First Team All-South Atlantic Conference players in Debola Ogunseye (Lagos, Nigeria), Edsel Rudder (Arima, Trinidad) and Jeff Bell North Augusta, S.C.) and had added several freshman and transfers that head coach Sam Okpodu believed could contribute right away.

The Indians began the year with a 6-2 win over Anderson University and a 5-1 win over Erskine College. Debola Ogunseye scored four goals in the first two games, including a hat trick against Anderson. Kwame Gyamfi (Accra, Ghana), a junior transfer from Lander, also contributed four goals in the two games, scoring two in each contest.

With the two dominant wins Newberry found itself nationally ranked for the first time in team history. The Indians were ranked 21st in the country in the adidas/NSCAA National poll released August 28. Ogunseye was also awarded the South Atlantic Conference Player of the Week for his four goal, one assist performance.

The Indians next traveled to No. 15 ranked Limestone College for a battle of nationally ranked teams. Newberry came out flat and quickly fell behind the Saints, losing the game 3-0.

Newberry recovered from the loss with two straight shutout victories over USC Aiken and Brevard. With the two shutouts Will Dieterich (Tampa, Fla.) tied the Newberry records for both career shutouts and shutouts in a season. Gyamfi scored two goals over Brevard while Ogunseye notched one goal in each game for the Indians.

After starting 4-1, Newberry dropped its next two games to Lincoln Memorial and Belmont Abbey to fall to 4-3 heading towards the midway point of the season.

The Indians returned home to host USC Upstate, a team that recently jumped to Division I. After falling behind 1-0 in the first half, Newberry controlled the second half, scoring three goals for a 3-1 victory. The win was the first in team history over a DI opponent. Gyamfi, Ogunseye and Rudder all scored for the Indians.

The victory over Upstate was the beginning of a three game win streak as Newberry beat Mars Hill, 1-0 and Francis Marion, 5-4. Dieterich’s shutout of Mar Hill gave him the records for shutouts in a season and career shutouts. While Ogunseye recorded five goals in the two games, including four against the Patriots of Francis Marion.

Just over halfway through the season the Indians were in good shape with a record of 7-3. Unfortunately the team struggled through a second half swoon for the second straight year as the Indians went just 2-7 to end the year.

Newberry’s two wins came in back to back games over West Virginia Wesleyan and Catawba College. Ogunseye scored three goals in the two games, winning SAC Player of the Week for the second time in the 2007 season. The junior forward was the only player all season to win the award twice.

The Indians ended the regular season with a record of 9-9 and 2-5 in the South Atlantic Conference. The six points they earned in conference play slotted the Indians into the 6th seed which meant traveling to Wingate N.C. to play the Wingate Bulldogs in the first round.

Newberry was never able to get going against Wingate losing 1-0. Dieterich played well in goal, making nine saves to keep the Indians in the match.

Ogunseye ended the year leading Newberry in goals, with 17, and points, with 37. He finished third in the SAC in both categories and earned First Team All-SAC honors. The junior forward was also recognized as one of the best players in the region as he was named DAKTRONICS First Team All-Appalachian Region.

Gyamfi contributed a great deal in his first season with the Indians. The junior scored 12 goals and had 27 points which were both second on the team behind Ogunseye. Gyamfi was named Second Team All-SAC for his performance.

Junior transfer Shane Abbott (Myrtle Beach, S.C.) lead Newberry in assists with seven, which was tied for third most in the SAC. The midfielder was named Second Team All-Conference.

Injuries hampered the Indians’ backline in the second half as stalwarts Bell and Kyle Rudder (Arima, Trinidad) were both forced to miss time. Freshman Jovan Rochford (Arima, Trinidad) became the most consistent defender for Newberry, playing in all 19 games. He also was tied for third on the team with 4 goals from his defender position. Rochford was named DAKTRONICS Second Team All-Appalachian region for his performance in his freshman season.

Despite the disappointing finish the Indians have a lot of positive points to build on heading into the 2008 season. Eight starters including the top four goal scorers are returning to a team that showed a lot of promise in the 2007 season, and Newberry will look to fulfill that promise in the future.