Jackson, MS-The Belhaven men's soccer team recently finished the 2009 season having completed the year with a 10-4-2 overall record. The Blazers had a heartbreaking finish to the 2009 campaign losing 2-1 in OT to the University of Mobile in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament semifinals. However, Belhaven had a number of outstanding individual and team accomplishments.

The Blazers opened the season with a pair of exhibition matches and a scrimmage before beginning the regular season September 4th against top ranked Bethel University (TN) at the Bryan College tournament. Belhaven stayed with the Wildcats and had some chances to win the contest, but Bethel held on for the win. The Blazers regrouped the next day and shutout the host Bryan College 2-0 to even their early season record 1-1.

Belhaven won their next two matches with the first coming at Louisiana College 3-2 followed by a 4-0 shutout of Texas College in the Blazers home opener. Embry Riddle, who is one of the top NAIA programs, was next on the schedule in game one of the University of Mobile Tournament. On a soggy and rained soaked field, the Eagles edged the Blazers 1-0 in a match that saw both offenses slowed by the weather conditions. The next afternoon Belhaven played to a 3-3 tie with the University of Texas at Brownsville in tough playing conditions once again.

The Blazers then engineered a three match win streaks of the season with wins over NCAA Division II Delta State University 1-0, Martin Methodist College 2-1 in OT, and Lambuth University 6-4. Belhaven's showdown with Lambuth proved to be an offensive slugfest as the Blazers exploded for an early 4-0 lead. However, the Eagles fought back to score four of the matches next five goals to pull within one of the Blazers at 5-4 with just over 29 minutes to play. Fortunately, Aaron McLoughlin added a late insurance goal as Belhaven held on for the 6-4 win improving their record to 6-2-1 with six more regular season matches to play.

The Blazers ended the season strong picking up wins in four of the six matches that consisted of four straight victories to end the year. Belhaven played Shorter College to a 1-1 2OT tie and then lost to Williams Carey 1-0 in the GCAC opener. The Blazers bounced back to record GCAC wins over LSU-Shreveport 2-0, University of Mobile 1-0 OT, Spring Hill College 3-0, and beat NCAA Division II Harding University in the season finale 5-2. Belhaven ended the regular season 10-3-2 overall and 3-1 in the GCAC which was good for second place in the conference.

Belhaven entered the GCAC Tournament as the number two seed playing some of their best soccer of the season. The Blazers hosted Mobile in the GCAC semifinals at H.T. Newell Field and following the first 90 minutes of action the match was tied 1-1 after Belhaven knotted the score on a goal by Matt Clifton with a little over nine minutes to go in the second period sending the contest into overtime. Unfortunately, Mobile's Henrique Bertoli spoiled the afternoon seven minutes into overtime with his second goal of the match to seal the win for the Ram's ending Belhaven's season.
Belhaven had four players named to the 2009 GCAC All-Conference Team. Seniors Alan Hannon, Jose Morales, John Kehoe, and Juan Rodriguez all had great years for the Blazers. Hannon and Rodriguez were also named as NAIA Honorable Mention All Americans.

Morales, a native of Houston, TX, had a goal and two assists in 15 games played this year. Kehoe, who hails from Laois, Ireland, recorded a team high seven assists, which was second in the GCAC, and was fourth on the team in points with seven.

Alan Hannon, a native of Offlay Ireland, spent four seasons in a Blazer uniform beginning in the 2006 season. Hannon scored four goals this year and has 10 career goals. Hannon also did a great job of setting up scoring opportunities for his teammates recording four assists in 2009 and had a career high of six assists last year. Hannon was second on the team in points with 12 while also helping to anchor a strong Belhaven defense.

Juan Rodriguez, a native of Kenner, LA, has been a Blazer for the last two seasons and has led the team in scoring both years. Rodriguez had 15 goals this season and scored 16 during the 2008 campaign and finished his career in a Belhaven uniform with 31. Rodriguez led the GCAC in goals and game winning goals with six this season.

“The 2009 season ended painfully. An overtime loss to one of your conference rivals hurts deeply,” said Belhaven Head Coach Steve DeCou. “To have the season end so abruptly is not a pain that goes away quickly, one month plus removed from the loss and it still stings deeply. As I look back on the season and have time to reflect I am very proud of the men and all that they did this year.”

“Our goals as a program this year were to become a competitive force on the national stage, host a home conference tournament game, win a conference championship and get to the national tournament,” adds DeCou. “We finished the season with a 10-4-2 mark while our schedule was ranked the 14th most difficult in the country. In the final NAIA poll we ended the season ranked #23 (we were ranked as high as #19). The first two goals of the season we accomplished but the other two we missed the mark.”

“We will learn the hard lessons of losing and we will win a championship hopefully sooner rather than later,” says DeCou. Four Blazers earned All-GCAC Honors; all are seniors and will be greatly missed for their abilities both on and off the field (Alan Hannon, John Kehoe, Juan Rodriguez, and Jose Morales).”

Belhaven should be strong again in 2010 with a number of new and returning players who are ready to step up and take the team to the next level.