Drexel University Athletics
Men's Soccer to Honor '58 National Championship Team During CAA Opener vs. UNC Wilmington
9/26/2008 10:02:28 AM | Men's Soccer
Philadelphia - Drexel men's soccer will honor the 50th anniversary of the Dragons' 1958 Men's Soccer National Championship at halftime of its 6:00 p.m. match against UNC Wilmington this Saturday, Sept. 27. Members of the school's first national championship team will return to Vidas Field as part of Drexel's men's soccer Alumni Day festivities. On the pitch, the Dragons (2-3-2) will be looking to right the ship against a 3-5-0 UNC Wilmington squad in the teams' first conference match of the season. Prior to the match, Drexel alumni will be playing the annual Alumni Game at 3:00 on Vidas Field.
The 1958 team went a perfect 12-0 and defeated Lehigh in the Mid-Atlantic States Collegiate Athletic Conference Championship game, 5-2. The Dragons were subsequently voted the No. 1 team in the nation by the Intercollegiate Soccer-Football Association of America, which stood as the national championship prior to the sponsorship of men's soccer by the NCAA in 1959. A number of players and Drexel hall-of-famers will be in attendance and will be recognized during the ceremony.
The team's 12-0 mark stands as the only undefeated season in the history of the program. Guiding Drexel on the sidelines during the run were legendary coaches Don Yonker and Al Laverson. Yonker, who coached Drexel from 1947 to 1976 was the program's longest tenured and winningest coach all-time. Yonker recorded 184 coaching victories and his teams finished with records of .500 or better in 24 of his 30 seasons on the sideline. Yonker, who was an All-American in his playing days at Temple, was one of the most respected coaches of his time. He served his country for four years during World War II before returning to Philadelphia and becoming the coach at Drexel. During his coaching tenure he also served as the president of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, an editor of The Soccer Journal, and author of a soccer coaching book “Coaching to Win.” Yonker also served as an assistant athletics director at Drexel for 10 years before retiring.
Yonker's top assistant coach and confidant, Al Laverson, spent more than 40 years walking the sidelines at Drexel both next to Yonker and his successor Johnson Bowie and also served as Drexel's head tennis coach. Laverson also used the leadership garnered during military service to help lead and inspire his players as a soccer coach. Laverson served in World War II and his bravery and valor during the invasion of Normandy on D-Day earned him a Purple Heart, the highest honor in military service. Laverson returned to the states and completed his bachelor's and master's degrees at Temple University, where he was also an All-American soccer player. The multifaceted Laverson was also a teacher and an art scholar, in addition to his successful career as a coach.
The Dragons, led by All-Americans Stanley “Stosh” Dlugosz, Robert Muschek and Ozzie Jethon, posted a plus-61 (76-15) goal differential in their dominant run in '58. Dlugosz, a co-captain that season and a two-time All-American, led the team with 17 assists and 57 points, both marks still stand as Drexel's single-season highs. Dlugosz remains Drexel's all-time leader in career goals (49) and points (115). Muschek also served as a co-captain with Dlugosz and earned All-America honors in 1958. Jethon earned his second All-America recognition in 1958, becoming just the third player in Drexel history to earn the honor twice during their career. Igor Lissy, who would go on to earn All-American honors in 1960, led the 1958 team with 22 goals, which is still a Drexel single-season record.
The match, and ceremony, will take place at the Vidas Athletic Complex on 43rd and Powelton Ave. in Philadelphia. Parking and admission are free for all fans in attendance.
Match Preview
Teams: Drexel (2-3-2) at UNC Wilmington (3-5-0)
Venue: Vidas Field Philadelphia, Pa.
All-Time Series: UNC Wilmington leads 2-4
Last Meeting: Drexel defeated UNC Wilmington, 1-0, in overtime on Oct. 21, 2007. The victory was the Dragons' sixth straight in conference play. Leland Raum scored the golden goal in the 105th minute off a quick reset and feeds from Fabio Assumpção and Cole Feffer. The win was Drexel's fourth road victory of the season and gave the Dragons sole possession of first place in the CAA.
Entering the Game: The Dragons are looking for a fresh start with the beginning of conference play. Drexel opened the year on a roll, with wins over Hartwick and Fordham at the Black & Decker Classic, but have since struggled to score goals. Since opening the season 2-0, the Dragons have gone 0-3-2 with two scoreless ties and three 2-0 losses. The one constant since the beginning of last year's successful season has been Drexel's defense. The Dragons' backline is one of the best in the conference at preserving a lead. Since the start of the 2007 season Drexel has never lost a game in which it scored a goal.
UNC Wilmington comes to Vidas Field off a 1-0 loss to state rival UNC Greensboro. The Seahawks are 3-5-0 entering conference play and are leaving the state for the first time since Sept. 5. UNC Wilmington participated in the annual Mayor's Cup hosted by Hartwick and fell to the Hawks 3-1. Drexel defeated Hartwick in the teams' season opener 2-1 at the Black & Decker Classic hosted by Loyola.
Players to Watch: Drexel junior Fabio Assumpção is the team's play-maker in the middle. The Brazilian midfielder, who was an all-region selection last season, is able to create scoring opportunities for his teammates and is deadly on set pieces. The fire in the Dragons' defense is supplied by senior Bryan Ruff. The 2007 all-region selection is the team's fiercest defender and emotional leader.
Up Next: Drexel will travel to play Towson at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 3. The match will be a reprise of last season's CAA Tournament semifinal in which the Tigers knocked out the top-seeded Dragons 2-0.
