September 2, 2006

Chicago Defeats Kalamazoo in 2006 Opener

CHICAGO - Four different players scored as the 20th-ranked University of Chicago men's soccer team opened its 2006 campaign with a 4-1 win over Kalamazoo College Saturday at Stagg Field.

Junior midfielder Eric Kirkenmeier's (Wheaton, Ill./ Benet Academy) goal at the 49:54 mark, off an assist from freshman defender John Hughes (Winston-Salem, N.C./ Lawrenceville, N.J.), proved to be the winning goal as it gave the Maroons a 2-1 advantage.

Kalamazoo (1-1) scored the game's first goal when Evan Wright converted a penalty kick at 20:06.

Chicago (1-0) evened the score when junior forward Andrew Hamilton (Springfield, Ill./ Sacred Heart-Griffin) tallied at the 24:39 mark. The goal was Hamilton's second against Kalamazoo in as many seasons.

Following Kirkenmeier's go-ahead tally, the Maroons got goals from sophomore midfielder Tom Lobell (Topeka, Kan./ Washburn Rural) at 67:42 and from freshman midfielder Alex Takakuwa (Davis, Calif./ Davis) at 73:26. Senior midfielder Joe Frontczak (Creve Coeur, Mo./ Chaminade) set up Lobell's goal.

Chicago outshot the Hornets 16-10, including an 8-4 margin in the second stanza.

Senior goalkeeper Keith Crum (Holland, Pa./ Council Rock South) was credited with a pair of saves.

The victory marked Scott Wiercinski's debut as Chicago's head coach.

Box Score