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Cardinal Roster
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Cardinal Statistics
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Cardinal Schedule
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MIAC Standings
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MIAC Statistics
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| 2005 Final Records: 5-5-0 MIAC, 6-9-1 Overall |
| Upcoming Events: Fri., Sept. 1: at Rockford, 4 p.m. Tues., Sept. 5: at Loras, 7 p.m. Fri., Sept. 8: vs. Carthage, 5 p.m. Sun., Sept. 10: vs. Ripon, 1 p.m. |
| This and That: After starting last season 2-7-1, the Cardinals won four of their last six games. … Mike Schmitt (Woodridge, Ill.) earned first-team All-Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honors a year ago, after scoring seven goals and totaling 16 points in 10 MIAC games. … Schmitt's 10 goals last season were a career high. … Schmitt also led the team in points (22), while Andy Kozar (Libertyville, Ill.) boasted a team-best three assists. … GK Ryan O'Connor (San Diego, Calif.) played every minute of every game for the Cardinals, compiling a 2.30 goals-against-average. … Twenty-one of the 37 goals the Cardinals allowed came in the first half. |
season extends well beyond regular-season finale
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Who's Hot?
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Mike
Schmitt All-MIAC in 2005 |
Not anymore.
In the span of 30 days, Dembiec's coaching career took a 180-degree turn.
No longer roaming the sidelines as the head coach of one of the most dominating high school teams in the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association, Dembiec's thoughts are now centered around finding ways for the Saint Mary's University men's soccer team to beat the likes of national powers Gustavus and Macalester.
"It's been a crazy summer," said Dembiec, who took over as the Cardinals' head coach in mid-July, after Eric Luzzi stepped down to accept an assistant coaching position at NCAA Division I Northern Illinois. "One minute, I'm thinking about getting (The Prairie School) ready to make a run at a three-peat, and the next, I'm here (at Saint Mary's).
"I felt this was the right choice for me from the moment I stepped on campus," continued Dembiec, who inherits a program that went 5-5-0 in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and 6-9-1 overall a year ago. "I am excited to continue the traditions set forth by Coach Luzzi."
And continue SMU's climb up the conference ladder.
The Cardinals just missed a spot in the conference tournament a year ago, finishing 5-5-0 to place sixth in the 11-team conference.
And with several key players returning, Dembiec isn't ruling out an MIAC post-season appearance this time around.
"We've got a great group of guys — and a good mix of upper and underclassmen," said Dembiec, who returns his leading scorer — first-team All-MIAC selection Mike Schmitt (Woodridge, Ill.) — as well as starting goalkeeper Ryan O'Connor (San Diego, Calif.), who played every minute of every game a year ago. "There's going to be an adjustment period — I've got a lot to learn about my players, and they've got a lot to learn about me — but I'm very excited about where this team can go."
And Dembiec knows a thing or two about putting together winning programs.
Dembiec compiled a 298-121-24 combined record during his time at The Prairie School, and guided the boys team to back-to-back state championships in 2004 and 2005, while also posting four state runner-up performances (twice with the boys and twice with the girls). His teams have won eight conference titles, and Dembiec has twice been named Wisconsin State Coach of the Year, while also earning NSCAA Midwest Region Coach of the Year honors in 2004.
"Offensively, we scored 19 goals a year ago, so we've got to find a way to score more goals and take some of the pressure off our defense," said Dembiec. "This team was a goal away several times last year — hopefully we can get over that hump this time around.
"My No. 1 goal this year is to build a culture and a positive attitude — meld these players into a team, while allowing them to maintain their individualism," Dembiec added. "If we can do that, the wins and the on-field successes will take care of themselves."