After soccer became a MIAA recognized sport again during the 1994 season, the Truman Men's Soccer team began a four year run of dominance. They won four straight conference titles from 1994-97 and compiled a 16-1-1 record in MIAA play over those four years.
The Bulldogs started the season with three straight wins—knocking in 11 goals in the process. In the opener against Mercyhurst (Pa.) at the Quincy Soccer Bowl, Truman won 3-2 with all five goals coming the second half. Heine Andersen and Steve Wilhusen scored the first two for Truman within the first five minutes of the second half, MU got one back before Scott Meis scored the game winner in the 74th minute.
The next day against Gannon (Pa.), the teams were level 1-1 at half, with Adrian Marrero scoring for Truman. Andersen gave Truman the lead in the 53rd minute, then after Gannon tied it at two Buddy Entwistle scored the go-ahead goal in the 72nd minute then David Green sealed the deal with a 76th minute tally.
Quincy visited Truman for the Bulldogs home opener the next week. Marrero scored the first goal of the game in the ninth minute, goalie Jon Gohl picked up the assist. Quincy took a 2-1 lead into halftime and then scored the first goal of the second half to go up 3-1. But Truman rallied with two goals late--Andersen scored on a penalty kick in the 74th minute and Entwistle in the 79th. Marrero got his second goal of the game--unassisted, ten minutes into the overtime period to win the game.
After dropping their next two games, Truman won six of their next seven as they defeated Wisconsin-Parkside 2-1, Lewis 4-3, Rockhurst 3-2, fell at West Texas A&M 4-0, defeated Midwestern State (Texas) 2-1, Lindenwood 1-0 and then Lincoln (Mo.) 11-0. Marrero scored three goals against Lincoln, Entwistle, Steve Wilhusen and Jeremy Jackson each scored two. Lee LeTourneau and Jimmy Duran each picked up a goal.
After falling 1-0 to Missouri Southern and 3-0 to West Virginia Wesleyan, Truman finished the year on a five game winning streak as they downed Alderson-Broaddus 2-1, Columbia College 1-0, Missouri-Rolla 2-1, Southwest Baptist 9-0 and Drury 4-1. The Bulldogs finished the regular season 14-5 heading into the NCAA Tournament.
In the first round of the NCAA Tournament Truman took on SIU-Edwardsville in Edwardsville, Ill. on a blustery day with snow swirling and temperatures near freezing. SIUE got on the board in the fourth minute, but Truman answered quickly as Duran hit the back of the net in the 15th minute--Marrero picked up the assist. The game went to half at 1-1, and Marrero scored the game winner in the 84th minute, Jackson picked up the assist. Gohl stopped six of the seven shots on goal he faced.
Truman hosted the quarterfinal the next week against East Stroudsburg (Pa.), once again with weather more appropriate for skiing than soccer. Gohl once again had a standout day as he stopped all 12 shots on goal he faced and Marrero scored the only goal of the game in the 15th minute as Chris Rahe and Matt Berry picked up assists. He is shown celebrating with Kevin Kelly and Scott Meis below.
The Bulldogs season came to an end in the National Semifinal in Boca Raton, Fla. a couple weeks later as Truman fell 2-0 to eventual champion Cal State-Bakersfield. Truman finished fourth in the country in the NSCAA poll, their highest finish in program history.
Marrero led the team with 15 goals, the fourth highest mark in a single season in program history. He also led the team with nine assists.
Honored Players:
Heine Andersen--First Team All-Region, First Team All-MIAA
Adrian Marrero--Second Team All-Region, First Team All-MIAA
Mike Quante--Second Team All-Region, First Team All-MIAA
Steve Wilhusen--Conference Co-MVP, First Team All-MIAA
Matt Berry--First Team All-MIAA
Lee LeTourneau--First Team All-MIAA
Scott Meis--Second Team All-MIAA
Jimmy Duran--Honorable Mention All-MIAA
Dennis Sweeney--MIAA Coach of the Year
