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Mercer Soccer Team Honors Four Heroes at Home Opener
9/20/06
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In
a special ceremony held prior to the opening game of the 2006 season
on Sept. 16, the Mercer men's soccer team honored four of its "greats"
from years past. All four players were aacomplished members of Vikings
squads, who have gone on to make their marks in the world of soccer
in a variety of ways. A memorable part of the ceremony was the retirement
of the no. 1 jersey worn by 1991 MCCC goalkeeper Keith Engelhardt,
who played for the Vikings when they went 24-0 and won the national
championship.
MCCC
Athletic Director John Simone led the ceremony, recalling the incredible
three months in 1991 when Mercer battled to a perfect record, including
a thrilling 1-0 victory over Yavapei College (AZ) for the NJCAA
national title played on Mercer's turf before a hometown crowd.
Simone noted, "Mercer was led that fall by perhaps the greatest
goalkeeper in the team's storied history. Keith Engelhardt recorded
20 shutouts, surrendering just two goals the entire season for an
unbelievable 0.08 goals per game average." Following his Mercer
career, Engelhardt earned an athletic scholarship to Virginia Commonwealth
University, then played professionally for the NJ Stallions and
the Philadelphia KIXX. He also gave back to New Jersey's youth by
establishing the "Make the Save" goalkeeping academy in
2000.
In
2002, Engelhardt's career came to halt when he was paralyzed in
an auto accident. Yet according to Simone, he has not given up.
"The word 'quit' is not in Keith's vocabulary," Simone
told the crowd. "He continues his rehabilitation and is making
steady progress, now doing what he loves most - giving back to the
game of soccer." Engelhardt is a goalie coach for Toms River
High School South.
"Keith Engelhardt is a hero and role model for all of us. He
has been dealt a serious setback, but has handled it courageously
and with class and dignity," Simone said. "For his contributions
to Mercer County Community College and the great game of soccer,
Keith Engelhardt becomes the first Mercer player ever to have his
uniform jersey retired."
Honors
also went to three other stellar Vikings athletes, who were inducted
into the MCCC Soccer Hall of Fame. Bill Andracki ('89), Mercer's
talented goalkeeper during the 1989 season, went on to play goalie
for Rutgers University and then had a lengthy professional career.
During his years with the Rochester Rhinos, Andracki helped them
to two A-League championships (1998 and 2000) and the Lamar Hunt
U.S. Open Cup championship in 1999. Among Andracki's records with
the Rhinos are: all-time regular season wins (45); all-time regular
season saves (348); all-time single season minutes played (2,559
- 1997); games played (28 - 1997); starts (28 - 1997); most saves,
regular season game (13); all-time playoff saves (35); and all-time
U.S. Open Cup wins (6) and saves (53). Before going to Rochester,
Andracki played for both the Atlanta Magic in 1994 and the Atlanta
Ruckus (previously the Atlanta Silverbacks) in 1995.
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Former
goalkeeper Keith Engelhardt is presented with his retired jersey
by current MCCC goalkeeper Justin Grant (far left). Also pictured
(left to right) are Hall of Fame inductee Gerry McKeown, Engelhardt's
father Tom, MCCC Head Coach Charlie Inverso, and Engelhardt's mother
Linda.
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A
banner honoring Keith will hang
permanently at the MCCC Soccer Stadium.
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Honorees
Gerry McKeown and Keith Engelhardt
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Players
gather around Engelhardt for a few words
before the Vikings' home opener against
Dean College (MA), which Mercer won 4-0.
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The
team lines up to honor Engelhardt
and the other Hall of Fame inductees.
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Gerry
McKeown was an indispensable midfielder for Mercer in 1978 and 1979,
earning All-American honors in his second year. Following graduation,
McKeown went on to star at North Carolina State University, leading the
team to a Top 20 national ranking and garnering All-ACC honors. He played
professionally for the Carolina Lightnin', the Carolina Gold and the St.
Louis Steamers, as well as U.S. Open Cup champs FC Kristi.
Presently McKeown is boys director of coaching for New Jersey's Player
Development Academy (PDA), one of America's elite youth soccer clubs.
He is the former head coach at St. Peter's College. He has also coached
in the Olympic Development program for New Jersey's under-18 team and
Region 1's under-15 team, and has served as an assistant with the U.S.
under-15 team.
Glenn
"Mooch" Myernick, a valuable midfielder on Mercer's 1973
team, has had great success as both a player and a coach. He went on to
play at Hartwick College (1974, 1976); the U.S. Men's National Team (1975-1979),
serving as captain in 1978; the U.S. Olympic Team (1975); the Dallas Tornado
(1977-1979); the Wichita Wings (1979); the Portland Timbers (1980-1982);
and the Tampa Bay Rowdies (1983-84).
On the coaching side, Myernick is one of only two U.S. coaches to play
on and then later coach both the U.S. Men's National Team (2002 and 2006)
and the U.S. Olympic Team (1996). His international coaching experience
also includes assisting the U.S. under-20 men's national team in 1992
and coaching the U.S. under-17s at the 1995 under-17 World Championship.
Myernick spent four seasons in Major League Soccer, serving as head coach
of the Colorado Rapids (1997-2000), a team that made the playoffs every
year under his leadership and earned a franchise-best 20-12 record in
1999.
Directions
to MCCC
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