Coastal Carolina (6-8-1, 3-2 Big South) men’s soccer puts its three-game conference winning streak on the line, as it takes on the VMI Keydets on Saturday, Oct. 29 at 6 p.m. at CCU Soccer Field in a Homecoming matchup.

The VMI Keydets (7-6-1, 1-3 Big South) lost their last game over the weekend to conference rival Winthrop 4-0. Previous to the weekend loss, VMI defeated Lynchburg 4-1 as junior Charles Nweke tallied two goals and two assists in the victory. The Keydets have had a balanced year where they have not won more than two games nor lost more than three games consecutively all year long. Nweke leads VMI with five goals, seven assists and 17 points this season. Other offensive standouts for the Keydets have been sophomore Josh Hanna, four goals and four assists, and sophomore Wythe Horbal with five goals. VMI has used a two goalie system for much of the season as junior Thomas Upton and sophomore John Sollock have split time between the pipes for the Keydets. Upton has been slightly more effective as he has one more win, 4, and a better goals-against-average, 1.68. VMI has a rescheduled conference game against Liberty at 5 p.m. on Oct. 26 before traveling down to Conway, S.C. for the weekend.

Coastal sports a perfect 4-0 overall record over VMI since the Keydets joined the Big South two seasons ago. Last season, CCU defeated VMI twice. In the regular season, the Chanticleers topped their neighbors to the north 5-0. Senior Jordie Hughes had two goals in that game. The Big Tournament game between these two teams was a close battle that wasn’t decided until the overtime period. Sophomore Lachlan Cahill scored the game-winner that propelled the Chants into the second round of the tournament.

Both of Coastal’s remaining games, are home games. This is very good news. In the last eight years, the Chants have posted a 45-13-4 record and a winning percentage of .758 at the friendly confines of CCU Soccer Field.

Over the last six years Coastal has found a way to consistently win its last two conference regular season games. The Chants have compiled an amazing record of 10-3-1 with a .750 winning percentage over that period of time.

Sophomore goalkeeper Aaron Weant is at the heart of Coastal’s recent good fortune. Over his last four games, Weant has a 3-1 record with a goals-against-average of 0.50 while recording 17 saves, two shutouts and a save percentage of .895. Weant has now registered seven career shutouts, good for seventh all-time on Coastal career goal keeping list.

Coastal Carolina men’s soccer coach Shaun Docking is closing in on a milestone victory on two fronts. The next win by Docking will be both the 100th in his Coastal coaching tenure and the 120th in his overall coaching career.

This season, CCU’s soccer team has had 15 different player tally points. This is not a new idea for the Chants as last season Coastal had 16 different player get in the scoring column. The 2003 season also saw 15 different CCU soccer players score.

When Coastal gets 12 or more shots in any single game this season it is 5-2-1. In comparison, when the Chants registered less than 12 shots in a game they are 1-6.

Coastal Carolina ran its conference winning streak to three game as late game heroics on a header by sophomore Robert Holstein off the feed from senior China Maja gave CCU a 1-0 overtime victory over host UNC Asheville. For the game, the Chants outshot the Bulldogs 17-7 with a corner kick advantage of 11-2 as well.

After trailing by a goal going into the break, CCU’s offense rallied and scored three goals in a fifteen minute period of time in the second half. Sophomore Lachlan Cahill tied the game up at one off the dish from senior Jordie Hughes. Cahill had the assist on the game-winning goal by sophomore Patrick Robertson just over three minutes later. And Hughes capped off the scoring off the misfired shot attempt from sophomore Robert Holstein as Coastal went on to win 3-1 over the Eagles. It was only the second time CCU had trailed at the break and came back to win a game this season.

When Coastal Carolina squared off against #17 UNC-Greensboro nobody expected much, but the Chants themselves. But that faith in themselves almost proved to be enough as CCU lost 1-0 to the Spartans. The only tally of the game was an own goal that Coastal inadvertently knocked in its own net in the first five minutes of action. Senior Jordie Hughes had several good looks at tying the game in the last eight minutes but Greensboro held on for a 1-0 victory.

Coastal Carolina soccer team snapped its two-game conference losing streak and three game overall slide with a 2-0 victory over High Point. Sophomore Daniel O’Brien and freshman Kyle Russell picked up assists on the Lachlan Cahill game-winning goal. O’Brien tallied the insurance goal, his first of the season, for Coastal two minutes later on the feed from senior China Maja. Sophomore Aaron Weant picked up his first win of the season in the game.

Coastal lost its third game in a row this time falling to Davidson 3-1. CCU tied the game on a goal from sophomore Patrick Robertson off the feed from Lachlan Cahill. The tie did not last as Coastal soon was playing a man down as Robertson was given a red card for running into the Davidson goalie and thrown out of the game. From that point on Davidson took advantage, scoring two late goals make the final score 3-1.

CCU conference game originally schedule against Winthrop for Oct. 5 was rescheduled until Oct. 19 due to the poor weather conditions brought on by Tropical Storm Tammy.

Coastal lost a heartbreaker to Radford 2-1 despite outshooting the Highlanders 24-6 including 8-3 shots on goals. Senior Jordie Hughes led both teams with eight shots and scored the Chants goal. CCU had several near misses including a shot by Hughes on a break away that hit off the crossbar and two shots on consecutive possessions by freshman Brad Stisser that went just wide. The loss fell to Nowak who saw his record even at 3-3. Hughes moved into a fourth place tie with former Chant Hilmar Arnason for career goals (40) with his tally in the game.

Birmingham-Southern got off to an early 2-0 lead on Coastal only to see the Chanticleers cut the deficit to a goal on a Dominic Rossi tally. After another BSC goal gave the Panthers another back their two goal lead, Coastal again fought back to cut the lead in half late on the Jordie Hughes goal off a penalty kick. But that was as close as the Chants would get as Birmingham-Southern won the Big South Conference matchup 3-2. For the game Hughes had a goal and an assist.

Jordie Hughes continues to rise on Coastal’s all-time lists. With 14 points this season, Hughes has now totaled 105 points in his distinguished career, good for fifth place. Hughes’ four assists this season moves him into ninth place all-time in assists with 23. Hughes has five goals this season uping his career total to 41, which is fourth on CCU’s career goals list.

Before the start of conference season, Coastal Carolina senior midfielder Joseph Kabwe had an unreal streak of making three of the four All-Tournaments teams for CCU. Kabwe finished his strong non-conference play by being named co-MVP of the Coastal Carolina/adidas Classic.

Since head coach Shaun Docking took over as CCU coach in 1998 the Chants are an impressive 21-8-4 during in-season tournaments outscoring the opposition a combined 84-44.

Coastal senior Joseph Kabwe was a named the co-MVP of the Coastal Carolina/adidas Classic as he registered two goals and four points in the tournament. Other Chants named to the All-Tournament squad include sophomores Lachlan Cahill, Dominic Rossi and freshman Kyle Russell.

Coastal Carolina had an early goal (8:46) by sophomore Kevin Van Berg off the feed from sophomore Robert Holstein and senior Jordie Hughes and ended up in tie with College of Charleston 1-1 (2OT). Coastal outshot the Cougars 18-8 including an 13-2 advantage in the second period and both overtimes. Freshman Djamel Bekka and sophomore Lachlan Cahill each had three shots in the game including two shots on goal each to lead CCU. Coastal was named the Co-Champions of the Tournament along with CofC.

Senior Joseph Kabwe scored the game tying with just over three minutes remaining in regulation (86:59) and then tallied the game-winning goal with just under two minutes remaining in the first overtime (98:29) to propel Coastal Carolina men's soccer team to a thrilling 4-3 overtime victory over Virginia Commonwealth on the first night of the Coastal Carolina/adidas Classic. Other Chants to score in the game include the Australian duo of Lachlan Cahill and Dominic Rossi. Rossi had a goal and Cahill totaled a goal and an assist. Sophomore Patrick Robertson and senior Jordie Hughes also tallied

assists for Coastal. Sophomore goalkeeper Ryan Nowak took home the win for Coastal. It was his third win of the season and the first ever win for Coastal over VCU in three tries.

Coastal Carolina senior Jordie Hughes and sophomore Lachlan Cahill both were named to the Nike/Harvard Invitational All-Tournament Team at the conclusion of the tournament.

Coastal Carolina men’s soccer team dropped a close 1-0 game to New Hampshire despite outshooting the Wildcats 12-7 including a 4-2 advantage on shots on goal. Senior Jordie Hughes led both teams with three shots including two on goal. Sophomore goalkeeper Ryan Nowak took the loss for Coastal.

Coastal took a tough defeat against the Crimson of Harvard 3-0. Coastal was outshot by Harvard 17-6. CCU goalkeeper Aaron Weant only allowed a goal in 45 minutes of action but still took the loss for Coastal.

Following the action at the Diadora/Spinx Furman Invitational three Chants were named to the All-Tournament squad. Seniors Jordie Hughes and Joseph Kabwe and sophomore Kevin Van Den Berg were Coastal’s three honorees.

Senior Jordie Hughes had the game-tying and game-winning goals as Coastal won a wild one over Mercer 5-3 on the final day of the Diadora/Spinx Furman Invitational. Sophomore Dominic Rossi took the feed from freshman Djamel Bekka for the first tally of the game. Senior Joseph Kabwe scored an unassisted goal. An own goal by Mercer was scored for the fifth and final tally of the game for Coastal. Sophomore Ryan Nowak picked up his second win of the season in the victory. Coastal improved its all-time record against Mercer to an impressive 7-0.

Coastal Carolina men’s soccer team took the tough loss against #24 Ohio State. CCU outshots the Buckeyes 9-7 including an advantage of 7-6 on shots on goal. Sophomore Lachlan Cahill took the feed from fellow Australian sophomore Dominic Rossi for the only Coastal goal of the afternoon. It was also the first time the two of them have been involved in a scoring play together.

Following the Coastal Carolina/adidas Invitational three Chants were named to the All-Tournament team. The list in order is senior Joseph Kabwe, junior Bobby Zimmer and freshman Brad Stisser.

Coastal Carolina lost a tough 1-0 game to Binghamton in the championship game of the Coastal Carolina/adidas Classic. The game was scoreless in the first half and it wasn’t until nearly 25 minutes into the second half that the Bearcats broke through. CCU would have three great opportunities in the second half include several good shots by sophomore Dominic Rossi and senior Peter Louis but BU held on for the victory.

CCU opened the 2005 season with a team effort victory, 6-0, over Northeastern. Six different Chants tallied goals. Senior Craig Reed tallied the first goal of the season for Coastal with sophomore Patrick Robertson, senior Peter Louis, senior Joseph Kabwe, freshman Brad Stisser and sophomore Dominic Rossi scoring the next five goals in that order. For the game Kabwe had a goal and an assist.

With a win against Northeastern to start the season, Coastal Carolina now has a career mark of 19-6-1 in season openers dating back to 1978. The Chanticleers have outscored their opponents a combined 70-30 during the first day of the season. The last time Coastal lost a game on opening day was against Wake Forest in 1999 by a score of 6-1. Last season, Coastal defeated Anderson by a score of 8-0 in its first game.

Head coach Shaun Docking won the 115th of his career and his 95th since his arrival at Coastal with his win on Sunday, September 11. He only trails former Coastal coach Paul Banta, who had a record of 166-94-17 in his 14 year career, for victories at Coastal.

Coastal Carolina was picked to capture its fifth consecutive Big South Conference title by the conference and its sports information directors. CCU captured nine first place votes and 114 of the 128 points to finish ahead of Birmingham-Southern.

Senior Jordie Hughes was selected as the Big South Conference’s Preseason Player of the Year. Hughes was the Big South’s scoring leader last season with 43 points on 16 goals and 11 assists. The 2004 All-Big South First Team Member captured four first-place votes and 13 points overall to finish ahead of Birmingham-Southern’s Karim Dietz.

Coastal Carolina brings back 14 letterwinners and six starters from last years team. Besides Jordie Hughes, other starters of note back include senior forward Peter Louis, sophomore midfielder Lachlan Cahill, sophomore defenseman Patrick Robertson and junior defenseman Bobby Zimmer. CCU will also bring back both its goalkeepers Aaron Weant and Jeremy Wolfgang. The two combined to post the lowest goals-against average in the conference a season ago.

This past spring CCU had two more players drafted into the Major League Soccer (MLS). Boyzzz Khumalo and Mubarike Chisoni were drafted with the 36th pick and 46th pick, respectively, by the Chicago Fire and the Los Angeles Galaxy. Chisoni joins former Chant Joseph Ngwenya who was drafted by the Galaxy in 2004.

Coastal Carolina assistant coach Kom Momeni was named by College Soccer News as one of the top twenty-five assistant coaches in the country in the offseason. Momeni is in his fourth year as an assistant under head coach Shaun Docking.

Coastal only have one more regular season game remaining as it takes on conference rival the Liberty Flames at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 5 before heading to High Point, N.C. to participate in the Big South Conference Tournament, Nov. 10-13.