For the first time since 1995, the St. Ambrose Fighting Bees were crowned the MCC league champions. The Bees went 7-1 in the MCC after blanking Viterbo 3-0 at the Davenport Soccer Complex.

After a scoreless first half, the Fighting Bees turned to junior Greg Lehman to break the tie. Lehman broke the 0-0 game open with a goal in the 48th minute off a Garrett Alderson assist. For the next 30 minutes, the game seemed relatively even as neither team could get many shots off the smothering defenses.

In the last ten minute's of the game, as Viterbo scrambled to tie the game, the Bees were able to put two more goals on the board. Greg Lehman scored in the 81st minute off a Tyson Kendrick assist and finished the hat trick in the 85th minute off of Clint Mattingly's assist. Lehman finished the game with all of the Bees goals and finished with four total shots on goal.

For the game, SAU finished with eight total shots and seven shots on goal. Viterbo managed just three total shots. Justin DeSousa had three saves for the Bees to preserve the shutout.

The Bees will have a non-conference match-up with Olivet Nazarene on October 18th before the first round of the MCC tournament begins on October 22nd.

Congratulations to Junior Mike Schuenemann, who was named Defender of the Week in the MCC. Mike is a team captain and has 4 assists in 5 games this season. Head coach, Fr. Bud, commends # 8 for “his leadership on and off the pitch, his composure, and his confidence.” The Bees lost their first game of the season for the “Bishop’s Cup” against Loras College. It was a well balanced and well played game from both sides and ended with an exciting scramble in front of the Loras GK, with the final shot ricocheting off the cross bar as the buzzer sounded.

Player of the Game for SAU was Max Muchow, who worked hard on the wing to open up our offensive game while also defending very well against the Loras attack. The Fighting Bees travel to Bethel College in Indiana for a tournament this week-end that will see a Friday re-match against Notre Dame of Ohio—against whom the Bee’s tied in their last encounter. Ambrose plays Bethel College on Saturday.

By Angela Sirna

On Saturday, September 1st the SAU Men’s Soccer team played the Calumet College of St. Joseph, coming out victorious with the final score 3-1. With a stronger defense than our opposition, SAU was able to finish the game with two more goals in the second half. The goals scored in the second half were made by Greg Lehman and Kendrick Tyson, while Mike Schuenemann and Kyle Yager were on the assists.

The championship game of this tournament was played against Notre Dame of Ohio, with the first score being made by Clint Maddingly and Greg Lehman. Notre Dame then came back with a score two minutes later and the game continued intensely to the very end, going into two rounds of overtime, and finally ending in a 2-2 tie game.

When asked to comment about the games this weekend, Coach Fr. Bud Grant said: “It is great to start our season without a loss, but we are all disappointed in the way we let Notre Dame back in the game. We showed what we were capable of, but we must be more consistent. The 2nd half of the St. Joe’s game is the sort of play we must produce every single minute for 90 minutes.”

Coach Grant also added that that the team is stronger this year due to the return of Greg Lehman and Clint Mattingly, who were out last season with injuries. Also two new transfers, Kyle Yager and Kendrick Tyson give the team an even more dangerous offense, as well as the returning players and new freshmen added to the team. Also mentioned was Greg Lehman, Kendrick Tyson and Max Muchow - all three were named to the All Tournament Team. Coach Grant named Jimmy Lyons as M.V.P. for the St. Joseph game. “He stood out,” Grant said, “for playing a full 90 minutes on top of his game.” Greg Lehman was then named M.V.P. for the Notre Dame, Ohio game. “The nice thing about Greg,” according to Coach Grant, “is that he is not just individually talented, but is a real team player. He makes the whole team succeed.”

DAVENPORT, Iowa  (08/15/07)  The Fighting Bees are building on their strong finish to the ’06 campaign where one penalty kick was the difference in the Region quarter finals. The 2007 squad combines a deep returning roster with an exceptionally strong recruiting class.

Fr. Bud Grant says about his 8th season as head coach: “Last year was very good for us, we matured a great deal as a team and we are very excited for this season. I don’t want to mention any single player by name, because the entire squad—both returners and new players—is so promising. Our approach to this season is one game at a time.

Justin DeSousa, starting goal keeper from last season adds that: “I can’t wait for pre-season to start and to get to work. We have a strong core returning and I’ve heard great things about the recruits. I’m excited to see what we will look like together as a team.” Returning defender Garrett Alderson adds, “Go Bees!”

The Fighting Bee’s season kicks-off on the road on Sept.1st and 2nd, when they take on Calumet College of St. Joseph at the Crimson Wave Invite. The Bees first home game of the season is against Illinois Institute of Technology on Sept.5th in Muscatine at 5:00pm