FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 16, 2007

Lions add eight players for 2007 season

Joplin, Mo.. -- Missouri Southern men's soccer coach Kiley Cirillo has announced the addition of eight players for the 2007 season.

The list includes three players from the state of Oklahoma, two from Missouri, and one each from Illinois, Kansas and Texas.

Taylor Deckard and Trent Baker both come from Putnam City High School in Oklahoma City. Deckard, a four year starter at forward for the Pirates and coach Kip Shubert, scored nine goals as a sophomore year and 18 as a junior. He added six assists his junior year and was named all-conference, all-district and all-city. Deckard had scored three goals in the first four games of this season, before suffering an injury. Baker was a teammate of Deckard's at PCHS and started at midfielder, while playing two years of football, as well. Baker intends on majoring in accounting at Southern.

Also from Oklahoma City, and rival school Putnam City North High School, Jacob Boucher was a three year starter at midfiedler for coach Tom Pecore. Boucher was an all-district and all-conference selection for the Panthers his sophomore and junior seasons, with his senior year yet to finish. Boucher has helped his team to the state playoffs each year, including a spot in the state finals last season. He played with current Lions Ricky Cabello and Tony Simmons.

Richard Knight is a 6'1 forward from Fort Osage High School in Independence, Mo. He played four years, starting three, for coach Scott Tacke and the Indians. He was named all-area, all-conference and all-district. His dad played soccer at William Jewell in the early 80's.

Nate Evans is a 5'8 defender from Eagle Rock, Mo and played four years for coach Terry Jamieson at Cassville High School. A first team all-district and all region selection in 2005, he was a second-team all-state selection that year, helping the Wildcats to a third place finish in the state tournament. In 2006, he was a first team all-district and all region selection, and was honorable mention all-state. He was also selected for the Southwest Missouri all-star team. Evans was also a sprinter in track for four years at Cassville.

Colby McKnight is a 6'0 midfielder from Coffeyville Community College. Originally from Topeka, Kan., McKnight played for coach Louis DeLeonardo at Seaman High School. This past year at Coffeyville, McKnight helped the team to a 10-10-1 record and scored five goals with one assist in 18 games, leading the team to a Region VI championship.

Nick Romanenko is a 6'0 midfielder/defender from Crystal Lake, Illinois where he played four years at Crystal Lake High School. He was an all-conference defender his senior year playing for coach Don Stumpf and the Gators and was voted the team's most consistent player for two years.

Randal McClanahan is a 5'10 forward from Fort Worth, Texas and played at Arlington Heights High School for Coach Jack Warren. At Arlington, he helped lead the team to four district championships, as well as an area champion and regional semifinal. He was all-district his sophomore, junior and senior years, and was a co-captain his senior year. McClanahan also played football and he was an all-district selection at place kicker.