JBU men blessed with plenty of depth

It's been a hectic last two months for first-year John Brown men's soccer coach Brenton Benware.

Benware, a 13-year coaching veteran, was named the fifth men's head soccer coach at John Brown on July 3, just days after the university announced the resignation of Scott Marksberry, who took a high school job at Providence Academy in Rogers.

The Golden Eagles turned to Benware, who was in his second stint as head coach at Montreat (N.C.). Benware had also coached at Oklahoma Wesleyan and Cumberlands (Ky.) and he carries a career record of 104-105-17 (.498).

Benware and his family relocated to Siloam Springs and were in place by the time JBU started preseason practices on Aug. 2.

"It's been a bit of a whirlwind," Benware said. "But we're all settled in."

Benware takes over a John Brown men's program that's coming off a strong 2016 season that saw the Golden Eagles contend for a Sooner Athletic Conference championship and advance to the NAIA National Tournament.

JBU finished 2016 with a record of 13-4-2 and a 7-1-1 mark in Sooner Athletic Conference play. The Golden Eagles return several players from that team, including seven All-Sooner Athletic Conference selections -- four of which were first team -- the SAC Player of the Year in junior Kelvin Omondi and Goalkeeper of the Year in senior Adam Holt.

The Golden Eagles were picked to win the league in 2017, according to a vote from the conference coaches and will open the season ranked No. 19 in the NAIA Preseason Top 25 Poll.

"We're trying to take that with humility and within stride," Benware said. "We have gaps to fill and need guys to step up. We recognize that we're on the starting block and not on the finish line."

JBU opens the season Friday at 7:30 p.m. against Mobile (Ala.) at home at Alumni Field, following the women's game against Mid-America Nazarene (Kan.) at 5:30.

Benware said the Golden Eagles have several position battles going on and they're blessed with plenty of depth.

"Depth will allow us to play some different formations and rest some guys on occasion," he said. "I expect the battle for starting positions to continue for the next few months. That's my hope. That would be a really good situation to be in."

Benware said he was able to speak or meet up with the majority of his new players before preseason practices started. But he was able to watch a few of them in action firsthand.

Current JBU players -- juniors Omondi, Ryan Williams, Giovani Bejarano and senior Steve Teshima -- along with recent JBU graduate Hazeley Pyle and 2015 JBU player, Douglas Oliveira, who was Defensive Player of the Year, helped the Charlotte Eagles win the championship of the Premier Development League.

Those players were late reporting for preseason practices because they were playing the in championship game against the Thunder Bay Chill.

"We welcome their lateness for their opportunitty to do that," Benware said.

Collin Smith, a second team all-conference selection as a junior, also was on the Eagles' roster but did not play because of an injury. Smith will red shirt in 2017.

John Brown did host a preseason scrimmage on Aug. 16, defeating Northeast Oklahoma A&M 4-1 at Alumni Field.

"It's one of those things to try new things and see where we need work," Benware said. "There were some really good signs and some things that we showed ourselves we need to improve. Overall I'm happy and excited for what's to come (this) week."

The Golden Eagles will likely open the season with a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of their goalkeeper. It'll be similar to what Marksberry employed in his four seasons at JBU, Benware said.

"One of my objectives is to not re-invent the wheel or change things that are working well," he said. "We'll adjust as needed along the way."

Holt, a 6-2 senior from Tulsa, Okla., is back in goal after earning conference keeper of the year honors last year.

"Adam's a good leader," Benware said. "He really commands the back. I think the thing I like about him is he doesn't accept mediocrity from himself or those around him.

"Ability-wise, I think there's a reason he's the best in the conference. He has the chance to separate himself from many in the country as well."

Senior Connor Georgepulos (5-11) and junior Britt Wisener (6-4) will back up Holt in goal.

The Golden Eagles have several players who will contend for playing time at defender.

Bejarano, a 5-10 junior from Medellin, Colombia, was a first-team all-SAC selection in 2016 and 2015. He scored five goals last year. He will play center back.

Junior Santiago Vanegas (6-1) hails from Rionegro, Colombia, and will play left back. He had three goals and five assists last year.

"Giovani and Santiago will be very much a staple to our back line," Benware said.

Junior defender James Pollard (5-10) of Siloam Springs appears to have worked his way into the mix at defender, Benware said.

"This could be his breakthrough year," Benware said. "He's very smart at his position and is another good leader."

Freshman Levente Illes (6-3) of Beech Mountain, N.C., sophomore Ryan Smith (6-2) of Houston and junior David Moots (5-11) of Raymore, Mo., are also in the mix at defender.

"I think they're all good players," Benware said. "It's a great opportunity for those guys to continue to learn the system and earn a spot. We're counting on all six of those guys to make an impact on our back line."

The Golden Eagles will play with two defensive midfielders.

Among the players competing for that position are junior Axel Betancourt (5-10, Houston), freshman Elias McCloud (6-0, Wheaton, Ill.), freshman Samuel Estrada (5-8, San Salvador, El Salvador), freshman Christopher Vaughn (5-10, St. John's, Antigua) and sophomore Amilcar Gonzalez (6-0, Springdale).

"That position is very much up in the air," Benware said. "It's a great problem to have in the midfield. We've got six guys that can interchange and contribute at that spot. To have some fresh legs is really important for us there."

JBU will play two attacking midfielders and one central midfielder.

Williams, a 5-9 junior from Mililani, Hawaii, scored eight goals and had 10 assists last year and was a first-team all conference selection. He and sophomore Joao Silva (5-7, Belo Horizonte, Brazil) are expected to man the central midfielder positions.

"(Williams) had some success this summer," Benware said. "He played with the Charlotte Eagles in the PDL and he was MVP of the championship game. It was a big deal in terms of growth this summer."

Silva also played for a PDL team over the summer based out of Joplin, Mo.

Omondi (5-5) led the Golden Eagles with 15 goals and had nine assists for a total of 39 points in 2016.

"He brings a lot to the team, a lot of fun in the locker room," Benware said. "He's somebody we will definitely be looking to in big moments."

Omondi has not been partaking in preseason drills because of his time spent in the PDL league.

"We felt it was best for him to rest up," Benware said. "It gives some other guys an opportunity to shine and showcase a little bit."

Benware said junior Conner Haney (6-0, Spring, Texas), senior Steve Teshima (5-11, Honolulu, Hawaii) and sophomore Benard Mwangi (5-10, Kitale, Kenya) could get a chance at winger spot.

"(Not having Omondi) gives some other guys an opportunity to shine and showcase a little bit," Benware said.

Haney had 10 goals and six assists, while Teshima had three goals and eight assists.

Omondi could play up top at forward, but the Golden Eagles also have junior Ashby Clark (6-3, Poteau, Okla.) and redshirt senior Marco Cardona (6-3, Medellin, Colombia) who could fill the role. Clark had five goals and five assits last year.

"Those guys, they give us great size and great height up top, great physicality," Benware said. "Both of those guys really give us a high impact there as far as productivity."