Women's and Men's Soccer
Three Drovers Earn All-Conference

CHICKASHA – Led by two seniors that have helped the Drover soccer teams to some of the most successful seasons in school history, the University of Science and Arts had three players named to the 2007 All-Sooner Athletic Conference soccer teams.

Leigh Merchant, a senior from Oklahoma City, earned second team all-conference honors and was a model of consistency for the women’s program. As a defender, she has started every game for four seasons. In her 72 career starts, she has posted only two goals, but Leigh earned acclaim as the conference Newcomer of the Year as a freshman, helped USAO to its first-ever regional tournament appearance, and helped the 2006 squad set a school record for fewest goals allowed in a season.

Jon Oman, a senior from Bury St. Edmond’s, England, was named second team all-conference for the second consecutive season. He has been a staple of USAO’s solid defense for four years. He finished his career by tying his career high for goals in a season this year and helped the 2006 Drovers set a school record for fewest goals allowed. Jon has started 68 games at USAO and his career highlights include being named four-time all-conference, first team all-region, Sooner Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year, and two-time NAIA All-American Honorable Mention.

Duson Rasovic, a freshman from Belgrade, Serbia, earned second team all-conference mention as the Drovers leading goal scorer. Rasovic led the Drover men with nine goals and 19 points. He finished tied for the team-lead in game-winning goals with fellow Serbian Nikola Cakarevic with two.

The USAO men finished the season 8-8 overall after a 3-2 double overtime loss at Oklahoma City in the conference tournament. The Drovers finished with their first non-winning season since 2001. The USAO men’s team has accumulated a 62-29-7 record since 2001 and have been one of the elite teams in the country over the past three seasons, but the loss of seven starters after last season’s 14-3-3 record was too much for this season’s young squad could overcome. The USAO women finished 5-10-1 overall.

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