Kevin Krows/Millikin University

Men's Soccer 8/31/2021 8:21:00 AM Bryan Marshall, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Information

Millikin Men’s Soccer Ready for 2021 Season

DECATUR, Illinois—Second year head coach Paul Anderson has the Millikin men's soccer team confident and ready to compete heading into his first full season leading the Big Blue. Anderson led Millikin to a 3-4 record the shortened season played last spring.

The Big Blue return 23 letter winners lead by fifth year senior and team captain Dalton Gilbert (Quincy, H.S.). Gilbert has seven career goals and 16 points. He scored two goals and recorded an assist in the spring.

Senior Eli McClinton (Belleville, Belleville East H.S.) returns in the midfielder. He earned College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) All-Conference Second Team honors in 2019. Three-year starter Alessandro Desario (West Chicago, St. Charles West H.S.) returns to lead the Millikin defense.

Two-year starters Simen Nodland (Moss, Norway, Kirkeparken H.S.) and goalie Jon Kuebler (Columbia, H.S.) return for the Big Blue and will play key roles in 2021.

Several players return after making strong showings in the Spring. The group is led by forward Johannes Smaaberg (Enebakk, Norway, Raelingen H.S.) who had three goals in the spring. Sophomore Rasmus Gidlof (Stockholm, Sweden, Campus Manilla H.S.), junior Luke Owsley (Springfield, H.S.), sophomore Bryce Shumaker (Decatur, Mt. Zion H.S.) and sophomore Joachim Tomren (Frosta, Norway, Meraker H.S.).

"The squad has shown a great unity during the preseason and are starting to show more belief in themselves as individuals and as a collective," said Anderson. "They have also shown good discipline and nastiness to their play. The coaching staff and I are looking forward to a successful fall season."

Millikin opens its season on Wednesday, September 1 at Aurora University at 7 p.m. The Big Blue home opener is Friday, September 3 at 6:30 p.m. at Frank M. Lindsay Field.

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Players Mentioned

#21 Alessandro Desario: D; 5' 8"; Senior

#7 Rasmus Gidlof: M; 5' 10"; Sophomore

#23 Dalton Gilbert: M; 5' 11"; Senior

#1 Jon Kuebler: GK; 5' 10"; Senior

#11 Eli McClinton: M; 5' 7"; Senior

#17 Simen Nodland: D; 6' 0"; Junior

#3 Luke Owsley: M; 5' 9"; Junior

#5 Bryce Shumaker: M/D; 5' 10"; Sophomore

#9 Johannes Smaaberg: F; 6' 1"; Sophomore

#16 Joachim Tomren: D; 6' 2"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#21 Alessandro Desario
: 5' 8"; Senior
: D

#7 Rasmus Gidlof
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: M

#23 Dalton Gilbert
: 5' 11"; Senior
: M

#1 Jon Kuebler
: 5' 10"; Senior
: GK

#11 Eli McClinton
: 5' 7"; Senior
: M

#17 Simen Nodland
: 6' 0"; Junior
: D

#3 Luke Owsley
: 5' 9"; Junior
: M

#5 Bryce Shumaker
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: M/D

#9 Johannes Smaaberg
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: F

#16 Joachim Tomren
: 6' 2"; Sophomore
: D