Team Review
 After four seasons as head coach for Bellevue University, Aaron Champenoy and a group of 18 dynamic young men began a new tradition of excellence at the University of St. Thomas. Champenoy brings 13 years of coaching experience to UST. Last year Champenoy stated, “Houston is an ideal location to build this program, there is a wealth of soccer talent in this city and I plan on tapping into that talent early and often.” “My goal is to use this position to help mold student athletes that will succeed on the field, in the classroom and eventually in society.” The 2007 UST roster included 13 players from the great state of Texas with 11 of those hailing from Houston Area High Schools.
The first year Celts Men’s Soccer Team got off to a great start winning their first two matches in school history. After completing the 2007 season, the UST men’s soccer team finished with a record of 6 wins, 9 losses, and 1 tie. 6 of 9 losses were by only one goal. Big wins during the season included the season opener vs. Our Lady of the Lake University with a score line of 1-0. Freshman Omar Alonso, a Houston Lee High School graduate, scored the lone goal of the game and became the first player in UST history with a goal. At a hostile away environment UST defeated UT-Brownsville, the eventual Red River Conference Champions, with a final score of 3-2. The goals came from Captain Midfielder Efrain Orozco, Nick Boras, and Jad El-Masri.
“We were a very young team including 13 freshmen 9 of whom were starters,” says Champenoy, “I was very pleased with this young group and how far they came in the first season. We really came together as a team and a family in a very short amount of time.” Coach Champenoy went on to say, “Even though we came up short in a few matches, we proved that we had the talent to play with some of the top teams in the region. No opponent will be able to overlook us and we will build from this young nucleus. As this young program continues to grow and mature, our future goals are simple: do everything to the highest standard whether it is in the class room, in our community, or on the field, to out work everyone, and to improve every day. If we can do that I feel that we are a program that will make some noise and other teams in this region and nationally will have to look out for the Celts.”
Some notable leaders emerged during the first season for the young Celt squad. Leading scorers included Freshman Midfielder Efrain Orozco who led the team in total points, and Jad El-Masri who finished in a close second. Freshman Goalkeeper, Lukas “Miko” Simon, concluded an impressive season and was thought by many to be one of the top Goalkeepers in the region. Defenders Matt Lewis and Captain Jeuel Ventura anchored a tough Celt back line. Nick Boras came on strong the second half of the season and became a creative playmaker for the Celts. Lone Senior, Victor Ticas, was a great role model on and off the field for such a young team and will be greatly missed.
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