40 Years, 40 Memories - A Look Back at TU Soccer

The Tulsa men’s soccer program is celebrating it’s 40^th season, including it’s 25^th year under the direction of head coach Tom McIntosh in 2019. The Golden Hurricane will recognize 40 memories throughout the upcoming season right here on TulsaHuricane.com, as well as Twitter and Facebook, to highlight just some of the great accomplishments in program history.

Throughout the 40 years, TU has won 12 conference championships and made 11 NCAA Tournament appearances. Tulsa has been ranked as high as #2 nationally, set an NCAA record for consecutive home wins that still stands today, had the nation’s best scoring offense, and has defeated 41 ranked opponents.

More than 430 players have suited up in a TU jersey, including greats like Frank Velez, Kevin King and Huynh Bui, who have all been inducted into The University of Tulsa Athletic Hall of Fame. The Golden Hurricane has also had one MAC Hermann Trophy finalist, which is presented annually to the nation’s top player, six players who were named All-Americans and six Academic All-Americans.

Memory 40: Tulsa defeated No. 1 ranked Stanford on September 9, 2017 (2-0). This was Stanford's biggest loss since falling to #5 Washington, 3-1, on October 5, 2014, and marked the 14th time TU beat a top-10 ranked opponent.

Memory 39: Tulsa won it's third-straight American Athletic Conference Tournament Championship by penalty kicks in 2016. TU earned a 2-0 win over UConn in the semifinals before tying USF, 1-1 2OT, and claiming the championship in penalty kicks, 4-2.

Memory 38: Tulsa recorded a 3-2 win over FIU before failing to advance against Notre Dame (1-1 2OT; 3-0 penalty kicks) in the 2015 NCAA Tournament.

56941 — 2015 American Athletic Conference Tournament Champions

Memory 37: In 2015, Tulsa won the American Athletic Conference tournament title without winning a game! TU tied UCF, 2-2 2OT, and advanced on penalty kicks, 4-2, in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, the Golden Hurricane battled SMU to another 2-2 2OT tie, and advanced on penalty kicks, 4-3. In the title game, Tulsa had a 1-1 2OT tie with USF, and claimed the championship on penalty kicks, 4-3. This marked the second-straight year that TU claimed The American Championship on penalty kicks.

56937 — Tulsa Men's Soccer Academic All-Americans

Memory 36: Six Tulsa men's soccer players have been named Academic All-Americans and have combined for nine honors. Matt Wiley (2002-05) was TU's first honoree in 2004, and he earned back-to-back honors as he was selected again in 2005. Eric Burkholder (2004-07) was honored in 2006 and 2007, Matt Thomas (2003-06) was selected in 2006, Kilian Poeschk (2006-09) was named in 2008 and 2009, Jake Dobkins (2009-12) in 2012, and Quinn Starker (2011-14) in 2014.

Memory 35: During the 2014 season, Tulsa posted an 11-6-3 overall record, including a 5-2-1 mark for a second-place finish in the team's inagural season in the American Athletic Conference. The Golden Hurricane went on to top Cincinnati (1-0) and SMU (2-0), before tying USF (0-0 2OT) and claiming The American tournament title in penalty kicks, 6-5.

56930 — 2014 American Athletic Conference Champions

Memory 34: After receiving a first round bye in the 2012 NCAA Championship, Tulsa topped USF (1-0) before falling to San Diego (2-1) in the third round.

Memory 33: In 2012, Tulsa posted a 14-6-1 overall record, including a 5-2-1 mark in Conference USA play. TU topped host UAB (1-0 2OT) in the semifinals, before dominating SMU (5-0) to claim the tournament championship.

55882 — 2012 Conference USA Men's Soccer Champions

Memory 32: In 2010, Tulsa defeated Bradley (2-0), before falling to Indiana (5-1) in the NCAA Tournament Second Round.

Memory 31: The Golden Hurricane’s highest ranking came in 2010, when TU was ranked at No. 2 in the NSCAA (now United Soccer Coaches), Soccer Times and Top Drawer Soccer polls.

55829 — Tulsa Men's Soccer All-Americans

Memory 30: TU has had seven All-Americans, including Frank Velez (1991), Ryan Pore (2003 and 2004), Kyle Brown (2005), Chris Clements (2007), Ashley McInnes (2009) and Austin Neil (2009). Six of TU's All-Americans played within a seven-year span.

Memory 29: The Tulsa men's soccer team received a bye in the 2009 NCAA Tournament First Round, then topped #23 Saint Louis (4-3 OT) in the second round and #5 Northwestern (1-0) in the third round, before falling to #1 Akron (1-0) in the quarterfinals.

Memory 28: Tulsa posted a 15-5-2 overall record, including a 6-1-1 mark in Conference USA play to earn the right to host the 2009 C-USA Tournament at the Hurricane Soccer and Track Stadium. TU went on to claim the tournament championship with wins over Kentucky (2-1) and Marshall (3-0).

Memory 27: After winning the 2008 Conference USA Tournament Championship, Tulsa topped UMKC (1-0) in the 2008 NCAA Tournament First Round, before falling to Creighton (2-1) in the Second Round.

Memory 26: Tulsa claimed the 2008 Conference USA regular season title with a 7-0-1 mark. The Hurricane then went on to top UAB (4-2) and South Carolina (2-0) in the C-USA Tournament, before claiming the title over #24 Kentucky (1-1) on penalty kicks, 4-2.

Memory 25: Tulsa recorded a program-best 16 wins in 2008, including a 10-game winning streak and a 16-game unbeaten streak. TU was also unbeaten in Conference USA play with a 7-0-1 mark.

Memory 24: In 2007, Tulsa registered a 15-3-2 overall record, including a 6-0-2 mark in Conference USA to claim the regular season title. TU went on to win the Conference USA tournament title with a win over UAB (1-0), South Carolina (4-1) and FIU (3-2). The Golden Hurricane earned a first round bye in the 2007 NCAA Tournament, but fell to Central Connecticut, 3-2. This was the first time TU earned a bye in the NCAA First Round.

Memory 23: Tulsa had the nation’s best scoring offense in 2007 with 2.60 goals per game. The Golden Hurricane scored 52 goals in 20 games, including a team and Conference USA-best 11 goals by Todd Goddard (2004-07).

Memory 22: The Golden Hurricane did not lose a regular season road game from Oct. 11, 2006 to Sept. 24, 2010, spanning 22 true road contests (excluding neutral site games). This included wins over #4 Creighton (3-1), #6 SMU (4-1), #10 South Carolina (1-0), #16 UCF (2-1) and #23 Saint Louis (4-3 2OT).

Memory 21: TU hosted two of the nation’s top-five teams at the 2005 Hurricane Classic. Tulsa defeated #3 Creighton (1-0), but dropped a 2-1 overtime decision to #1 New Mexico.

Memory 20: In 2004, Tulsa advanced to the NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals. After topping Michigan State (3-1), #12 Penn State (1-1 2OT; TU advanced 4-3 on penalty kicks), #2 SMU (2-1 2OT), the Golden Hurricane fell to eventual champions, #6 Indiana (4-0).

Memory 19: Ryan Pore (2002-04) was a 2004 Missouri Athletic Club's Hermann Trophy Finalist, which is the official NSCAA (now United Soccer Coaches) Player of the Year award for Division I soccer student-athletes. Pore led the nation in scoring in 2004 with 22 goals and 11 assists for 55 points. He was the 2004 Soccer America National Player of the Year, a three-time College Soccer News National Team of the Week honoree, two-time Soccer America National Team of the Week selection, three-time All-Midwest Region team member, two-time Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year, three-time All-MVC performer, 2002 MVC All-Newcomer Team selection, 2004 MVC All-Tournament Team honoree and six-time MVC Player of the Week selection. Pore holds the program record for most assists in a game with five against Evansville on October 24, 2004, most goals in a season (22) and most points in a season (55); and is second in points (123) and goals (51), and eighth in assists (21) in his career. Pore was a second-round draft pick by the MLS' Kansas City Wizards in 2005. He later went on to be named to the College Soccer News Team of the Decade in 2009, and since 2013 has served as an assistant coach for the Tulsa men's soccer team.

Memory 18: In 2003, the Tulsa men's soccer team advanced past the First Round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history. TU defeated Oakland, 3-2 (2OT), to advance and take on No. 1 UCLA, but the Bruins ended TU's season with a 3-2 victory.

Memory 17: The Hurricane Soccer & Track Stadium was completed in August, 2003, and serves as the home field for the Golden Hurricane men’s and women’s soccer and track & field teams. The multi-purpose $4.5 million facility is part of the Donna J. Hardesty Sports and Recreation Complex, a 30-acre development at The University of Tulsa.

Memory 16: In 2002, Tulsa defeated No. 1 ranked Stanford (3-1). After starting the season with a 5-2 mark, TU upset the top-ranked Stanford team. TU freshman Ryan Pore scored two goals, and sophomore Kyle Brown added a score and an assist to lead the unranked Golden Hurricane to one of the biggest wins in school history at the Nike Invitational at Harry Maloney Field.

Memory 15: Tom McIntosh took over the reins of the Tulsa men's soccer program on August 3, 1995 and is currently in his 25th season at the helm. McIntosh is truly the epitome of Tulsa men’s soccer. Since he first walked on campus as a student-athlete in 1986, McIntosh has been a part of 320 of TU’s 407 victories either as a player (29; 1986-88), an assistant coach (41; 1989-91) or as the head coach (250; 1995-Present).

McIntosh has led TU to 10 conference championships, including seven tournament and three regular season titles. McIntosh has also put the Hurricane into the national spotlight as Tulsa has advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 10 of the last 16 seasons, including national quarterfinal appearances in 2004 and 2009.

McIntosh’s tenure is the longest in the history of the TU men’s soccer program. He has an overall record of 250-173-50 and has notched a conference mark of 100-75-23 as a member of four conferences.

Under McIntosh, the Hurricane has 14 seasons with 10-plus wins, while six of his players have achieved All-America status. Tulsa student-athletes have also excelled in the classroom as 229 (20 WAC; 29 MVC; 111 C-USA; 69 The American) players have received conference academic honors, 33 have earned Academic All-District accolades and nine have received Academic All-America recognition. Over the past 15 years, 17 players have been drafted or gone on to play professionally.

Note: All numbers are prior to the 2019 season

Jimmy Dowell playing soccer — Jimmy Dowell

Memory 14: Jimmy Dowell (1990-94) scored a goal in a school-record 10-straight games leading up to October 25, 1994. He netted a goal against Little Rock, Texas-Pan American, Saint Louis, Illinois State, Bradley, Creighton, Drake, Southwest Missouri State, UMKC and Oral Roberts. He finished the season with a team-high 15 goals and 33 points.

Memory 13: The Tulsa men’s soccer team made it's first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance in 1991. TU had a 14-3 mark on the year, including a 3-1 record against top-25 opponents. The Golden Hurricane lost in the First Round to SMU, 5-3, in Dallas.

Memory 12: Tulsa claimed both the 1991 Missouri Valley Conference regular season and tournament championships, the first of four regular season titles and eight tournament titles in program history. TU posted a 14-3 mark, including a perfect 4-0 MVC regular season record, and topped Southwest Missouri State (2-1) and Illinois State (2-1) in the MVC Tournament. The 1991 team went on to earn distinction as a TU Hall of Fame Honor Team in 2011.

Memory 11: Tulsa entered the NCAA Top-25 for the first time in school history during the 1991 season, coming in at No. 20, and moving up to No. 17 in the ISAA (Intercollegiate Soccer Association of America) poll. TU posted a 14-3 overall record on the year, including wins over #5 Evansville, #13 SMU and #24 Creighton.

Memory 10: Frank Velez (1988-91) was Tulsa's first men’s soccer All-American. He owns the school record for goals by a freshman (17), career goals (60) and career points (136). He was a two-time All-Midwest Region honoree, was the 1991 Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year, was selected to the 1991 All-MVC first team, was tabbed to the 1991 MVC All-Tournament Team and was named the Tournament MVP. Velez recorded four goals against Bradley (10-11-91), tying the program best with Bobby Ryan (vs. Phillips University 1984) and Jimmy Dowell (vs. Nicholls State in 1990), and was inducted into The University of Tulsa Athletic Hall of Fame in 2000.

Memory 9: Tulsa netted a program-best 16 goals in a 16-0 win over Nicholls State on September 9, 1990, including a game-high four goals by Jimmy Dowell (1990-94). TU also had a program-high 14 assists and 46 points in the contest.

Memory 8: In 1989, Tulsa registered a program-best 12-game winning streak under then first-year head coach Randy Waldrum (1989-94; 66-33-6). TU owned a 14-4 mark on the season, including a 3-1 win over #8 Illinois State.

Memory 7: Tulsa defeated #8 Illinois State (3-1) on September 16, 1989 for their first-ever win against a ranked opponent. The Golden Hurricane now has 41 wins against ranked opponents, including nine wins over top-5 foes.

Memory 6: Tulsa set the NCAA record for consecutive home wins with 39 from 1988-1992. This record still stands!
53465

Memory 5: Kevin King (1988-91) was a TU Hall of Fame inductee in 2003. He was a defensive stopper for the Golden Hurricane, but scored 23 goals and 21 assists for 67 points during his four-year career. King set the school record for consecutive games with an assist (4) during the 1989 season, which only four others have accomplished since that time (Robbie Aristodemo (1996), Kyle Brown (2003), Eric Burkholder (2005) and Jeovahnni Sandez (2008)). He had a team-best eight assists in 1988, and ranks eighth in school history in assists (21). King was a three-time all-Midwest Region selection, and a first-team all-Missouri Valley Conference selection and MVC all-tournament team honoree. King was the first pick in the first round by the Tulsa Ambush of the National Professional Soccer League in 1992.

Memory 4: After posting a 5-14-2 record in 1987, the Golden Hurricane had the NCAA's biggest turnaround with a 14-5-2 mark in 1988 under head coach Bruce Palmbaum (1986-88; 29-29-4). TU had just 20 goals in 1987, compared to their 53 goals a year later, while putting together a seven-game winning streak.

Memory 3: Bobby Ryan (1983-86) had TU’s first four-goal game by an individual in a 14-0 win over Phillips University on September 19, 1984. Only Jimmy Dowell (1990) and Frank Velez (1991) have matched this accomplishment.

Memory 2: Huyhn Bui played for Tulsa from 1980 to 1983, and helped the team post a 44-26-4 mark in those four seasons. He led Tulsa's attack his freshman year with team-bests of nine goals and 20 points, and bettered that his sophomore season with team-highs of 13 goals and 32 points. He also added a team-best eight assists his senior year. To this day, Bui has the fifth-most points (86) and seventh-most goals (33) in program history. Bui was inducted into TU's Hall of Fame in 2013.

Memory 1: Walter Schnoor was the first men’s soccer coach at Tulsa (1980-85). He had 72 players try out for the 18-man roster. Coach Schnoor said “basically we have a walk-on team”. He took those walk-ons into the first-ever contest as the Golden Hurricane took on #3 SMU, and TU fell, 9-1, on Sept. 6, 1980. Schnoor went on to coach for six seasons and led TU to a 62-39-8 overall record.

53369 — 1980 Men's Soccer Team - Tulsa's First Team