January 3, 2000 - Klein's Bearkats Kick off the 2000 Season in a Scrimmage with the Bearkat Alumni Monday night at Kleb Field with a 3-2 loss.

A big crowd of supporters for the Kats and the Alumni always attend this annual event. This was the 14th Annual Alumni Game and having it on a Monday night was a concern for attendance. The Alumni Game is a big tradition at Klein. The Alumni players look forward to the much-anticipated match and 32 players & boosters took to the sidelines.

In the past the Varsity scored wins in 1998 & 1999 and until those wins the Alumni had scored 6 consecutive wins. The Alums needed to log a win in their column this year. With the traditional fanfare and introductions the match was under way. The air of excitement and anticipation in the large crowdhad a feel that this was more than a scrimmage. There were bragging rights at stake here.

The Varsity Kats put their '99 State Championship team on the field to match up with an impressive roster of Alumni players most of which are playing or recently played Division I College Soccer. The Alumni's 1996 Klein Star and University of Kentucky Senior Lee Baker scored the Alums 1st goal early in the match from a nice through ball from 1998 Klein Grad and TCU Sophomore Davis Bland. The Varsity Bearkats took their high powered offense to the Alumni Keeper Jimmy Brehm, 1991 Klein and Texas Tech Grad, but missed several good scoring chances wide of the net. Brehm's play was outstanding in Goal stuffing the Kats chances to even out the score.

Midway through the 1st half 1999 ex-Kat star and National Team player Chris Goos netted the 2nd Alumni goal unassisted. Goos fired a 25 yard rocket into the upper 90 over the outstretched arm of Klein's Senior Keeper Martin Hutton. An impressive sight everyone recalls from his Varsity play at Klein.

Late in the 1st half Goos again broke free at the 20 yard line to receive the perfect deep corner cut back ball to the center from 1998 Klein Grad and Penn State Sophomore Ricky Galdamez. On a one touch shot through 3 defenders Goos got the ball under Keeper Hutton this time to the lower left corner. It was a scene reminiscent of Klein offensive punch in 1997, '98 and '99.

Coach Baker and the Varsity returned in the 2nd half the match determined to even up the score and apply pressure on the Alums wherever they could. Early in the 2nd half the Bearkats Sophomore Forward #21 Shane Bonin picked up a lazy ball and took it to goal. He ripped a hard shot passed Alumni Keeper Brehm to get the Kats back into the match.

The defense stiffened at both ends with tremendous foot saves from Alums Chad Smith, Junior at Midwestern State and Chris Peirce Senior at UNC Charlotte. The Kats Top Gun in the middle Senior Forward #13 Jason Ryan broke into the open through the Alumni defense and took advantage of the scoring opportunity pushing the ball passed Brehm for the Kats 2nd goal.

The Kats played most of the final 5 or 6 minutes in front of the Alumni goal with numerous shots and headers from Senior Forward Ricky Lewis and Junior Forward Myron Davis. Senior Midfielder Jesse Shulse had several good opportunities to even up the score.

It was a true test for the Kats and possibly the toughest team they will see all season. They played hard, never gave up and mounted a stunning come back loosing by only 1 goal. We're looking forward to another exciting Bearkat Season.

Danny Baker, Lee Baker, Adrian Baquero, Rob Banzhaf, Bubba Beyer, Nathan Brandimarte, Cory Carr, Jason Cooper, Jason Countryman, Issiah Davis, Josh Fairbanks, Ryan Fennell, Sean Fitzpatrick, Seth Gould, Trey Halberdier, Troy Hemeyer, Matt Hubbard, Brooks Humphreys, Jeremy Key, Richie Lemon, Mark Lewis, Charlie Osburn, Chris Peirce, Alton Perry, J.R. Pouncey, Bill Rose, Steve Seay, Ryan Smith, Andy Stoebner, Brian Twellman, Rob Wagner, Chris Williams, Pat Williams, David Wiley

Danny Baker, Cory Carr, Billy Rose, Clay Jones, Barry Straub, Ryan Fennell, Lee Baker, Scot Mury, Brian Twellman, Danny Warren, Brooks Humphreys, Chris Garrett, Robert Shane, Andy Stoebner, Prebin Skaug, Rob Wagner, Adrian Baquero, Nathan Brandimarte, Rob Banzhaf, Albert Baquero, Jason Cooper, Troy Hemeyer, Matt Hubbard, Pat Williams, Justin Gould, Mark Lewis, Randy Arasin, Jason Countryman, Keith Carlson, Trey Halberdier, Ryan Smith, Jason Clark, Henery Dummer, Steve Seay, Richie Lemon, Scott Neuberger, Chris Bierman, Michael Bierman.
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We need your help locating some of the Soccer Bearkats for the Alumni Update. If you know "Where They Are Now" please E-Mail me at rickc@bearkatsoccer.com with their address, phone number or have them contact me via E-Mail.

Thank You,
Rick Carr