Rhodes Athletic Hall of Fame
The 1994 men’s soccer team was the first in program history to advance to the NCAA Tournament, while the 1993 team was the first in the program’s history to be regionally ranked and the first team to travel and compete abroad.
“The ’93 team was best known for their grit, determination, and toughness, which was rewarded with the only single-loss season in Rhodes men’s soccer history,” says former head coach Andy Marcinko. “The ’94 team added to this with a level of skill that quickly took the team to the next level to become one of the best teams in the country.”
The 1993 squad began the year in the Czech Republic and completed an 11-1-4 season, which included a 5-0-1 conference record and Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Championship. Nine Lynx earned all-conference honors, including Hall of Famer Neil Brunetz, who was tabbed SCAC Co-Player of the Year as a freshman after scoring 15 goals. Head coach Andy Marcinko was named SCAC Coach of the Year.
The 1994 team went 15-5-1 and 5-2 in the SCAC and was ranked as high as 14th nationally, the first nationally ranked team in program history. That team also had nine All-SCAC honorees, with Brunetz again earning conference Player of the Year honors. With their trip to the NCAA Tournament, the Lynx sparked four NCAA appearances in five years.
These two teams instilled a newfound drive and determination in the Rhodes men’s soccer program, which propelled the team to national prominence for the next decade. Their will to work hard for themselves and for each other not only brought success to the program, but also to each member as they moved on in life after Rhodes, living those life lessons that brought them success in their personal, family, and professional lives.
In recognition for establishing honored traditions and setting the tone for national success on the field, we are honored to induct the 1993 and 1994 men’s soccer teams into the Rhodes College Athletic Hall of Fame this 15th day of November, 2019.
