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Box Score 2 When Jamie Peterson, who has begun his 12th season as head coach of the men's soccer program, took the position, OKWU men's soccer wasn't a national power.
But through hard work, dedication to building a culture and improving expectations, the Eagles find themselves ranked #2 nationally to start the 2021 season and in contention for a national championship.
On Saturday, the Eagles opened their season against #24 Rio Grande at the Baker Labor Day Classic. The Eagles won 3-2, powered by goals from Stefan Lukic, Luka Lukic, and Lucas Mauro. It was an excellent start to the season and a personal milestone for Coach Peterson – his 200th win as the leader of the Eagles.
"200 wins is an accomplishment that means I have been blessed with a lot of great talent and incredible assistant coaches over the years," Peterson said. He gave special mention to Stevan Djukic, assistant coach for the program.
"Stevan deserves recognition. He has been with me since I started, and we wouldn't have the success we do without him," Peterson said.
Under Peterson's leadership, the Eagles have risen to national prominence. They made their way to the National Championship game last season, coming up just short of winning the title. They've advanced to 10 straight NAIA National Tournaments and have climbed to #1 in the rankings multiple times.
Peterson points to some early success as moments that propelled the program to new heights. During his second season, the team clinched the conference championship in the last 30 seconds of the match to advance to their first NAIA National Tournament.
In 2013, a victory over Embry Riddle (Ariz.) in the first round of the National Tournament gave the Eagles a spot at the final site for the first time in program history. They would advance all the way to the quarterfinals that year, which Peterson believes was proof that their program belonged with the best in the country.
Peterson is quick to give credit to his players. "200 wins is really an accomplishment for the players," he said. "They're the ones who play the games!"
All told, Peterson has coached 80 All-Conference players and 31 All-Americans. Eight of his players have won Conference Player of the Year, and in 2019 he coached the National Player of the Year.
Peterson also credits OKWU basketball coach Donnie Bostwick, a mentor of his and one of the most successful collegiate coaches in the country.
"Coach Bostwick showed me the framework of what it looks like to run a successful college program," he said. "I didn't try to reinvent the wheel."
Kirk Kelley, athletic director at OKWU, praised Peterson for this accomplishment.
"OKWU Soccer is at an elite level nationally because of his leadership," Kelley said. "He is a great coach and a humble man, so it is great seeing guys like him have such success."
But neither Peterson nor this year's group of Eagles is looking backward for very long. The 2021 Eagles return an experienced group and face a tough schedule as they prepare themselves for another run at a national championship.
The Eagles face Corban University on September 6 before opening their home schedule on September 11 against Baker University. They will begin their conference schedule on September 18 in a home game against Kansas Wesleyan.
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