Cougar Athletics
30 NAIA National Championships
95 GSAC Championships
...and counting

THIS YEAR: Senior Ryan Cheek is 1 of 5 returning starters, providing starting experience in the wide midfield ... Is a true left-footed player who provides good service ... Has good size and uses it to his advantage as a hard tackler ... Plays with great pace and energy ... Should battle for a starting midfield spot as he regains his fitness after returning from last year's season-ending leg injury.

2007 (Junior): Was a key contributor as a starting wide midfielder before suffering a season-ending injury in Azusa Pacific's 1-1 draw at Point Loma Nazarene that snapped the Cougars' program-record 14-game season-opening win streak ... Started in 13 of the 14 games in which he appeared ... Still finished third on the team in assists with 5 ... Had a career-high 2 assists in a 4-2 win over Cal State San Marcos ... Delivered the cross that resulted in Sven Simon's "golden goal" in a double-overtime 1-0 win over Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) ... Tallied assists in back-to-back GSAC victories over California Baptist and Biola.

2006 (Sophomore): Was a key reserve for the NAIA runner-up Cougars, appearing in 22 games ... Tallied 1 goal and 1 assist in back-to-back games midway through GSAC play ... Assisted a goal in a 4-0 win over The Master's, then scored 1 of Azusa Pacific's 8 goals in a shutout win over San Diego Christian.

2005 (Freshman): Appeared in 17 contests during his initial campaign ... Made 6 starts ... Had 1 assist, a cross from the left side to the head of Andriy Budnyy, who scored just 35 seconds into overtime to lift the Cougars a 2-1 win over Graceland (Iowa) in Azusa Pacific's NAIA Tournament-opening victory ... Was part of a defense that had 9 shutouts.

HIGH SCHOOL: Prepped at Jesuit High in Portland, Ore., where he played under head coach Dave Nicolas ... Helped lead the Crusaders to back-to-back Metro League titles in 2003-04 ... As a senior, finished second on the team with 13 goals.

PERSONAL: Son of Craig and Sue Cheek ... Has 2 brothers, Taylor and Austin ... Graduated with his bachelor's in business administration in the spring and is currently in Azusa Pacific's MBA program ... Would like to work for Nike or Hurley ... Enjoys snowboarding, wakeboarding, and movies.

THIS YEAR: Goalkeeper James Crawford enters his senior campaign with 2 full years of starting experience, not to mention 290 career NAIA national championship minutes ... Has good size and organizes the defense well ... A proven performer in the clutch, starting 17 straight Azusa Pacific postseason contests and posting 6 of his 20 shutouts in the playoffs.

2007 (Junior): Started 19 contests and played every postseason minute in goal during Azusa Pacific's NAIA championship run ... Posted 10 shutouts, including back-to-back cleansheets in the NAIA semifinals and finals ... Registered a GSAC-best 0.58 goals against average, just off the Cougar single-season GAA record of 0.53 ... Collected 12 saves in 4 straight shutout victories, part of a scoreless streak that spanned over 503 consecutive minutes ... Had a career-high 7 saves in a 1-1 tie against Point Loma Nazarene, keeping Azusa Pacific's first-ever unbeaten regular season intact.

2006 (Sophomore): Started 20 of the Cougars' 24 games, registering a 0.75 goals against average with 7 shutouts ... Ranked third in the GSAC in goals against average in conference play (0.79), despite missing a game and a half of action against the conference’s 10th- and 11th-place teams ... After giving up 2 goals in 4 of his first 6 games of the season, recorded 5 shutouts and never allowed more than 1 goal in any game the rest of the campaign ... In the longest NAIA Tournament game ever decided by shootout (10 rounds), stopped back-to-back penalty kicks to set up a shootout victory in the Cougars' tourney opener against Lee (Tenn.) ... Endured another 10-round shootout in the Cougars' 1-0 defeat to Graceland (Iowa) in the NAIA title game ... Finished the NAIA Tournament with over 213 consecutive shutout minutes prior to the title game shootout ... Posted back-to-back playoff shutouts over Point Loma Nazarene and Westmont, then made 4 saves in a 2-1 overtime win over Vanguard in the NAIA Region II Championship game.

2005 (Freshman): Became a critical component to the Cougars' run to the national title game after starting keeper Morgan Cathey was injured ... Appeared in 8 games which included 7 starts ... Had 18 saves and a 0.93 goals against average ... Was in goal as the starter in the NAIA Region II championship as well as throughout the NAIA Tournament ... Had 3 shutouts including a 4-0 blanking of Hastings (Neb.) to put the Cougars into the national championship match ... Blanked the first 2 opponents he started against beating Hope International (4-0) and San Diego Christian (7-0).

HIGH SCHOOL: Played 3 varsity seasons at Torrey Pines High in San Diego, Calif., for head coach Andy Hargreaves ... Had a spectacular senior campaign where he allowed just 2 goals during his team’s run to the CIF Division I San Diego Section championship ... Was selected All-Palomar League first team ... Named All-CIF second team as well as all-county and CalHighSports.com All-State.

PERSONAL: Born May 11, 1987, in San Diego, Calif. to Jim and Linda Crawford ... Has 2 brothers (Brian, Daniel) and 1 sister (Kristen) ... Was a member of the California Scholarship Federation with a 3.7 grade point average ... Majoring in political science ... Likes skiing and the beach.

THIS YEAR: Senior defender Beau Hayden has started 3 straight national title games and will be expected to return to a standout Azusa Pacific defense as a starting outside back ... Serves a good ball ... Combines intelligence, toughness and athleticism to provide veteran leadership to the back line.

2007 (Junior): Started 19 games as an outside back for a standout Azusa Pacific defense that set school single-season records for lowest goals-against average (0.49) and most shutouts (14) ... Earned GSAC Scholar Athlete recognition ... Recorded a 9-point season, scoring his first 2 career goals and ranking third on the team with 5 assists ... Scored the game-winner for his first career goal in a 3-1 GSAC win over The Master's ... Assisted 2 of Steven Lenhart's 4 goals in the Cougars' 4-0 win over Concordia, which was ranked No. 1 in the NAIA at the time ... Scored the equalizer late in the first half of a 2-1 win over Vanguard that completed the only unbeaten regular season campaign in Azusa Pacific history ... Provided the game-winning assist in the 63rd minute of the Cougars' 3-1 NAIA quarterfinal win over Fresno Pacific, serving a cross headed in by Lenhart to snap a 1-1 tie.

2006 (Sophomore): Started 9 of the 15 games in which he appeared ... Played in all 4 of the Cougars' NAIA Tournament contests and started the final 3 games ... Registered his only point of the year when he set up an insurance goal in a 3-1 win over Northwood (Fla.) in the NAIA Tournament quarterfinals ... In the NAIA title game, converted the ninth penalty-kick attempt following 3 straight Cougar misses to take a brief 6-5 lead in the shootout before Graceland made 2 straight to claim the NAIA crown.

2005 (Freshman): In his first season in a Cougar uniform appeared in 17 games which included 13 starts ... Recorded 2 assists ... Assisted on a goal in the 73rd minute by Sven Simon that knotted the score against Mobile (Ala.) 1-1, a game the Cougars went on to win ... Had his second assist in the NAIA Region II title game victory over Concordia ... Took 3 shots.

HIGH SCHOOL: Was a Kansas Soccer Coaches Association (KSCA) Class 6A All-State honoree as a senior at Wichita Northwest High ... That same year led his team to a 19-1-1 record and a runner-up finish in the state tournament ... Was a 2-time all-state first team selection in addition to twice being placed on the all-region team ... As a senior had 30 points (9 goals and 12 assists).

PERSONAL: Born Oct. 10, 1985, in Wichita, Kan., to J. David and Marla Hayden ... Has 3 sisters ... Majoring in youth ministry and business ... Was his high school valedictorian ... Enjoys snowboarding, trips to the lake, and golf.

THIS YEAR: Senior Jared Karkas is Azusa Pacific's most experienced returnee and is one of the top left backs in the nation ... Has started all 3 seasons entering his senior campaign and has the most collegiate game experience on the Cougar roster ... Has a dangerous left foot to go with his size and terrific speed ... Provides a reliable target in the box and is great going forward.

2007 (Junior): Was the only Azusa Pacific player to start all 22 contests during the Cougars' 2007 NAIA title run, anchoring a defense that posted program single-season records of 14 shutouts and a 0.49 goals-against average ... Was 1 of 6 Cougars to be accorded All-GSAC recognition ... Registered 15 points, scoring 2 goals and notching a team-high 11 assists ... Posted a 7-point weekend, scoring 1 goal and assisting 5 more in season-opening wins over Northwestern (Iowa) and Dominican at Westmont's Heritage Club Classic ... Scored on a spectacular 20-yard strike from a sharp angle with less than 7 minutes left to force overtime in an eventual 3-2 win over Westmont ... Assisted 2 of Steven Lenhart's 4 goals in the Cougars' 4-0 win over Concordia, which was ranked No. 1 in the NAIA at the time ... Provided the assist on Mike Wilson's insurance goal in Azusa Pacific's 3-1 NAIA quarterfinal victory over Fresno Pacific.

2006 (Sophomore): Started all but 3 games for the NAIA runner-up Cougars, appearing in a total of 22 games ... Registered a pair of assists on the year ... Was named NAIA All-Tournament for his standout play in 4 games ... Made the seventh of Azusa Pacific's 8 straight penalty kicks in the Cougars' eventual shootout victory after an NAIA Tournament-opening 1-1 draw with Lee (Tenn.) ... Helped the Cougar defense hold opponents to just 3 goals in 4 NAIA Tournament contests that included a pair of overtime games.

2005 (Freshman): Started the first 14 games of his freshman campaign before being derailed by a late season knee injury ... Bounced back to appear in the semifinals and final of the national tournament ... Provided quality defense throughout the season as the Cougars’ posted 9 shutouts ... Scored the Cougars' final goal in a 4-0 win over Hastings (Neb.) in the national semifinals.

HIGH SCHOOL: Played 2 varsity seasons at Upland High under head coach Dave Condino ... Was a 2-time All-Baseline League first team pick ... Had a terrific senior campaign leading Upland to the Baseline League championship ... Added a team most valuable player honor to a collection that included 2 team defensive player of the year awards ... Captained the Arsenal Premiere club in 2003-04 ... Twice participated in the Dallas Cup (2003 finalist).

PERSONAL: Born Aug. 7, 1986, in Redwood City, Calif., to George and Marina Karkas ... Has 1 brother (Jordan) ... Majoring in business ... Wants to work for a professional sports team or run his own business.

THIS YEAR: Senior defender Mike Pertz is the tallest player for a physically imposing Azusa Pacific squad that features 16 players who stand 6 feet or taller ... Characterized as a vocal player and a good organizer ... Will likely see an expanded role in the central defense and may press for a starting spot.

2007 (Junior): Appeared in 6 games for the Cougars, starting 3 times ... Played in 5 of Azusa Pacific’s single-season program-record 14 shutouts.

MT. VERNON NAZARENE (Freshman & Sophomore): Played 2 seasons at Mount Vernon Nazarene (Ohio), a member of the NAIA's American Mideast Conference ... Played in all of Mount Vernon Nazarene's 37 matches over the past 2 seasons ... Assisted 1 goal and put 6 shots on goal as a 2006 sophomore ... Named All-AMC South Division honorable mention as a 2005 freshman after helping the Cougars post an 11-5-3 campaign.

AKRON (Redshirt): Redshirted the 2004 season while practicing with the team at NCAA Division I Akron.

HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, where he played 3 varsity seasons for head coach Jason Spodnik ... Was a 2-time all-district first team defender for the Royals.

PERSONAL: Born Dec. 11, 1986, in Akron, Ohio, to Linda Pertz ... Has 1 sister (Andrea) ... Majoring in communication.

THIS YEAR: Senior defender Thomas Ryan is a seasoned collegiate veteran who gives added depth to the Cougar defense ... Works hard and is a strong competitor ... Is expected to see time at outside back.

2007 (Junior): Appeared in 5 contests, all Azusa Pacific shutout victories ... Started twice in games won by the Cougars by a combined 9-0 score.

LINFIELD (Freshman & Sophomore): Played in 33 games over 2 seasons (2005-06) for NCAA Division III Linfield College in McMinnville, Ore. ... Started 15 of 17 games as a 2006 sophomore, registering 2 assists.

HIGH SCHOOL: Played 4 varsity seasons for head coaches Terry Hancock and Nathan Daniels at Sprague High in Salem, Ore. ... Was a 3-time All-Valley League selection, earning honorable mention as a 2003 sophomore before picking up first team honors his final 2 seasons ... Was a member of the Oregon State Olympic Development Program tournament team.

PERSONAL: Born April 23, 1987, in Salem, Ore., to Mike and Debby Ryan ... Has 2 sisters (Mikayla, Heather) ... Majoring in business with an emphasis in economics.