Wheaton coach Giuliano getting Final Four sendoff

The Wheaton Thunder men's soccer team has a chance to send its coach out with a bang. The Thunder will play Friday in the NCAA Division III semifinals against SUNY Oneonta.

Last spring coach Michael Giuliano announced this would be his last year with the team. His team answered with its most successeful season since 2006. Wheaton (21-3) will play SUNY Oneonta (21-0-2) for the first time ever at 11 a.m. in Kansas City, Missouri.

If the Thunder manages a win Friday, it will have a quick turnaround and play the winner of the other semi-final between Tufts and Ohio Wesleyan on Saturday for the national championship. Because of its busy schedule, the team left for Kansas City early Wednesday morning.

This will be the first time the Wheaton team leaves the comfort of its home stadium during this playoff run. To get to the semifinals the Thunder beat Wisconsin-Whitewater, Wartburg and Trinity all at home by a combined 10-1 score. Similarly, SUNY Oneonta has won all of its games at home by a combined 7-1 score.

This is the first time Wheaton has reached the national semifinals under Giuliano and its sixth appearance ever. With two more victories it would be national champion for only the third time and first time since 1997.

After the new year, Giuliano will leave for Greater Atlanta Christian School in Norcross, Georgia. During his time as coach, Wheaton has won five CCIW titles, including this year's. He also has won three CCIW coach of the year awards.

Jake DeClute, a Wheaton College and Wheaton Warrenville South alumnus, has been announced as Giuliano's successor.

Benedictine:

The football season might have ended, but Benedictine's Rodney Nichols isn't done playing the game. Nichols was invited to play the National Bowl, a postseason all-star game.

The game is the only one that focuses on Division II, Division III and NAIA players. The all-stars will play in front of representatives from the NFL, Arena Football League and Canadian Football League. This will be the fifth annual playing of the game.

Nichols was a two-year starter at cornerback for the Eagles. This year Nichols was named to the all-NACC second team after totaling 47 tackles and 4 interceptions. Nichols returned one of those interceptions for a 54-yard touchdown.

The game will be played Sunday in Miami. Nichols will play for the Blue Team coached by Brian Ferguson of the Jacksonville Sharks in the AFL.