July 6, 2016
Grove City inducting two into Soccer Hall of Fame
GROVE CITY, Pa. -- Grove City College will induct two men into its Men’s Soccer Hall of Fame during Homecoming Weekend October 1. Lance Sabados '91 and Mike Koper '04 comprise the 16th class of inductees. Their induction brings the total number of inductees to 40.
Sabados earned four letters from 1987 to 1990 while playing forward, center midfielder and stopper for Grove City. He earned First Team All-Presidents' Athletic Conference honors in each of his final three seasons. Sabados also earned First Team All-Western Pennsylvania Intercollegiate Soccer Conference (WPISC) in 1989 and 1990 after earning Second Team All-WPISC as a sophomore. He earned the team's Bill Buchanan Most Valuable Player award as a senior captain in 1990.
Sabados concluded his career fifth all-time at Grove City with 27 goals and 59 points. He led the team in scoring in each of his final three seasons.
In 2015, the Presidents' Athletic Conference named Sabados to its 60th Anniversary Team.
Koper started all four seasons at defender for Grove City from 2000 to 2003. He earned First Team All-PAC in his final two seasons after being a Second Team All-PAC selection in 2001. Koper earned the team's Junior of the Year award in 2002 and then received the Bill Buchanan MVP award as a senior. Koper also earned Third Team NSCAA All-Region honors following the 2003 season.
In his freshman season, Koper helped Grove City to a 2-0 win at eventual national champion Messiah. The next year, he helped Grove City to a 13-7-1 overall record, including a 7-1 conference mark. The Wolverines qualified for the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III South Tournament in 2001.
Koper earned placement on the PAC's 60th Anniversary Team in 2015.
Grove City established its Men’s Soccer Hall of Fame in 2001. The honorees will be introduced and recognized before the annual Hall of Fame Game October 1, which features alumni against current varsity players.