A national champion, the first team to earn a bid to an NCAA Division II championship and the player who scored the most goals in a career for men’s soccer are the 2018 Saints Hall of Fame honorees. The ceremony was held during Homecoming festivities.

BY JONG CAMBRON

2011–2012 WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM
The 2012 Women’s Basketball team became the first Maryville squad to win a conference championship and also be selected as one of the 64 teams to participate in the NCAA Division II March Madness.

Abby Duethman, ‘12, who was named the 2012 Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Player of the Year, was a key player on the team.

“I’ve been on a lot of teams and I think the 2011–2012 Maryville team was the best,” says Duethman. “It was because of my teammates—that’s ultimately why we were so successful. Our camaraderie, our friendship and just how well we worked together was amazing.”

The 2011–2012 season was the first year Maryville was able to compete in the GLVC postseason, after moving to Division II earlier that year. The team carried a 15-11 record into the conference tournament before reeling off four-straight wins to claim the school’s first conference championship.

“Everything just started clicking right at the perfect time, and we just rolled through that conference tournament. It was insane,” says Shelby Miller, ‘15, who played as a freshman guard.

MATTHEW BAKER, ‘13
Matthew Baker, ‘13, was the first Saint to be crowned a national champ when he claimed the wrestling title in the 197-pound class in 2013. He went 40-1 during the season and was twice named All-American during his career at Maryville.

“Right from the get-go I decided my mantra was, ‘Enjoy the year, enjoy the journey and leave no stone unturned,’” says Baker of his senior year. “I had one more opportunity, and I wanted to do everything I could to make sure that I got the best result.”

Baker, who transferred to Maryville after starting at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, was also selected for the 2012 GLVC Sportsmanship award and named Maryville’s 2013 Male Student-Athlete of the Year.

PACIAL DAMKAM, ‘97
Pacial Damkam, ‘97, had a prolific soccer career at Maryville, finishing as the program’s all-time leader in goals scored with 61 and points leader with 136. He also owns the record for most goals scored in a season with 22 in 1994. And he holds the record for most goals scored in a game, which he accomplished twice.

“We had an outstanding team that year,” says Damkam of the 1994 season. “Along the way we set many records, school records and individual records.”

The team finished 18-4-0, setting a new record for most victories in a season. It also captured the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament titles.

Damkam was named to the All-Conference team three times and was named Maryville’s Male Student-Athlete of the Year for the 1991–1992 season.

After receiving their awards, 2018 Saints Hall of Famers pose with Lonnie Folks, ’82, ’98, director of athletics and recreation. Featured are Matthew Baker, ’13, (left); past women’s basketball coach Chris Ellis, Kaitlin Childs, ’13, ’14, and Abby Duethman, ’12 (center) and Pacial Damkan, ’97, (right).