Soccer earns bid to NCAA playoffs
Men's soccer snags 8th straight SCAC title, whiles women's soccer heads to nationals
Ashley Funkhouser
Issue date: 11/6/09 Section: Sports
Never before in Trinity's history has the men's soccer team won the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) Championship eight times in a row until the 2009 season.
Over the weekend, the men triumphed over the SCAC with wins against Oglethorpe University (Ga.) 3-0, and Sewanee: the University of the South (Tenn.) 8-0.
The conference title will guarantee the Tigers a spot in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) playoffs and a chance to contend for the national championship.
This No. 5 nationally ranked team is enthusiastic about their chances at winning.
"In previous years, I think we've peaked too early, but I don't think this team has peaked yet," said Head Coach Paul McGinlay. "I think that our best soccer might still be ahead of us."
One thing that has apparently come together this weekend for the Tigers is their ability to score goals. In previous matches, the team has had trouble putting the ball in the back of the net, especially early on in the game, as the men have won several matches in overtime.
"Our ability to shoot with confidence got a lot better over the weekend," said midfielder Clay Middleton, junior, who put three goals on the board for the Tigers over the course of the weekend.
Just because the team enjoyed a huge amount of success doesn't mean that it is not still focusing on the basics. Defensive strategy will still be a major priority going into the games against Hendrix College (Ark.) and Rhodes College (Tenn.) this weekend.
"We don't take for granted that giving up no goals means that we have to forget about defending," McGinlay said. "Sometimes, winning can mask your deficiencies. Complacency is the last hurdle for any successful team. One thing is for sure-never at any time has this team been complacent."
Another thing that the team will be working on during its last conference matches is its intensity from start to finish.
"We're really starting to play with a sense of urgency in every play," said captain and defender Alan Llobet, senior. "We're seeing every attack as a chance to score, and every time we play defense as a possibility to concede a goal."
Over the weekend, the men triumphed over the SCAC with wins against Oglethorpe University (Ga.) 3-0, and Sewanee: the University of the South (Tenn.) 8-0.
The conference title will guarantee the Tigers a spot in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) playoffs and a chance to contend for the national championship.
This No. 5 nationally ranked team is enthusiastic about their chances at winning.
"In previous years, I think we've peaked too early, but I don't think this team has peaked yet," said Head Coach Paul McGinlay. "I think that our best soccer might still be ahead of us."
One thing that has apparently come together this weekend for the Tigers is their ability to score goals. In previous matches, the team has had trouble putting the ball in the back of the net, especially early on in the game, as the men have won several matches in overtime.
"Our ability to shoot with confidence got a lot better over the weekend," said midfielder Clay Middleton, junior, who put three goals on the board for the Tigers over the course of the weekend.
Just because the team enjoyed a huge amount of success doesn't mean that it is not still focusing on the basics. Defensive strategy will still be a major priority going into the games against Hendrix College (Ark.) and Rhodes College (Tenn.) this weekend.
"We don't take for granted that giving up no goals means that we have to forget about defending," McGinlay said. "Sometimes, winning can mask your deficiencies. Complacency is the last hurdle for any successful team. One thing is for sure-never at any time has this team been complacent."
Another thing that the team will be working on during its last conference matches is its intensity from start to finish.
"We're really starting to play with a sense of urgency in every play," said captain and defender Alan Llobet, senior. "We're seeing every attack as a chance to score, and every time we play defense as a possibility to concede a goal."
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