We flew out of DFW to Atlanta on Thursday morning after a very positive week of practice. This was an important week for us, as we knew how important it would be to end the season on a high note. Once we arrived in Atlanta we went directly to Oglethorpe's campus for a light practice session and to get acquainted with the field. After this we checked into our hotel, went out for dinner, and then turned in early after a long day of travel.
Our kick-off for Friday with OU was scheduled 12:30EST. OU has had a bit of a down year due to some injuries throughout the fall, however they are a well coached team and we knew this would not be an easy game. It wasn't. Our mindset for the week after the Rhodes game, was to battle tooth and nail for everything...back to our blue collar work ethic. That didn't happen in the first half. OU came out in a hurry, high pressured everything, and we didn't match that. OU would control the possession the entire first half, and we never attempted to settle things on our end. This has been our issue all fall. OU would strike first in the 29th minute, and then score two more in the next 10 minutes to go up 3-0. Senior Miles Vaughn (Grapevine, TX) would keep us from being shut-out in the first half scoring off an assist from freshman Robert Lamilla (Coppell, TX). We would be down 3-1 at the half...and a man down. Junior Grant Gibson (Clinton, MS) would be shown a straight red with 9 seconds to play when the official determined he took a man down going to goal.
Our halftime talk was reminiscent of several others we have had this year. I won't give details, but I wasn't pleased. We came out to start the second 45 much better and controlled much of the possession, despite being a man down. We had several good opportunities to add to the score, but didn't finish our chances. OU would capitalize on our numbers late in the half, to end the game 4-1. Not how we wanted to do it. I give OU credit, they did what they needed to do, and would end their season with another upset on Sunday beating Colorado College 3-1. We now had to travel to Sewanee for an early match on Sunday morning.
We left Atlanta on Saturday after getting a good meal on Friday night at the Cheesecake Factory. It was about a two and a half hour bus ride to Sewanee, which sits on a mountain outside of Chattanooga, TN. It was beautiful that time of year, with the leaves changing. We checked into our hotel and then went to campus for a light practice, had a good meal that night, and then in early as our game on Sunday was scheduled for 10am. This had to be done so both our game and the women's game could be played and ensure that we make it to Nashville to catch our flight home.
Sunday morning we had the boys meet in a pavilion by the hotel for a light breakfast...bagels, bananas, etc. Too early of a game for a heavier breakfast. We then headed to campus.
Our game started in a flurry, with neither team wanting to concede anything to start. Both programs were battling for an 8th place finish in conference, and to end the season on a good note. AC did control much of the possession in the first half and having the edge on shots as well. Despite that, we would go into the half tied at 0-0.
To start the half, we pressed to get a goal early, and we did. Junior captain Alex Dawson (Spring, TX), would find freshmen Luis Castillo (Kingwood, TX) for his team leading 7th goal of the season and the eventual game winner. Sewanee would definitely put us on our heels at times, but the boys played like we have wanted all year, pure blue collar, and conceded nothing to finish. This would be freshmen GK Grant Gosselin's (Phoenix, TX) 4th shutout for the year, and the teams 5th. A great way to finish, getting 3 points on the road, and ensuring our 8th place finish in conference.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Austin College 3 - 5 Rhodes
Yes, we scored 3 goals and lost. Very disappointing way to finish up at home, but we battled. Rhodes is a quality team with some strong players.
Our defense was caught taking a break on a cross, only 5 minutes into the game. We were down 1-0. It was back and forth until Grant Gibson (Clinton, MS) assisted Jason Replogle (Denton, TX) for his first collegiate goal in the 29th minute. Replogle had great composure in front of the goal, settling the ball down and keeping his shot low and on target. Despite some great, open opportunities inside the box, we were unable to score and put them away. Rhodes capitalized and put 2 goals away, both on crosses, before the end of the first half. 3-1 half time.
Miles Vaughn (Grapevine, TX) continued to be "Mr. Consistent" for us, assisting freshman Luis Castillo (Kingwood, TX) for a great goal early in the second half. Castillo showed great technical touch and chipped the GK from the corner of the box. Miles has been awesome for us all year in midfield, and Luis has shown his strengths in midfield and up top. Castillo found the back of the net shortly after his goal, but it was called back for a very controversial offside call. We had 3 goals called back for offside during the game. Very Questionable offside calls.
Our defense was lacking again after the offside call, and they scored off another cross with a header. 4-2. Garrett Evans (Red Oak, TX) when Alex Dawson (Spring, TX) assisted him. 4-3. Yet, our defensive effort was not there again, and Rhodes scored 2 minutes later. 5-3.
We were very disappointed with the result of the game. We should never score 3 goals and lose a game by 2. With a little more defensive effort, things could have been different. But we will look at the positives and see that we scored 3 goals, and should have scored more. We are creating good chances, now we just have to gain composure and finish under pressure.
We will be flying into Atlanta on Thursday to play Oglethorpe on Friday. Thanks for supporting us at home this season, wish us luck on the road next weekend. Go Roos!
Our defense was caught taking a break on a cross, only 5 minutes into the game. We were down 1-0. It was back and forth until Grant Gibson (Clinton, MS) assisted Jason Replogle (Denton, TX) for his first collegiate goal in the 29th minute. Replogle had great composure in front of the goal, settling the ball down and keeping his shot low and on target. Despite some great, open opportunities inside the box, we were unable to score and put them away. Rhodes capitalized and put 2 goals away, both on crosses, before the end of the first half. 3-1 half time.
Miles Vaughn (Grapevine, TX) continued to be "Mr. Consistent" for us, assisting freshman Luis Castillo (Kingwood, TX) for a great goal early in the second half. Castillo showed great technical touch and chipped the GK from the corner of the box. Miles has been awesome for us all year in midfield, and Luis has shown his strengths in midfield and up top. Castillo found the back of the net shortly after his goal, but it was called back for a very controversial offside call. We had 3 goals called back for offside during the game. Very Questionable offside calls.
Our defense was lacking again after the offside call, and they scored off another cross with a header. 4-2. Garrett Evans (Red Oak, TX) when Alex Dawson (Spring, TX) assisted him. 4-3. Yet, our defensive effort was not there again, and Rhodes scored 2 minutes later. 5-3.
We were very disappointed with the result of the game. We should never score 3 goals and lose a game by 2. With a little more defensive effort, things could have been different. But we will look at the positives and see that we scored 3 goals, and should have scored more. We are creating good chances, now we just have to gain composure and finish under pressure.
We will be flying into Atlanta on Thursday to play Oglethorpe on Friday. Thanks for supporting us at home this season, wish us luck on the road next weekend. Go Roos!
Austin College 2 - 0 Hendrix
All week we focused on finishing the season strong and getting results. We realize we're playing for pride and ourselves, as a young program with a new direction.
We had a great win Friday against a pretty good Hendrix team. We knew they would come out and play us hard. We opened up the first 30 minutes with control of the game. We were going against a strong wind, but Miles Vaughn (Grapevine, TX) was able to control the midfield and keep the ball moving on the ground for us. We had several good opportunities, creating chances with dynamic runs along the defensive line. Chris Stein (Allen, TX) and Alex Dawson (Spring, TX) got the double assist after a cross was sent into the box and ended up on the foot of Garrett Evans (Red Oak, TX). Evans took a great touch to settle and blasted it past the GK.
Newcomer Jason Campbell (Kingston, Jamaica) and freshman Michael Sumrow (Weatherford, TX) came in and contributed good minutes up top, and continued our play at a high level. We went into half-time up 1-0.
Hendrix came out harder in the second half. Grant Gosselin (Phoenix, AZ) was big in goal and kept the shut out. Our defense had to earn the shut out. After saving a goal by clearing the ball off the line on a corner, we finally woke up and got into the game. We found the net again when Evans went on a breakaway and waited for Stein back post. Stein came through and tucked it home for the dagger.
It was a great win for us, and we wanted it to give us momentum for our game on Sunday against Rhodes.
We had a great win Friday against a pretty good Hendrix team. We knew they would come out and play us hard. We opened up the first 30 minutes with control of the game. We were going against a strong wind, but Miles Vaughn (Grapevine, TX) was able to control the midfield and keep the ball moving on the ground for us. We had several good opportunities, creating chances with dynamic runs along the defensive line. Chris Stein (Allen, TX) and Alex Dawson (Spring, TX) got the double assist after a cross was sent into the box and ended up on the foot of Garrett Evans (Red Oak, TX). Evans took a great touch to settle and blasted it past the GK.
Newcomer Jason Campbell (Kingston, Jamaica) and freshman Michael Sumrow (Weatherford, TX) came in and contributed good minutes up top, and continued our play at a high level. We went into half-time up 1-0.
Hendrix came out harder in the second half. Grant Gosselin (Phoenix, AZ) was big in goal and kept the shut out. Our defense had to earn the shut out. After saving a goal by clearing the ball off the line on a corner, we finally woke up and got into the game. We found the net again when Evans went on a breakaway and waited for Stein back post. Stein came through and tucked it home for the dagger.
It was a great win for us, and we wanted it to give us momentum for our game on Sunday against Rhodes.
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