Oglethorpe 4 - AC 1/ AC 1 - Sewanee 0

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.