WEEKEND NOTES

Austin College is set to break ground on an new academic building, The IDEA Center, that is being built where the old tennis complex used to be. This will affect access to the soccer facility for our last 3 games. A release was sent out today by Austin College describing this impact:

...spectators should now use the gate located at the northwest corner of the soccer field on Richards Street or the gate located on the west side of the field directly behind the baseball stadium on Porter Street.

It should be noted that persons should use parking areas and not park on streets designated as “No Parking” areas. Parking areas are available to the east of the Russell Tennis Complex and also north of Abell Library, in addition to areas on the south and southeast parts of campus.

Colorado College Game Update

Our game with Colorado College that was cancelled last weekend due to severe weather will NOT be made up. It was originally rescheduled for this Friday October 29, however due to several circumstances that game will not be played.

Game against Colorado Rescheduled

Due to severe weather in the area, the Roo's game against Colorado College has been tentatively rescheduled for Friday October 29 at 4:00pm. The game will still be played in Sherman. More info to follow...

Melton Named SCAC Player of the Week

Austin College junior men’s soccer player Chris Melton has been named the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week for matches played from Monday, October 11 through Sunday, October 17.

Melton, a junior forward from Sherman, scored three goals over the weekend as the ‘Roos split with DePauw and Centre, notching one tally against the Tigers before scoring twice in the first half, including the game winner, against the Colonels. Melton has now scored a team-best nine goals this season. He is the second Austin College player to earn the honor this season.

AC 3 - Centre 1 - KOMEN GAME IV

Austin College and Centre have since 2007 played this game to benefit Susan G Komen for the Cure. This year, both teams combined to raise over $5,000 with money still coming in for the cause. A wonderful event and a special day.

The weather and atmosphere for the game was perfect and with the boys decked out in their pink Nike kits, it was a great day to play. The energy would be there from the start as AC took advantage of Centre coming off the second leg of what is a tough trip in SCAC play. From the get-go, AC made Centre work for every opportunity and limited any real attack that they tried to create. This was a great thing to see as we have not been on our game to begin with on several occassions this fall.

It would only take 11 minutes into the game for AC to notch one on the scoreboard as junior Chris Melton(Sherman, TX) took a feed from senior Jason Campbell(Kingston, Jamaica) and finished for his second goal of the weekend. This would be the spark that we needed as our pressure and possession on grew from there. Centre, who came into the game as one of the better offensive teams in the SCAC, could not get any real chances to equalize. AC took advantage of having the better of possesion and Melton would continue his scoring ways with a beautiful header in the 36th minute off a service from fellow junior Chris Stein(Allen, TX) to take the lead to 2-0. This is how the first half would, AC leading 2-0.

The second half would start with Centre wanting to make a push and having a bit better of the possession. However AC would manage this very well and remain calm in the circumstance where Centre did not. This would sway in AC's favor as senior defender Conrad Osborn(St. Louis, MO) would take a feed from Campbell on the swing about 35 out and hit a bomb that carried over Centre's keeper to extend the lead to 3-0. An amazing strike that took any wind out of Centre's sails and allowed AC to play with a bit more composure the remainder of the way. Centre would begin to press in the final 12 minutes and get one to make it 3-1, but it would get no closer as AC got a well earned 3 points in conference and ended Centre's chances at going undefeated in SCAC play.

As good of a group effort as we have had all season and now we have to carry that over to Homecoming with a visiting Colorado College side here on Saturday. They currently are ranked just ahead in SCAC standings so this is an important game to keep improving our finish in conference play.

Thanks to all who supported both teams in giving towards Susan G Komen as well as those that were there for the game.

GO ROOS!

AC 2 - DePauw 3

After what was a difficult trip to south Texas the weekend prior, the group came into this weekend looking to redeem themselves. This would have to be done against the top two teams in the SCAC, however. No small feat.

DePauw came into the game on Friday ranked #14 in the country and sitting atop the SCAC standings. They had only conceded 3 goals all year and were one of the best defenses in the nation.

The game would be very back and forth from the start as they play a very direct style of play. However AC would do a good job of settling and staying patient with DU's attack. This would crumble just under 5 minutes in as AC would do what they had all year, and spot the opposition a goal early. 1-0 DU. As it always has, this would be a spark for this group and would begin to possess and put pressure on DePauw's very organized and stingy defense. Junior Chris Melton(Sherman, TX) would break through in the 29th minute off a service from senior Jason Campbell(Kingston, Jamaica). Melton would settle his first touch just near the near post and turn to hit a strike by DU's keeper to notch the game at 1-1. It would be Melton's team tying 8th goal of the season. This would open things up as both sides would push for the go-ahead goal before half with both recording 5 shots before the break.

The second half would see the Roo's return the favor on the early goal when freshman Joey Alcocer(Galveston, TX) would put his corner kick service directly in just past the near post for his 3rd goal of the season, his second from a set-piece. 2-1 AC with 40 to play.

This is where things would get difficult for the Roo's as would not be able to settle and control the lead. We are not very good when we play on our heals and we would not be able to get things to go our way. DU would notch the equalizer in the 70th minute and the ultimate game-winner just 1:55 later. DU would hold on for a 3-2win.

While there are many positives from the game, our defensive issues have hindered us all year and they are more mental than anything. If we can get a hold of what we need to do on the defensive end, things will certainly go our way.

We would now have to move on to the team ranked second in the SCAC, Centre College for the KOMEN GAME IV.

MOVING FORWARD

AC continues with its season as we are set to host DePauw University on Friday at 2:00pm and Centre College on Sunday at 2:00pm in the KOMEN GAME IV. Both teams come to Sherman at the top of the standings in the SCAC and both with unblemished records in SCAC play.

DePauw comes in with an 11-1-1 record and has only conceded 3 goals all year. A defensive power, DU will test AC's ability to finish on Friday. Centre will first play Colorado College on Friday in Colorado Springs, and then move on to Sherman for the game on Sunday. As of now, Centre is 10-2-1 and has scored 29 goals while conceding only 9. Centre will be a major test of AC defensively, as we currently sit near the bottom of the conference in goals against.

In addition to the SCAC match-up on Sunday, it is also the fourth installment of our game to benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure. KOMEN GAME IV continues Austin and Centre's battle to raise money for the Cure. Both teams have combined to raise just over $20,000 in three years. Should you like to donate, please contact Coach Hudson at mhudson@austincollege.edu or 903-813-2412. Help us beat Centre and benefit an amazing cause! Finally, all fans attending the game are encouraged to wear pink. The Austin College team will be in special pink uniforms for the game.

GO 'ROOS!!

KOMEN GAME IV

Below is the release from AC on our game with Centre to benefit Susan G Komen for the cure. If you would be interested in donating, please send me an email at mhudson@austincollege.edu.


Austin College and Centre College Team Up with Komen Foundation

SHERMAN, Texas – When the Austin College men’s soccer team takes the field against Centre College on October 17, the ’Roos and Colonels will write the next chapter in a burgeoning rivalry within the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference. Unlike most rivalries, however, this one did not grow out of on-field competition, but through a united effort to raise awareness of breast cancer in conjunction with Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

In 2007, Mark Hudson was named the head coach at Austin College after having played and served as an assistant coach at Centre. He and Centre coach Jeb Burch decided to have a friendly wager that year in support of a tremendous cause when their teams took the field for their annual conference matchup.

During the summer of that year, rising Centre senior Robby Crump’s mother Sue Hauck was fighting breast cancer. Sadly, she lost her life to the disease as the team reported to preseason camp that August. Hudson shared a similar experience, as longtime family friend Elizabeth Walter also lost her life to breast cancer in 2007.

With the two coaches and friends having seen firsthand the tragedy of breast cancer, they decided to join forces with Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Susan G. Komen for the Cure is the largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists working together to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for al, and energize science to find the cures for breast cancer.

“Breast cancer is a disease that will affect each of my players, directly or indirectly, in their lifetimes,” said Hudson. “This is a cause that is very easy for us to get behind and one of the more important events the team takes part in. Add the friendly competition with Centre and it really makes for a special event.”

The inaugural Komen Game between Austin College and Centre took place on October 27, 2007, in Danville, Kentucky, with the two teams raising more than $5,700 for the Komen Foundation in the names of Hauck and Walter. The game itself provided an incredible Hollywood-ending, as Crump, who had never scored a goal in his career, hit the golden goal five minutes into overtime.

The following season Komen Game II came to Sherman, where the teams again combined to raise more than $5,200 for the Komen Foundation. The Colonels went on to win the match 1-0. Last season, the two teams returned to Danville for Komen Game III, with Centre again winning 3-1. Most importantly, however, the ’Roos and Colonels combined to raise an incredible $9,200 for breast cancer awareness.

This season Komen Game IV comes to Sherman at 2 p.m. on October 17, and once again the two teams will engage in a friendly competition to see which side can raise the most money for breast cancer research. As part of the event, the ’Roos will be wearing pink uniforms and all who attend are encouraged to wear pink in support of Susan G. Komen for the Cure and Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which lasts the entire month of October.

AC 0 - Oglethorpe University 3

This was simply, not our day. OU came with it, and we could not match on the day. While the OT game on Friday could have played a small part, we, plain and simple, got beat by a well organized and technical OU team. Not many bright spots for hte 'Roos on the day.

We now move forward to another tough road trip with Southwestern on Friday and Trinity on Sunday.

AC 2 - Sewanee 2

We travelled to Nashville, TN and then on to Sewanee on Thursday, staying just south of the mountain in Kimball. The boys were excited to get away and were looking forwar to what would be two tough road trips. It is hard to win on the road in this conference.

We got a light session in on Friday morning on Sewanee's campus and took the team to an overlook just up from the soccer field. Always a good photo opportunity.

The game would take place at 7pm on Friday evening with a what was a great family weekend crowd. We love that type of atmosphere. The game would begin in a hurry and both teams would try and settle the play to their advantage. I felt that we did a good job initially of this this and had some opportunities early to get the early goal. It would be Sewanee however that would get on the board first off a rebound from a free kick that Grant Gossellin(Pheonix, AZ) nearly got a tip on. However, again, we would concede the first goal and have to play out of the hole. Junior Chris Melton(Sherman, TX) would get us level with a free kick of his own that he sent over the wall and into the top left corner. A great strike that would get us back in the game.

The second half began as the first did with both teams creating opportunities. AC started to control the match midway through the half with Senior Jason Campbell(Kingston, Jamaica) doing a great job of creating from his forward position. He would draw a second yellow on a Sewanee defender and AC would be able to play a man up the remainder of the game. It would be Sewanee however that would take advantage of this and would actually captilize with just under 10 minutes to play.

AC would regroup and again begin to press, with Melton again getting the tying goal off a feed from Senior Conrad Osborn(St. Louis, MO) to get the game to 2-2. Both teams pressed well in the extra times with Gosselin having to make a big save and AC hitting the crossbar. However it would end with a draw.

While we certainly wanted and expected the 3 points on the road, we would settle with a point in what is a tough place to play. Still undefeated after 3 games of conference play.

Now would would have to move on to Atlanta and face a tough Oglethorpe team at their place. Another tough task