Austin College 1 - Sewanee 2

I apologize for the delay...

We came into this game feeling great after what was a solid week of practice. The previous weekend was tough, taking two difficult losses. However these boys have been resilient and have (and won't) pack their bags. We came out in a hurry and pounced on Sewanee from the start.

Sewanee has posted some good wins and we knew this was going to be a good game. AC would get on the board first. Following a foul 25 yards out, Nate Spradlin would drill a free kick that would rebound off the crossbar and to the top of the six. Fellow senior Lance Frank would head the ball back on frame where it was knocked down by a Sewanee defender for a handball and a PK. Spradlin stepped up and put AC up 1-0.

This would be the score through the rest of the first half.

The second half saw Sewanee come out with a bit more attack and put us under a bit. However we continued to respond and had some good opportunities ourselves. Sewanee would tie the game off a long ball service and a bit of lackadaisical marking on our part. Sewanee would then get the go ahead goal off a misplayed cross with just over 20 minutes to play. We picked up our attack, as Sewanee bunkered in, however despite out shooting Sewanee in the second half, wouldn't be able to find the net and the game would end with Sewanee up 2-1.

A tough game. All year we have not created much luck on our end and have had moments of lazy marking in our defensive 1/3, and teams have taken advantage. If we cleared that up, some of these games might be completely different. It is the reality though, and we drop another close one. We move onto play Oglethorpe on Sunday.

A Special Event

In association with National Breast Cancer Awareness month and the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation, our game against Centre College on October 27 will be played to benefit the Komen Foundation. Leading up to the game, both programs will be raising money to benefit this cause. Austin College and Centre College will compete to see who can raise the most money.

Prior to the game, a ceremony will take place in which all funds collected will be presented to the Komen Foundation by the two programs and in the names of two special women.

Elizabeth Walter is a close family friend of mine who, at the age of 35, lost her battle to Breast Cancer last winter. Sue Crump is the mother of a current Centre player who lost her battle in August. Both were amazing women and an inspiration to all who knew them. It is important to know that even as young men, we are all affected by this disease one way or another.

In addition, both teams will wear pink armbands in recognition of these two women and all women who have and will battle this disease.

Should you like more information, please don't hesitate to get in touch. My office number is 903-813-2412 or you can email me at mhudson@austincollege.edu.

Thanks again for all the support.

Mark

Trinity University 6 - Austin College 0

Trinity came into this game with a perfect 11-0 record and a number 1 national ranking. They have been the watermark in the SCAC for the past 6-7 years and have one of the strongest teams in recent memory this fall. We knew this was going to be a big test for us.

Trinity would score 10 minutes in and follow that up with another to go up 2-0 at the break. Despite the situation, we felt good and wanted to try and press them a bit to start the second period. We did create a couple of our better chances to start, but TU was too much on the day and the game would finish 6-0.

I give TU all the credit, they are an exceptional team and, if they make it out of this conference, will be a sure favorite to win the national championship. They possess better then I have seen them in the past and their ball movement in the final 1/3 is outstanding. I will never accept a 6-0 loss, however TU was heads above us today.

Southwestern 5, Austin College 0

First, I apologize with the LONG break without any posts. With our off weekend and some other things going on...I got a bit side tracked. I promise to be a bit better as we head into the last 3 weeks of the season.

After what was a much needed and well-timed "off" weekend, we can into the Southwestern game feeling refreshed and ready to go. We had one of our better weeks of training this fall and our attitude was exceptional. As with every game, we felt good about our chances.

The game started out well with Austin doing a good job of sticking to our system and creating some opportunities offensively. This was a major focus for us over the past two weeks. In addition, our defensive organization looked good. Southwestern, who typically in the past has played a bit more of a defensive formation, has been more on the attacking end this fall, and it has done them well. They have several players that are capable of creating chances for themselves, and their teammates.

Unfortunately in a matter of less than two minutes, about 26 minutes into the first half, AC would concede two goals and be looking at a 2-0 hole. Despite a let down over that time, we would rebound and play a much better half to finish things out.

At the break, we discussed our options of getting back in this game, and came out much stronger offensively to start. Austin Newman would prove to be a bit more effective going forward and Lance Frank would have one of this better games this. Things wouldn't go AC's way, however, as we would fall behind 3-0 just 10 minutes in and we would never regain our footing. SU would score two more to finish things out and AC would fall be a score of 5-0.

As I told the boys after the game...we have no choice but to keep our heads up and give things another go. We have struggled, no doubt, however we will not pack our bags.

Last Weekend

Last weekend we travelled to Birmingham, AL for a Friday night game against Birmingham-Southern. We flew into Birmingham late Thursday night, got up Friday morning and went to the field for a light training session. Following this, we had lunch and then a pregame meal around 4:30pm. Game time was set for 8:00, so we had to endure a long day in the hotel and the local mall.

We knew Birmingham was going to be a very capable team, and they were. Since they are in transition from Division I, they have some very capable players. The game started off extremely fast, with Austin College dodging a couple bullets early. However about 5 minutes into the game we looked to settle in and were defending and attacking very well. In the 24th minute, Austin Newman would put us on the board first off a counter attack. Austin would receive the ball on the flank, get around his defender, and slot a near post ball past BSC's keeper. A great goal on Austin's part, and something we have been waiting to see all fall.

However just over a minute and a half later, BSC would level the score to make it 1-1. A tough goal to concede. Matt Dickinson, who played a great game in goal, saved a great first shot, however couldn't cover the rebound and BSC would put in the opportunity. The first half would be much of the same. BSC pushes forward in numbers and we would counter on them, and did so very well.

At the break we discussed some slight changes to what we were doing defensively and how we would attack them offensively.

The second half saw us on our heels much more than we needed, however we had trouble settling offensively and getting things under our control. We played tremendous team defense in the game tonight, and they really showed in the second half. The score would remain 1-1 at the end of regulation. We didn't make many adjustments defensively at the break, but rather talked about how we were going to attack.

The score remained 1-1 through the first OT and then less than a minute into the second OT, a foul in the box would have Matt facing his first PK on the season. A tough call...it may have been a foul(soft), but I have trouble with the official (again) determining the game. BSC would convert and we would lose our third OT game this fall. Tough.

The boys played how Bryan and I have been preaching and expecting all year. They never let in, matched them stride for stride, and converted when our opportunity came. Unfortunately, like it has all year, things fell to the other side. Regardless, I was proud of the boys.

We then travelled to Jackson, MS on Saturday for a Sunday game against Millsaps College. Millsaps is a well coached, resilient team that works hard for each other. No excuses...we didn't match that on Sunday and would drop the game, 1-3.

Consistency on the season has been our issue. Bringing what we are capable of one game, while bringing maybe 60% the next. That can't happen, especially with us getting into the meat of conference play. We have this coming weekend off, which will be good for us I believe. We then turn around and play the other Texas SCAC teams next weekend in Trinity and Southwestern.