Centre College 3 - Austin College 2 OT

There was obviously a lot leading up to this game with the Susan G. Komen event. Our team did a fantastic job of raising money for this tremendous cause (much in part thanks to you!). On the night, both programs raised $5,300 for Susan G. Komen for the Cure, with Austin College raising $3,800 of that. Demolishing Centre in the fundraising contest. The teams willingness to get out and raise awareness on Breast Cancer and the event was incredible. In addition, all who donated were so kind and generous. What a great cause.

After our game at DePauw in Friday night, we bused part of the way south and finished out the trip on Saturday morning, arriving at Centre around noon. We walked the game field for a few minutes and then, due to the rain, headed to their practice facility for a light stretch. Obviously I am a Centre grad and it was also Homecoming at Centre so it made for a special day. There was a lot of buzz on campus and the team did a fantastic job of staying focused on our task...beating Centre.

After the kick-around we checked into our hotel and then went to my parents house for our pregame meal. They so willingly invited 20 guys over for the meal, which I was so pleased they did. Much better then a restaurant meal. In addition, it allowed me to introduce the team to Allison and Bing Walter and Allie Walter. Allison and Bing are the parents of Elizabeth Walter whom our donations were being presented to Susan G. Komen in memory of. Elizabeth, as I have mentioned, passed away last winter of breast cancer and was a close family friend. Her daughter, Allie, was also there so I wanted the guys to meet the family members of Elizabeth. We took a team picture with Allie on my parents front porch. Allie is behind the plant in the middle of the picture.

In addition, I had a good friend come to speak to the boys about enjoying the entire experience of playing with close friends and having no regrets. Jason Kinser and I go way back and, despite being a Centre grad as well, was certainly cheering for the Roo's tonight.

After the meal we headed to the hotel to change and then loaded up to head to campus. We warmed-up on another field and then headed down to the game field just prior to kick-off.

The game got started in a hurry, as Centre attacks and does so with numbers. They came right at us but, different then the previous night, we sorted out our assignments and handled it very well from the start. Senior Ryan Bielefeldt (San Antonio, TX) who has settled in at center back, did a great job of keeping things organized. His outside backs Frank Abene (Grapevine) and Grant Gibson (Clinton, MS) were sharp as well. It would be Austin College that would strike first as senior Austin Newman (Austin, TX) would take a through ball from Miles Vaughn (Grapevine) and chip an onrushing Centre goalkeeper to put AC up 1-0 14 minutes in. Centre would equalize just over ten minutes later and then go up 2-1 on a PK with less than a minute to play in the half. AC would go into the half down 2-1.

At the break, we made a few adjustments to what we wanted to do offensively and to what we needed to do to fix a few things defensively. From there, the boys went into the second half head on and came to play. Centre definitely had the better end of the attack, but we had some great opportunities and put them under at times. Still down 2-1 with 12 minutes to play, we began to push an extra attacker up top and for the last 5 minutes of the game, had Centre on their heels. Freshman Garrett Evans (Duncanville, TX) would take a feed from Senior John Martinez (Grapevine) and finish with just over 2 minutes to play for the equalizer. AC would continue to press to finish things out and the game would head to OT tied at 2-2.

At the break I told the boys that we were going to win or lose this game...we went going to pack things in. We stayed with three up top and wanted to go right at them. We did and moved the ball around very well the first part of OT. However 5 minutes in a scrum in our 18 would lead to a Centre goal that would end the game with AC on the losing end, 3-2. An extremely tough loss for all of us as we played with so much heart and emotion it hurt. Things haven't fallen our way this fall, but efforts like that make me so proud of these boys. It is this character and passion that was missing to start the season. We have it now, and we won't lose that. I promise.

On a final note, I have to discuss how the game played out. As a former Centre player and coach, it was extremely surreal at times to watch/coach the game from a vantage point I have never experienced. It was special to be back and I was extremely proud with how the boys have played over the past few weekends, and certainly on Saturday night. I'm pleased to be coaching at Austin College. Finally, it should be noted who scored Centre's game-winning goal. Robbie Crump is the son of Sue Hauck who's Centre's donations were present in memory of. Sue passed away in August and knowing Robbie for the past four years, and considering the events of the evening, if someone had to score a game-winning goal against us, I'm pleased it was him. Truly a storybook ending, and a night I won't ever forget.

Thanks for every one's support. We look to take on Rhodes and Hendrix this weekend, and finish the season on a high note.

DePauw University 2 - Austin College 1

We traveled to Indianapolis, IN on Thursday afternoon, arriving at the airport around 7:00pm. We then headed to the hotel, checked in, and then went to grab a bite to eat. This was going to be one of the toughest weekends this season in terms of travel and competition. Our Colorado trip was tough, but this was going to involve two nationally ranked teams, back to back.

We go up on Friday morning and went to a local park for a light kick-around and stretch. There was an FFA convention and hotels were hard to come by, so we stayed about 45 minutes away from the school. That afternoon we went to a local mall to walk around and eat our pregame meal. We then headed to campus for our 5:30pm kick-off.

The game started in a hurry, with DePauw having the better run of things right away. DePauw does a fantastic job with their interchange of their midfielders, and despite knowing about it, caused us problems to start. Just over three minutes in they would score as we just didn't sort things out soon enough. The guys didn't let this affect their mindset and immediately following we settled in and began to play. Our defensive unit on the night was fantastic coming off the goal and really organized and dealt with DePauw's attack. It is not a straight forward attack, and involves good communication, which we had. One of our problems this fall has been our willingness to attack with a purpose; get forward in numbers and go to goal. We didn't have that issue tonight and did a good job of getting behind DePauw's back line. Junior Miles Vaughn (Grapevine, TX) and John Martinez (Grapevine) ran the show in the midfield and did a good job of sorting out the transitions.

The score would remain DU 1-0 at the break.

The second half would continue much of the same and both sides would create some very good opportunities. Nearly 20 minutes into the half, Senior Lance Frank (Dallas, TX) was taken down around 25 yards out. Lance has really come on over the past few weeks and has created a spark for us up top. With the free kick, John Martinez, Austin Newman (Austin, TX), and Nathan Spradlin (Rockwall, TX) were on the ball and Nate would step-up and hit a fantastic free kick into the upper right corner for the game-tying goal. Nate has been a huge catalyst for our end of the season emergence of our quality of play, and tonight he kept that going.

For the next 15-20 minutes, the game was back and forth, as both teams pushed to get the go-ahead goal. Unfortunately for us, DePauw would find it with 5 minutes to play as a ball got through on the backside and was tuck in by a DU player. We then moved to 3 up top, and had a couple close chances, but the game would end with Austin College going down 2-1. Another tough loss.

A couple bright spots from the loss...the boys have continued to push themselves and work to improve, despite the record. This is a true testament of their character and would make a huge difference the next night. In addition, freshman Garrett Evans was extremely solid on the night and has poised himself to do good things in the future.

Austin College vs. Centre (For Susan G. Komen)

As part of our fundraising efforts to benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure, our team set-up a table outside the dining hall. In addition, 3 players for the team partnered with members of the women's soccer team and dressed in drag in order to help the cause.

Thus far the donations have been fantastic...we appreciate every one's support as we try and beat Centre and support a wonderful cause.

Senior Day

On Sunday prior to our kick-off against Oglethorpe University, we honored our six seniors. Each have had an impact on this program in one form or another and will be deeply missed next fall.

Midfielder John Martinez

Defender Ryan Bielefeldt

Midfielder Austin Newman

Midfielder Nathan Spradlin

Defender Frank Abene

Forward Lance Frank

Austin College 2 - Oglethorpe 1 (FINALLY!)

Wow, it feels good to write this one. The posts (as you can probably tell) have been getting difficult to write. The boys have hung in and have continued to do everything I have asked of them. We have had our moments, however things have not fallen our way. Today was different...we brought something I have been searching for all year. A resiliency, a desire, to do everything it takes to get it done. This alone will create what is necessary. And it did.

Playing on what was an extremely windy day, one team would have to play completely against the wind, or with it to your backs. OU won the toss and chose to go with the wind to start the game. No problem.

We can out and, in a hurry, created some very good chances. On what was senior day (more on that next post), Austin Newman came out shooting and was clearly our most dangerous player in the first half. Newman, who amassed 8 shots on the day, missed by inches on several chances, and the score remained 0-0 early. However in the 17th minute, Oglethorpe would get off an incredible shot from 25 yards out, and with the wind to their back, buried a bomb into the upper left corner...a good goal no doubt. And put us in familiar territory...down 1-0 early. Regardless, we pressed and created a back and forth game to finish the first half. Still down 1-0.

At the half we decided to make a few changes and went with 3 up top. With the wind to our backs, we wanted to hammer their back line and create as many chances we could. It worked. We would out shoot OU 23-5 in the second half and notch the win. In the 72nd minute, Tommy Haney would hit a 40 yard ball that carried over Oglethorpe's goalkeeper and notch the game at 1-1. Then just over 10 minutes later, in the 82nd minute, senior Nathan Spradlin would take a weak side ball from fellow senior John Martinez and finish far-post for the eventual game winner. I solid finish when we needed it. AC would hold on to finish and get the win, 2-1.

This has been a difficult fall for all of us. However the boys have hung in, and never given up. As I have mentioned, we will fight every time and will go into everything expected one thing...to win.

We were able to take a deep breath today, and it felt good. We move on now, and face two solid opponents in DePauw and Centre. DePauw has been in and out of the national rankings all fall, and Centre currently sits at 25 in the country. We look forward to the challenge.

Thanks to all who made the tailgate (and brought food!) on Sunday. Always good to see everyone. Thanks to David Norman for setting that all up. David, your support is appreciated.