Soccer wins key games
Tyler Madsen
Issue date: 10/27/05 Section: Sports
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Last season, the squad entered a match against Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville sitting just on the verge of the top three in the Great Lakes region and needing a win to give themselves a chance to make the postseason.
They lost 2-1.
This time around, again sitting on the outside looking in, the team rose to the occasion and knocked off then-No. 11 Rockhurst University (Mo.) by a score of 1-0 in front of 350 eager Rockhurst fans. The win greatly improved the 'Dogs' chance to make the postseason as Rockhurst was ranked second in the region entering the match.
With the win, the 'Dogs jumped from fourth to second in the regional poll, announced by the NCAA on Tuesday afternoon.
Senior forward Sean Birrell tallied the only Bulldog goal in the 75th minute off an assist by senior midfielder Martin Clayes.
"Our attack is very tough right now between Gaudreault, Sean [Birrell] and Lars [Pottgeisser] up front, and [Clayes is] having a great season in the new system we're in," head coach Duke Cochran said. "He can find the ball and do what he wants with it. Right now, our attack's very good, and our defense is shutting teams down."
Junior goalkeeper Nate Gibson and the defense pitched another shutout, as the last goal they allowed was Sept. 30 against Northern Kentucky University.
The rivalry between the 'Dogs and Rockhurst has escalated during the previous years, and that showed on the field Sunday as the teams combined for 46 fouls and five yellow cards.
The purple and white outshot the Hawks 8-4, with five of the Bulldogs' shots coming on goal, while only three shots were on goal for the home team.
"The intensity of our team right now is good across the board," Cochran said. "The depth of the team is one of its strengths this season, which is a tribute to them. They all feel a part of this, and everyone does what they can to make sure that we're there at the end."