First round looms
Bill Welt
Issue date: 11/14/08 Section: Sports
The Leathernecks soccer team will travel to Rochester, Mich. to face UMKC in the first round of The Summit League Tournament.
Western Illinois (12-4-3, 3-2-1) clinched the No. 2 seed in The Summit League Tournament after defeating Oral Roberts 2-0 last Saturday. Only the top four teams in the conference are invited to compete in the conference tournament.
UMKC (9-6-2, 3-3) is the No. 3 seed after losing their last two matches on the road to Centenary, 2-1, and Oakland, 2-1.
The 'Necks defeated UMKC in double-overtime 1-0 at home on Oct. 11. Head coach Dr. Eric Johnson expects a similar match from their last meeting this Friday.
"It's one and done time now," Johnson said. "We have to play UMKC, and having won the (Oct. 11) game, that gives us a little confidence that if we play well, we can get the game."
If Western defeats UMKC for the second time this season, the 'Necks will face the winner of the Oakland/IUPUI match on Sunday. Oakland is the No.1 seed in the tournament and defending Summit League champions. The 'Necks have lost to both IUPUI and Oakland on the road during the regular season.
"This is the time of year you've played for, practiced for and trained all summer for," Johnson said. "It's the exciting part of college soccer. The guys are pretty excited about traveling and get the chance to compete in the NCAA tournament."
Johnson said he hopes his team will continue to improve offensively as his squad's defense has led the way throughout the season. The 'Necks boast one of the best defenses in the conference.
"A good defense wins championships," Johnson said. "Hopefully, our defense will come through again like it had done on Saturday. It gives us confidence that we can shut out UMKC if we all pull together, play well, and communicate to stay organized."
The 'Necks have struggled to score more than one goal in most of their games this season. Western has only scored more than one goal in six of 19 games this season.
"If you look at our games and our schedule when we've scored two (goals), we've done really well," Johnson said. "It'll be difficult to finish those chances versus UMKC."
The match versus UMKC is slated to begin at 1 p.m. today in Rochester, Mich. If Western defeats UMKC, it will face the winner of Oakland/IUPUI for The Summit League Championship Sunday at 11 a.m.
Western Illinois (12-4-3, 3-2-1) clinched the No. 2 seed in The Summit League Tournament after defeating Oral Roberts 2-0 last Saturday. Only the top four teams in the conference are invited to compete in the conference tournament.
UMKC (9-6-2, 3-3) is the No. 3 seed after losing their last two matches on the road to Centenary, 2-1, and Oakland, 2-1.
The 'Necks defeated UMKC in double-overtime 1-0 at home on Oct. 11. Head coach Dr. Eric Johnson expects a similar match from their last meeting this Friday.
"It's one and done time now," Johnson said. "We have to play UMKC, and having won the (Oct. 11) game, that gives us a little confidence that if we play well, we can get the game."
If Western defeats UMKC for the second time this season, the 'Necks will face the winner of the Oakland/IUPUI match on Sunday. Oakland is the No.1 seed in the tournament and defending Summit League champions. The 'Necks have lost to both IUPUI and Oakland on the road during the regular season.
"This is the time of year you've played for, practiced for and trained all summer for," Johnson said. "It's the exciting part of college soccer. The guys are pretty excited about traveling and get the chance to compete in the NCAA tournament."
Johnson said he hopes his team will continue to improve offensively as his squad's defense has led the way throughout the season. The 'Necks boast one of the best defenses in the conference.
"A good defense wins championships," Johnson said. "Hopefully, our defense will come through again like it had done on Saturday. It gives us confidence that we can shut out UMKC if we all pull together, play well, and communicate to stay organized."
The 'Necks have struggled to score more than one goal in most of their games this season. Western has only scored more than one goal in six of 19 games this season.
"If you look at our games and our schedule when we've scored two (goals), we've done really well," Johnson said. "It'll be difficult to finish those chances versus UMKC."
The match versus UMKC is slated to begin at 1 p.m. today in Rochester, Mich. If Western defeats UMKC, it will face the winner of Oakland/IUPUI for The Summit League Championship Sunday at 11 a.m.
Be the first to comment on this story