Soccer heads to nationals

By Patrick Williams
Special to the 'Nique
photo courtesy of Patrick Williams

When most people think of club sports at Tech, most people think of baseball, lacrosse, or crew. But the men's soccer club has once again proved its status as a powerhouse in club sports. For the second year in a row the team has made it to the NCSA National Championships in Tempe, Arizona. The team advanced to the national championship tourney last year to lose in the quarterfinals to Michigan. Having lost only one starting player from last year's team, the club looks to use its experience to their advantage at this year's national tournament.

The season was a brief one with eight games over four weeks. The club was able to handle the smaller teams such as Tennessee Tech and Middle Tennessee State University as well as the tougher teams like Auburn and Alabama. With a record of 6-0-2, the club received a birth to the regional final four in Meridian, Mississippi.

The Jacket team came into the final four as second in the bracket, which meant that they had to face the first place team of the opposite bracket, Mississippi State. The Bulldogs had gone to the national championship last year alongside Tech, but was eliminated in the semifinals.

After regulation in this regional grudge match, the score was tied 1-1 by a goal from junior Matt Pombo. In the first overtime period, senior Scott Camp left the Mississippi State defense in his dust and shot a rocket at the net that the MSU goalkeeper could all but blink at. The team charged the field and celebrated their Regional victory by yelling their patented chant.

This year at Nationals, the team looks to improve by playing better in their bracket games to receive a better berth in the elimination rounds. The team prides itself on their solid defense and the speed of its front line. However, when at the level of the Nationals, all teams have incredible speed and skill; intelligence and stamina enter in to become deciding factors in some of the most these tense matches.

The team had a hard week of practice this week and has put in a lot of running to prepare for the tough competition ahead.

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