Men's Soccer--Week in Review (Cameron Cook, University Register)
9/17/2009
After starting the season with a dismal record of 1-2 against non-conference opponents the University of Minnesota Morris men’s soccer team was looking to rebound on the road against the University of St. Thomas and later their first Upper Midwestern Athletic Conference (UMAC) opponent Presentation College. During the first three games of the season the Cougars won or lost by a one goal margin, and during both losses the fatal goal came late in the match.
Hoping to change their fate and eliminate late game mistakes the Cougars took the field against St. Thomas on September 9 in Saint Paul. Old habits die-hard as the Cougars fell to the Tommies 1-2 in overtime, their second overtime loss in four games. The loss was extremely disheartening due to the Cougars, out shooting their opponent’s 16-8 only to not convert when it mattered. Tyler Simpson (Jr., Broomfield, CO) started the game for the Cougars making four saves while allowing two goals during the match. Through the first half of play the match was scoreless but things soon heated up with two goals within eleven minutes of the start of the second half. The Tommies struck first with a goal at 54:43 coming off a header by St. Thomas player Reid Moser-Bliel which was set up by a free kick and assist by Angel Riera. Responding seven minutes later Toby Glaser (So., Colorado Springs, CO) scored for the Cougars tying the game Glaser was assisted by Mahad Abdi (Fr., Maplewood, MN). Regular time expired without any additional scoring as the two teams vied for dominance. After 92 minutes of play the match was finally decided when Tommies striker Mike Hutton scored the game winning goal, his third of the season.
The Cougars have suffered several close calls thus far into the season and the most current loss to St. Thomas was a particularly tough pill to swallow. Simpson’s play in net wasn’t perfect but he gave the team an excellent chance to win, which was not capitalized on by the offense. Lacking offensive support Simpson fell to a 1-1 record for the season. In the Cougars’ next match against Presentation College, their first UMAC opponent, Tyler Weber (So., Erie, CO) was given the start at goal in hopes of rebounding from another tough loss to a non-conference opponent.
In their first conference match of the year the Cougars traveled to Aberdeen, South Dakota on September 15 to take on Presentation College. Starting the season with a 1-3 record for a team accustomed to winning has built up substantial frustration for the team. Each match has been a fierce contest of wills with only one goal separating the winner and loser. Meanwhile the Cougars have decimated their opponents in shot totals while yielding little in the goal column. The winds finally shifted however as the Cougars blew away their opponents in an offensive wave that ended with Morris defeating their first UMAC opponent 3-0.
The early part of the match was evenly matched until Patrick O’Connor (Sr., Ham Lake, MN) was brought down in the box at 16:22 and blasted home his penalty shot breaking the tie and giving the Cougars a 1-0 lead, which they would not relinquish. Both defenses held as the first half ended with no additional scoring for either team leaving the Cougars to contemplate what they needed to achieve in the second half. After losing several matches due to late game goals by their opponents the Cougars were eager to clamp down on their opponents. The Cougars came out roaring in the second half scoring two goals in twenty minutes. The first came at 49:22 when Kelsey Duerr (Sr., Spring Lake Park, MN) launched the ball past the opposing keeper to give the Cougars a 2-0 lead. Following the second Cougar goal, midfielder Mattson Towley (Jr., Alexandria, MN), launched the final goal putting the match out of reach for their opponents at 62:31 in the second half. Weber would take care of the rest as he cemented his shutout and improved his record to 1-2 while making two saves.
Morris’s victory over Presentation College will be the standard for the rest of their season as the Cougars look to climb out of their hole and dominate the conference. Overall the Cougars are 2-3, while 1-0 in their conference. The next two games for the Cougars are against conference opponents, at Bethany Lutheran on September 18 and Martin Luther on September 19, Morris will hope to ride its offensive wave and move to 3-0 in conference play.
