2008 Woodie Awards
Men's soccer remains atop PSAC standings with win
By Travis Pickens
Issue date: 10/21/05 Section: Sports
If the Slippery Rock University men's soccer team didn't win matches this week against two teams with eight combined wins, it would have been tough for the Rock to make the playoffs.
The team didn't disappoint, as it knocked off Shippensburg (5-12-0 overall, 4-9-0 PSAC) on Saturday, 2-1, before beating last-place Kutztown (3-13-1, 3-10-1) on Wednesday, 3-0, to stay in first place in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference standings.
"I think we were nervous because we were in first place," coach Matt Thompson said. "We haven't been in this position (first place) before. Usually, towards the end of the season, it's us playing for nothing."
After missing three early chances in the penalty box, Dave Keller's free kick hit the right post. Shaun Reid was in the box to tap the ball into the net for a 1-0 Rock lead in the 43rd minute. The goal was Reid's second of the week.
Keller wasn't finished, however, as the senior captain found the net twice in the second half to put the Golden Bears away.
"He deserves it," Thompson said. "He's worked hard for four years. It's huge. He's been rock solid all year, in fact, all four years."
On the defensive side, the Rock came up big as it helped goalkeeper Chris Cook record his fourth home shutout. Cook has registered five shutouts this year.
"We're starting to play a lot better," defenseman Chris Byers said. "Goalkeeping has really stepped up. We work on (defense) every week. Repetitions over and over, so it's finally coming together."
Through the Rock's first five matches, the team surrendered an average of almost three goals-per-match while starting 2-3. Over its last eight matches, in which the Rock has a 7-1 record, the team has surrendered an average of 0.62 goals-per-match.
"Towards the beginning (of the season), we looked like Swiss cheese," Byers said.
On Saturday, the Rock (10-6-1, 9-4-1) moved back into first place thanks to its win over Shippensburg.
The team didn't disappoint, as it knocked off Shippensburg (5-12-0 overall, 4-9-0 PSAC) on Saturday, 2-1, before beating last-place Kutztown (3-13-1, 3-10-1) on Wednesday, 3-0, to stay in first place in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference standings.
"I think we were nervous because we were in first place," coach Matt Thompson said. "We haven't been in this position (first place) before. Usually, towards the end of the season, it's us playing for nothing."
After missing three early chances in the penalty box, Dave Keller's free kick hit the right post. Shaun Reid was in the box to tap the ball into the net for a 1-0 Rock lead in the 43rd minute. The goal was Reid's second of the week.
Keller wasn't finished, however, as the senior captain found the net twice in the second half to put the Golden Bears away.
"He deserves it," Thompson said. "He's worked hard for four years. It's huge. He's been rock solid all year, in fact, all four years."
On the defensive side, the Rock came up big as it helped goalkeeper Chris Cook record his fourth home shutout. Cook has registered five shutouts this year.
"We're starting to play a lot better," defenseman Chris Byers said. "Goalkeeping has really stepped up. We work on (defense) every week. Repetitions over and over, so it's finally coming together."
Through the Rock's first five matches, the team surrendered an average of almost three goals-per-match while starting 2-3. Over its last eight matches, in which the Rock has a 7-1 record, the team has surrendered an average of 0.62 goals-per-match.
"Towards the beginning (of the season), we looked like Swiss cheese," Byers said.
On Saturday, the Rock (10-6-1, 9-4-1) moved back into first place thanks to its win over Shippensburg.
