2008 Woodie Awards
Men's soccer ends dream season with shutout loss
By Travis Pickens
Rocket Contributor
Issue date: 11/18/05 Section: Sports
It may have hurt at first, but in the end, nothing could take away from what the Slippery Rock University men's soccer team accomplished this season.
The Rock commenced to capture its first PSAC championship since 1974 thanks to its 2-1 win over California, (Pa.), in the conference championship.
Thanks to its win over the Vulcans on Nov. 6, SRU was granted a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) tournament berth.
That's where the fairy tale ended.
The Rock dropped a 1-0 decision to the New York Institute of Technology Bears last Friday in Oakdale, N.Y., on the campus of the Northeast Region No. 1 seed Dowling College.
"A few guys were upset," sophomore midfielder Steve Perri said of a loss to end to the season. "But looking at it now, (NYIT is) in the Elite Eight. They're one of the best teams in the country."
Following its win over the Rock, NYIT beat Dowling, which was No. 3 in the country, 5-4, on penalty kicks.
"It was upsetting because we gave away that goal," sophomore defender Matt Furlan said. "Not to take anything away from NYIT, but we could have prevented that goal."
Both players said they agreed that when they look back on the season, they won't remember what could have been in the national tournament, but what the team accomplished.
"It was the best season I've ever had," Perri said. "Not personally, but as a team. When you're in high school, you think some seasons are good, but then you get to college and every team is good."
Furlan said this was a dream season.
"It was almost like a dream come true," Furlan said of the championship and regional berth. "At the beginning of the season, making the playoffs was our goal. We said after we make the playoffs, we'll see what happens from there."
Keller, who was voted second-team All-PSAC, was second on the team with five goals while Hollm tallied four goals. Keller was also second with five assists, while Hollm earned three assists.
The Rock commenced to capture its first PSAC championship since 1974 thanks to its 2-1 win over California, (Pa.), in the conference championship.
Thanks to its win over the Vulcans on Nov. 6, SRU was granted a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) tournament berth.
That's where the fairy tale ended.
The Rock dropped a 1-0 decision to the New York Institute of Technology Bears last Friday in Oakdale, N.Y., on the campus of the Northeast Region No. 1 seed Dowling College.
"A few guys were upset," sophomore midfielder Steve Perri said of a loss to end to the season. "But looking at it now, (NYIT is) in the Elite Eight. They're one of the best teams in the country."
Following its win over the Rock, NYIT beat Dowling, which was No. 3 in the country, 5-4, on penalty kicks.
"It was upsetting because we gave away that goal," sophomore defender Matt Furlan said. "Not to take anything away from NYIT, but we could have prevented that goal."
Both players said they agreed that when they look back on the season, they won't remember what could have been in the national tournament, but what the team accomplished.
"It was the best season I've ever had," Perri said. "Not personally, but as a team. When you're in high school, you think some seasons are good, but then you get to college and every team is good."
Furlan said this was a dream season.
"It was almost like a dream come true," Furlan said of the championship and regional berth. "At the beginning of the season, making the playoffs was our goal. We said after we make the playoffs, we'll see what happens from there."
Keller, who was voted second-team All-PSAC, was second on the team with five goals while Hollm tallied four goals. Keller was also second with five assists, while Hollm earned three assists.
