The Observer, November 3, 2006
Volume XXXIX, Issue 9
Weekend wins boost men's playoff chances
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Only one conference game remains in the regular season as the Case men's soccer team looks forward to a Division III NCAA tournament bid.
Finishing last weekend with two UAA wins, the Spartans head into their last weekend in second place in the UAA with a record of 15-2-1. The men first traveled Friday to Pittsburgh, where they battled a physical Carnegie Mellon team, but were victorious in the end, winning 2-0.
"The playing conditions were not good and all of this fit well into their style of play," co-captain Greg Gasbarro said of the game. "They play a sloppy type of soccer that is very physical, and we came out and beat them at their own game. We scored two goals within a minute of each other in the second half to get us ahead."
Gasbarro alluded to the fact that any win is important, but that a win against Carnegie Mellon, one of the team's archrivals, is bigger than most.
"I would probably say Carnegie is our biggest rival for soccer and it meant a lot to beat them this year," he said. "I'd say it's the best win I have had in my four years."
Facing off against Emory two days later, the Spartans had an offensive explosion in Atlanta with a final score of 4-1.
"The last time we played at Emory was my sophomore year and we lost that game 4-0," Greg said. "This year we went ahead late in the first half, and once we [scored] the second goal, their team just started to break down, especially their midfield. Our team was just clicking and once they started to give up, it became easier."
Ranked 15th in the nation in the most recent polls, the men's team is anticipating a tournament bid at the end of the season.
"There are a couple of different scenarios that can determine the end of the season," Gasbarro said. "If NYU loses or ties and we win our last game, we will be conference champions and have an automatic bid. Even if we place second in the conference, we are pretty confident that we will get a bid, but there are no guarantees. So we just need to take care of business at Rochester and hope it goes our way."
The Spartans have beaten every team in the UAA at least once except for Rochester.
"Rochester has had a pretty up and down season so far," Greg said. "They lost to Emory and beat Carnegie Mellon, so we know it's a team we can beat. It's different going into Rochester, though, at this time of year because you are pretty much assured that it will be almost freezing temperatures. They are fast-paced and skilled, but it should be a fun night game."
The game is set to kickoff tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m..
The women's team also played both Carnegie Mellon and Emory last weekend, losing both games 1-0. Goaltender Kristen McClain kept the team in both games, recording four saves against Emory and six against CMU. However, the women could not muster enough scoring opportunities to take advantage of the great defensive play. The ladies take a record of 5-11-1 into their final game tomorrow at Rochester.
