The University of Tampa men’s soccer team was dealt a tough conference loss on Oct. 16. as they went up against the ninth-ranked Rollins.
It was the first loss of the season for the number two ranked Spartans, dropping their SSC record down to 4-1, with an overall record of 10-1-1.
Heading into the crucial game against Rollins, which had home-field advantage implications for the SSC tournament, UT senior goalkeeper Ryan Thompson explained how the team prepared for their ranked opponent.
“We know that they, right now, are one of the better teams around,” Thompson said. “But we approach every game the same way, same intensity, same mindset because in this conference, you can’t take any team lightly.”
Leading point scorer Pascal Milien felt the team had high expectations for this year, and despite the recent loss to Rollins, can still reach them.
“The beginning of the season, we set a goal to be undefeated,” Milien said. “Right now, we’re in a situation where there’s no more of that, but we don’t want anymore losses. Whatever it takes to win the next couple games to nationals, we’re going to do it.”
Last year the Spartans ended their great season on a down note. They lost in the NCAA final four to Cal State-Dominguez Hills in overtime, 3-2.
The close contest was even more disappointing as they had home field advantage, hosting the tournament at Pepin Stadium.
Of the heartbreaking 2008 season, the team has not forgotten what happened.
They are learning from their mistakes and the feeling of falling short. Though Brian Fekete, a freshman on the team, did not experience the loss last year, he is well aware of what happened.
“[Coach Adrian Bush] talks about it all the time- the feeling they had losing in the final four,” Fekete said. “He constantly brings it up and reminds them of how they all looked at each other and everybody was just in tears. Just to hear how emotional it was to lose one game, that big of a game, it scares me. I never wanna have to be put in that kind of position, so I always try to just work my hardest and give it my all so I don’t have to worry about that.”
As far as the Oct. 16 game is concerned, the three team members believed a lot of positives came out of the loss.
Though they faced an early 3-0 deficit, the team got rolling, nearly tying the game up before time ran out.
“I think it was one of our better games, even though we lost,” Thompson said. “Everything is a learning process. We take the positive [and] work on the negatives.”
Fekete felt the near comeback during the game will prove to be an advantage when they meet Rollins in the future.
“We definitely were not playing how [we] should be playing,” Fekete said. “After we settled down, it was a little too late, but we showed we could easily play with these guys. It showed us that next time when we do play them, we’ll definitely be ready. ”
Reasons for the team’s loss against Rollins were not clear.
Thompson accepted much of the blame.
“I’m man enough to say I made a mistake, and it cost my team,” he said. “Right now, I know that there is a certain area of my game that needs to be worked on, so each day, I go and do extra work. Lot of crossing, lot of shots, plus my transition; it’s just trying to master the weaknesses.”
Contrarily, Fekete attributed brief periods of no intensity and “getting too lackadaisical” to the team’s slow start during the Rollins game.
The team fell to number nine in the nation after the loss.
The team had enjoyed a number two ranking since Oct. 13 after a big conference win over Florida Southern.
Milien feels that national rankings do not affect the team and their goals.
“It’s always good to rank higher, but [what is] most important is if your team is doing [well],” said Milien. “Everybody on the team knows we don’t play for that; we’re playing for the national championship.”
With the loss coming against an SSC rival, the Spartans might have lost home field advantage for the SSC tournament as well.
Fekete believes playing at Pepin Stadium in front of the home crowd helps the team’s performance. “It’s a huge advantage, especially when we can get a lot of fans out there,” Fekete said. “It’s nice having [the fans] out there, trying to get into the other team’s head.”
Upcoming games include facing Florida Tech, another conference game, on Oct. 24, before returning home to face Johnson and Wales on Oct. 26.
As the Spartans make their SSC and NCAA tournament push, Thompson pointed out one more huge positive looking ahead.
“It’s best we lose a game now than lose in the regional’s when it costs our school something,” said Thompson.
Hopefully for UT, Thompson is right, and the men’s team has gotten a tough loss already out of their system.