Men's Soccer Misses Post Season Shot

The St. Edward’s University men’s soccer team came off the field Nov. 9 with tears in their eyes as they wrapped up their 2008 regular season with two devastating ties, crushing their chance to make it to the NCAA Tournament.
The Hilltoppers needed to finish ranked in the top two in the region to qualify for post-season play, but after the two ties, they slipped out of the top two and missed the cut.
This was a surprise to many as the team had a successful regular season, racking up a record of 7-1-2 in the Heartland Conference and a 13-4-2 record overall.
“It was just disappointing,” freshmen international player Don Morrison said.
The team played short two players against St. Mary’s University after junior Ezual Lewis got his second yellow card for dissent in the 32nd minute and junior Kevin Brolan received the team’s second red card in the 76th minute. The game was packed with penalties as St. Mary’s received 39 out of a total of 54 penalties in the game.
“This was the first time I’d ever coached with only nine players,” head coach Brian Young said.
In their previous meeting St. Edward’s dismantled St. Mary’s, beating them 5-1. On Nov. 7, the team tied St. Mary’s 1-1.
Young said it would have been helpful to beat teams earlier in the season, but the chances at the post season came down to the game against TAMU-International.
After Brandin Parras scored a goal in the 22nd minute, the game looked like it would go in favor of St. Edward’s. However, in the last three minutes, the Dust Devils tallied a goal that tied the game 1-1.
“We should have beat them,” senior Jesse Leos said. “But I feel the team played well.”
As a nationally ranked team for most of the season, reaching as high as 12th, it was both surprising and disappointing to players and fans to not make the regional tournament.
In the wake of the two ties, one player has officially quit the team and another is questioning his role.
“[Coach Brian Young] really is confused about what he wants to do,” sophomore forward Robert Georgiefski said. “We had a clear path to nationals.”
Georgiefski has questioned the coach’s in-game tactics, in particular why Georgiefski, a recent two-time Heartland Conference offensive player of the week, played zero minutes in this crucial game while others logged the entire 110 minutes.
“It was a strategic coaching decision,” Young said, when referring to Georgiefski’s playing time. It was also senior day, and Young wanted to honor seniors by having them in the starting lineup.
The season’s end has caused another player to question his status and part ways with the team.
“Things haven’t worked out quite the way I wanted,” Morrison said. “I have enjoyed my time here, it’s just not quite the situation I had wanted.”
Coach Young said Morrison is leaving on good terms, but there was an issue with playing time that could not be resolved.
The Nov. 9 game was a tribute to the senior players, and plaques were given out before the game. The departing seniors are Dustin Cherry, Patrick Miller, Jesse Leos, Mike Vecchiola and Kevin Brolan.