2008 Woodie Awards
Soccer team pride of UNC athletics in BSC
Staff editorial
Issue date: 11/5/07 Section: Staff Reflections
- Page 1 of 1
Despite what has been a rocky start for University of Northern Colorado athletics off the field in the Big Sky Conference, the soccer and volleyball teams are making names for themselves on the field.
And they're doing it before anyone expected them to.
The UNC socccer team qualified for the Big Sky Conference tournament Saturday as the No. 3 seed in a four-team tournament during their first season of eligibility. They did this in a season in which the Big Sky coaches predicted they would finish in seventh place. Not bad for a team transitioning from Division II competition.
And the seniors on the team, who have waited three, or in some cases four years, to be eligible for postseason play during the transition to Division I, have been a motivating force for the team during their most successful season in recent history.
The circumstances heading into Saturday's game were simple, win and they got in, lose and they miss out. There's no doubt the Bears wanted to reward the seniors with one more victory.The soccer team's success is similar to that of last season's volleyball team, who in their first year of eligibility for the Big Sky tournament qualified and notched a first-round win. Hopefully, the soccer team can get a win, themselves, during the tournament. And if they get two wins, they would become the first UNC team to qualify for a NCAA Divison I tournament.
Facing second ranked Weber State, who defeated the Bears 1-0 in the regular season, will be tough. Should they advance, they'll play either No. 1 Sacramento State, who they tied 1-1 on Oct. 26, or No. 4 Portland State, who they lost to on Oct. 28.
No matter who they play, the Bears will have a chance at some revenge, which is the perfect motivation for a playoff run.
And they're doing it before anyone expected them to.
The UNC socccer team qualified for the Big Sky Conference tournament Saturday as the No. 3 seed in a four-team tournament during their first season of eligibility. They did this in a season in which the Big Sky coaches predicted they would finish in seventh place. Not bad for a team transitioning from Division II competition.
And the seniors on the team, who have waited three, or in some cases four years, to be eligible for postseason play during the transition to Division I, have been a motivating force for the team during their most successful season in recent history.
The circumstances heading into Saturday's game were simple, win and they got in, lose and they miss out. There's no doubt the Bears wanted to reward the seniors with one more victory.The soccer team's success is similar to that of last season's volleyball team, who in their first year of eligibility for the Big Sky tournament qualified and notched a first-round win. Hopefully, the soccer team can get a win, themselves, during the tournament. And if they get two wins, they would become the first UNC team to qualify for a NCAA Divison I tournament.
Facing second ranked Weber State, who defeated the Bears 1-0 in the regular season, will be tough. Should they advance, they'll play either No. 1 Sacramento State, who they tied 1-1 on Oct. 26, or No. 4 Portland State, who they lost to on Oct. 28.
No matter who they play, the Bears will have a chance at some revenge, which is the perfect motivation for a playoff run.
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