The Asbury men’s soccer team is currently preparing for their first postseason game, the Mideast Regionals.
In less than a week the men will take the pitch up at the Luce as they host the regional competition.
In a season that “shows a lot of resilience” the men have managed to overcome some hurdles from the beginning of the season to put them in a good place for the tournament.
After not being able to find a win in their first three games, the men began to find their rhythm during the season with only one three more ties on their record. Many of their games saw the men coming back from deficits and pulling off game winning shots in the last 25-seconds.
“We recognize that not everything is going to come our way or be given to us, but this season our team has shown to be one full of fighters and problem-solvers who work through whatever comes our way, even if it doesn’t come easy,” junior defender Ollie Gunthorpe said.
The men are sitting at an impressive record for the season at 10-2-4, which is the best they have seen in five years. They will be facing some quality teams, either Oakland City or Campbellsville, which will challenge them, but Gunthorpe says they are more than capable of playing at that level.
“The team is preparing both technically and physically for the level that we will face at the regional playoffs,” Gunthorpe said. “Our team has already had a fantastic season and played at a high level, but our goal is to continue to grow over the next week as a collective and peak at regionals.”
While their goal for the season is to continue to play well and make it to nationals in Florida, the men are taking their post-season one step at a time.
“For now we are focusing on the present and the competition right ahead of us, and that is of the utmost importance to us,” Gunthrope said.
Going into the next few games, Head coach Ben Andrews wants his men to prepare for each game differently and uniquely since each match is a “season itself.”
“Usually, post season is considered a completely different and separate season and what you’ve accomplished in the regular season no longer matters,” Andrews said. “However, they guys created some real momentum this year and there is an undeniable rhythm.”
When it comes to a game-plan for the team, Gunthorpe said they are sticking with what they have excelled at this season.
“Our plan is to continue to play the possession-focused game that we do but even extend beyond that and be more ruthless and dangerous as we go forward and in defense,” Gunthorpe said. “We hope to be calm, cool, steady, and play some beautiful soccer.”
By the time the tournament comes around, the men will have three weeks of practice under their belt. Andrews commented how that is more than their preseason. In that time they have been able to hone down and focus in practice.
“We’ve been able to polish up on a few areas we needed to be better in. We also worked a ton on our fitness and overall technical ability,” Andrews said.
While they are focusing on the present, winning regionals would mean a lot for the men, especially after their bumpy start to the season.
“Winning would finally reward what we have worked so hard for all season,” Gunthorpe said. “To have a banner and a title to solidify the success that our team has had will only further unite us and motivate us to move forward to nationals in Florida.”
The Mideast Regionals will take place Nov. 16 and Nov. 18 at the Luce soccer field. Both games will be live streamed on ASDN.
A win on Thursday would get the men to Saturday. A win on Saturday would mean the men would advance to Nationals.