Frustrated, disappointed, motivated: three words that could be used to describe how the Oregon Men’s Club Soccer team felt after losing in the semifinals of last year’s regional tournament to Weber State.
“After that loss at Boise vs. Weber State, we were really disappointed. It has really become fuel for our fire,” junior center-mid Gerald Buxton said.
Before regionals, the Ducks had cruised to a conference championship by defeating the other five teams in their league: Oregon State, Southern Oregon, Lewis and Clark, Portland State, and Willamette. Additionally, they won the U of O World Cup, a tournament they host on campus. In that tournament, the Ducks split their first two matches and then proceeded to beat Northwest Christian 4-1 in the semifinals and Portland State 1-1 (4-3 PK) in the finals.
“Not to brag,” Buxton said, “But we treat our league and other matches as preparation for regionals and nationals, so the loss in the semis was disappointing.”
The league will consist of the same teams and same format this season: the Ducks will play each team twice, once at home and once away. Their ambitions for the year have not changed, either.
“We have our sights set on Phoenix, Arizona, where the national tournament is,” junior left-mid Ian Salisbury said. “We want to win our conference, win the regional tournament and have a good showing there at nationals.”
“We want to win nationals,” Coach Buxton said. “I believe we have a group this year that can do that.”
Buxton and Salisbury both pointed to senior defender Ross Nishio@@http://rossnishionba.wordpress.com/2011/04/11/introduction/@@ and senior striker Trent Hamilton, a University of Portland transfer,@@http://blog.oregonlive.com/kickitpdx/2008/04/four_newcomers_to_join_mens_so.html@@ as standouts on the team. Salisbury also gave high praise to goalkeeper Jake Glicker, who was a starter as a freshman last year. The meat of the Ducks’ schedule begins in October, where they open up with a home non-conference match against Boise State on Oct. 1 on the turf field outside the student recreation center.
“We’re pretty excited for that one,” Buxton said. “They’re kind of like our rivals outside of our conference. It should be a really good match.”
After that, league play begins. If the Ducks win the conference again as they expect to, they will qualify for the regional tournament. The regional has switched venues this year from Boise State University to Salt Lake City, Utah. If the team can come out on top at regionals, then they will head to Phoenix, Arizona for nationals. But, as the players were quick to point out, it all starts with practice. Preparation for league play has already begun, as most members of the team attended the optional five-day session of daily doubles that took place last week on Turf Field #4 next to Hayward Field.
The Ducks return 15 players from last year’s squad, but are looking to have 24 guys on their roster, 18 of which will travel@@http://pages.uoregon.edu/uosoccer/Roster.htm@@. Official tryouts for the team are the first four days of next week, from 7-9 p.m. on Turf Field #4. “There is a $10 tryout fee,” Salisbury, who also serves as the team coordinator, said “But other than that, just be ready to come out here and compete. We have open roster spots that we’re looking to fill.”
“After that loss at Boise vs. Weber State, we were really disappointed. It has really become fuel for our fire,” junior center-mid Gerald Buxton said.
Before regionals, the Ducks had cruised to a conference championship by defeating the other five teams in their league: Oregon State, Southern Oregon, Lewis and Clark, Portland State, and Willamette. Additionally, they won the U of O World Cup, a tournament they host on campus. In that tournament, the Ducks split their first two matches and then proceeded to beat Northwest Christian 4-1 in the semifinals and Portland State 1-1 (4-3 PK) in the finals.
“Not to brag,” Buxton said, “But we treat our league and other matches as preparation for regionals and nationals, so the loss in the semis was disappointing.”
The league will consist of the same teams and same format this season: the Ducks will play each team twice, once at home and once away. Their ambitions for the year have not changed, either.
“We have our sights set on Phoenix, Arizona, where the national tournament is,” junior left-mid Ian Salisbury said. “We want to win our conference, win the regional tournament and have a good showing there at nationals.”
“We want to win nationals,” Coach Buxton said. “I believe we have a group this year that can do that.”
Buxton and Salisbury both pointed to senior defender Ross Nishio@@http://rossnishionba.wordpress.com/2011/04/11/introduction/@@ and senior striker Trent Hamilton, a University of Portland transfer,@@http://blog.oregonlive.com/kickitpdx/2008/04/four_newcomers_to_join_mens_so.html@@ as standouts on the team. Salisbury also gave high praise to goalkeeper Jake Glicker, who was a starter as a freshman last year. The meat of the Ducks’ schedule begins in October, where they open up with a home non-conference match against Boise State on Oct. 1 on the turf field outside the student recreation center.
“We’re pretty excited for that one,” Buxton said. “They’re kind of like our rivals outside of our conference. It should be a really good match.”
After that, league play begins. If the Ducks win the conference again as they expect to, they will qualify for the regional tournament. The regional has switched venues this year from Boise State University to Salt Lake City, Utah. If the team can come out on top at regionals, then they will head to Phoenix, Arizona for nationals. But, as the players were quick to point out, it all starts with practice. Preparation for league play has already begun, as most members of the team attended the optional five-day session of daily doubles that took place last week on Turf Field #4 next to Hayward Field.
The Ducks return 15 players from last year’s squad, but are looking to have 24 guys on their roster, 18 of which will travel@@http://pages.uoregon.edu/uosoccer/Roster.htm@@. Official tryouts for the team are the first four days of next week, from 7-9 p.m. on Turf Field #4. “There is a $10 tryout fee,” Salisbury, who also serves as the team coordinator, said “But other than that, just be ready to come out here and compete. We have open roster spots that we’re looking to fill.”
