Oregon not only took its luggage to Texas but also brought along the familiar Northwest weather of pouring rain and sub-30 degree temperatures.
Most importantly, though, the Ducks traveled with big enough hearts to challenge the best.
The road to the final match, in the NIRSA National Championship tournament, wasn’t an easy one for the Oregon men’s club soccer team.
The team’s first game, out of the six played in a three day period, was against Middle Tennessee State. The 6-0 win was easily obtainable, but in the second game, Oregon fell to Rice, 1-0. After that game, Oregon stood on the verge of elimination. If the Ducks didn’t win their next game, then their championship hopes were finished.
But they were not about to let fifth-ranked Weber State finish them off early in the tournament, as there was too much unfinished business to take care of.
“We had to give it 100 percent,” said coach/player Ross Minckler. “It was like our most important game of the season, and we gave it our all.”
With the win, Oregon moved more than halfway to the finals match, but in the men’s quarterfinals game, the Ducks would have to face top-ranked Virginia.
The game turned into a battle of who wanted it more, and the teams found themselves in double overtime, knotted at 2-2. With everyone running on pure adrenaline, Oregon sophomore Michael Kubas scored the game-winning goal with just 30 seconds left to secure the nail-biting win.
“It was so awesome,” Kubas said. “[Forward] Matt Tassos passed me the ball and I took care of business.”
“It was a great feeling,” Tassos said. “Winning this was like one of those feelings you get inside that you just can’t describe.”
With spirits rejuvenated, Oregon inched only one game away from the highly anticipated finals match. The semifinals game was against third-ranked Howard, which Oregon defeated, 3-1, for a respectable win.
Finally, the finals game against James Madison arrived for the Ducks.
One team would leave glorified with the championship crown, while the other would finish in second place. Both teams fought hard for the right to be labeled national champions, but the Oregon men left the field with second place after their narrow 2-0 defeat.
“Our goal was to win it all, so we didn’t get the perfect season,” Minckler said. “We came into this tournament ranked fourth, so we were still very pleased.”
Oregon finished regular season play at 7-1, and three players made the All-Tournament team. Next up for the Ducks is the indoor soccer season, which takes place in the winter, and then they return to outdoor competition in the spring.
In a game that requires skill, stamina and a lot of heart, the men’s club soccer team left Texas with the second-place trophy and an experience they will never forget.
“This was amazing,” Kubas said. “This is what it all comes down to.”