Hawks Fall to SIU-E 3-0

OUCH! OUCH! OUCH!
Sunday at SIU-E was a bummer. After our "high" following the Truman win... we stumbled in Edwardsville, going down 3-0. There were very few real good "chances" for either team throughout the whole game but the Cougars"took" one late in the first half when they had a wind-aided advantage. Early in the second half the Hawks, now enjoying the wind at their back, had a "chance" similar to the one SIU scored on...but didn't convert it. With about 15 minutes left and the Hawks still trailing 1-0 we pushed a back up into midfield and a midfielder up to forward trying desperately to snatch a tying goal. Unfortunately, with us thin at the back the Cougars seized advantage of two turnovers in our end and hit us with two late counter-attack strikes to put the game out of reach. For the most part of the afternoon the game was closer than the eventual 3-0 score line. We felt bad as a team because we didn't get the win that we really wanted,and also because we didn't come through for the large crowd of parents,friends, and alumni there to support us. We appreciate you being there for us and wish we could have given you something to really cheer about. However, our history with SIU has been one of us being the underdog most ofthe time. Since the inaugural QU-SIU encounter in 1968 the Cougars lead in the series with 26 wins against 17 losses and 7 ties. Prior to yesterday's contest as coaches Ed Huneke (SIU) and Hawk Coach Jack Mackenzie were talking, Coach Huneke mentioned that, 'this game was probably going to be the last one in the QU-SIU series since the Cougars will be moving up to NCAA Division I next fall. Hawk coach, Jack Mackenzie, countered with 'I don't know about that, I think we will meet gain in a GLVC play-off match. Now wouldn't that make for a grand finale?

Coach Mackenzie would like to thank all the soccer alums who were present yesterday. He was pleased so many showed up, and then took the time to stay around afterward and visit. He appreciates your continued interest in the Hawk soccer program. Coach would also like to thank the parents for the great cookout they put on after the SIU match. He knows a lot of the St. Louis area people helped, but he believes that Steve Schaeffer, Don Eatherton, and Les Ellison were the organizers...because they wanted to show Quincyian Terry Bower (who's cooked for practically every Hawk home game for the past couple of years)... that the hospitality could be duplicated down there. These tail-gating and cookout efforts have done a lot to bring the parents of our players into a close-knit "soccer family".

WHAT LIES AHEAD... This weekend is the final round of GLVC regular-season soccer matches. There are several important games. Three teams have already clinched berths in the 8-team GLVC Play-Off (NKU-SIU-Lewis). Five spots are still UP FOR GRABS. People may be speculating about the Parkside-Lewis game on Wednesday, or about the trip NKU and Bellarmine have to take to Rockhurst and Drury. However, the most important games of this whole week are QU at Indy on Friday and QU at St. Joe on Sunday. The simple fact of the matter is: WIN TWO... AND WE'RE IN! With opportunities like this you know... IT'S A GREAT TIME TO BE A HAWK!