September 19-21 was a “LOST WEEKEND” for the Soccer Hawks. On Friday, 9/19 the Hawks lost 2-1 to Northern Kentucky University (NKU) who were ranked #1 in the nation at the NCAA DII level. Unfortunately, the Hawks started off rather timidly against the nation’s top ranked team and were playing “back on their heels” as NKU came out strong and pinned the Hawks in their own end early on. NKU pressure paid off with a goal in the 15th minute mark. After that “slap in the face” the Hawks regrouped and started playing more aggressively and began getting back into the game. The two teams battled on until in the 82nd minute QU’s Bane Isailovic hit a fierce free kick past NKU’s 4-man wall from 28 yards out to knot the score at 1-1. With overtime just minutes away NKU broke the deadlock at the 87th minute mark with an attack that kept the ball “alive” in the QU penalty area resulting in a Hawk defender being pressured into clearing the ball into his own net for a dreaded “own goal” that finished the Hawks off.
On Sunday, September 21 the Hawks got off to a good start against the University of Indianapolis with a Grant Ellison goal just 4:09 minutes into the match. The Hawks continued to dominate the match for about another 10 to 15 minutes before Indy started to gain momentum in their play. At the 29th minute the Indy Greyhounds struck for a breakaway goal…and the Hawks collapsed…allowing additional goals at the 32nd and 37th minutes of the first half, putting the Hawks into a very deep hole. Three Hawk players were injured during the first half and could not play in the second stanza. Never-the-less, the Hawks tried to muster a comeback during the second 45 minutes of play but try as they did they were not successful. With the Hawks pushing up trying to score the goals they need in order to force a tie, Indy hit them for goals in the 80th and 81 minutes to kill the game off. The Hawks left the field with heads hanging, knowing that this was an embarrassing loss.
The “LOST WEEKEND” OF 9/19-12 IS OVER. That has to be put aside and a new focus, and renewed energy, must be put into moving forward and preparing for the upcoming games on Friday, 9/26 against St. Joseph’s and Sunday, 9/28 against Wisconsin-Parkside, two more very important GLVC matches…and the first Hawk HOME matches since 8/31. Everything that can possibly be done to have the team READY for these crucial games will be covered during this weeks training sessions. If you get a chance, come on out to one or both of these upcoming matches and have your spirit and support help lift the Hawks to 2 victories.
GO HAWKS…
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