The weekend of 10/9-11 was a tough one for the QU Soccer Hawks. Although the team fought hard and never quit in either match the Hawks lost 2-0 on Friday night to nationally ranked Northern Kentucky and then dropped a 2-1 overtime decision to the University of Indianapolis on Sunday. Both matches were real battles and although the Hawks didn’t win they did fight hard in trying to.
Against the NKU Norse the half ended 0-0 and that score stood until 62nd minute mark when one of their fleet-footed strikers slipped away from his marker and drilled a low shot into the lower corner of the net from about 25 yards out. Unfortunately, the Hawks didn’t handle this too well and the Norse were right back at them about 30 seconds later but this time their shot ran outside the post. However, four minutes late their All-American striker sliped away from his defender and raced into the penalty area to notch their second goal in a mater of minutes. After that point the teams battled scoreless until time ran out. This match was a case of the Hawks being there head to head with a nationally ranked opponent but “slipping up” twice and having to “pay the price”.
On Sunday, the Hawks came out strong and scored in the 3rd minute of play with Jake Pittroff (junior, St. Louis Oakville HS) notching the goal off an assist from Jack Wedemeier (junior from Cape Notre Dame HS). It looked like the Hawks were energized and ready to blow out the UIndy Greyhounds. However, lots of possession and penetration for several more good scoring chances in the first half went for naught and kept the Greyhounds “in the game”. As time was running out in the first half the Hawks were whistled for what seemed to be a very weak foul resulting in a UIndy free kick from about 30 yards out. In order to make sure the Hawk wall was 10 yards back from the ball the official indicated that the ensuing free kick would start on the whistle. As he whistled a couple UIndy players took the initiative to break for goal either “on the whistle” or slightly before and slipped past Hawk defenders where one Greyhound got an uncontested header for the tying goal. The Hawks claim that the players broke the off-side line prior to the ball being played (touched) fell on dead ref ears and the goal was allowed to stand. [Note, the rule book does stipulate that the ball is “in play” after it has been touched, not “on the whistle”]. Both teams then battled through a scoreless second half forcing the game into overtime. About 2 minutes into the first overtime period a UIndy striker who had been kept “pretty well in check the whole game” made a quick inside cut and beat his marker to solo in for the winning score.
The two losses over the weekend drop the Hawks to 6-6-2 overall and 5-4-1 in the Conference. This upcoming weekend the Hawks will be at home to GLVC rivals St. Joseph’s College on Friday night 10/16 at 7:30 PM and then host Wisconsin-Parkside on Sunday 10/18 at 2:30 PM. Needless to say, with the season winding down these are two very important GLVC matches if the Hawks have hopes of qualifying for the GLVC Tournament in November. Sunday 10/18, as the Hawk’s last regular season home game, will be Senior Day as Kyle Dillman, Scott Greubel, Tom Dawson, Jayme Groark, along with Andy Kling (who has been injured all season) will be honored prior to kick-off. This would be a great weekend for all Hawk soccer fans to come out and support the team.
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