From Ecstasy to Agony...

10/3/11

This past weekend saw the QU Hawks experience the ecstasy of a thrilling 3-2 sudden death overtime win on Friday night, and then suffer the agony of an embarrasing 0-5 loss on Sunday afternoon.

On Friday 9/30, the Hawks with their usual slow start, saw themselves on the end of a 0-1 deficit at half-time in their match with GLVC newcomer Wm. Jewell University. However, the team regrouped at half-time and surged on to a 2-1 lead just 12 minutes into the second stanza thanks to a penalty kick goal by Grant Ellison in the 51st minute and his second tally in the 62nd minute from an assist by Nate Heryford. Then, with the game seemingly in hand the Hawks gave up a tying goal in the 84th minute on a well taken Jewell free kick into the upper 90 that forced the game into overtime. Once the OT began the Hawks came flying out and put immediate pressure on the Cardinals with 5 quick shots, including the game winner by Jordan Roberts who knocked in a rebound from a Grant Ellison shot that came down off the crossbar, sending the home squad into a jubilant frenzy as the ball crossed the line.

On Sunday 10/2 against Rockhurst University, one of QU's all-time biggest rivals, the Hawks once again got off to their usual slow start but this time never got into the game at all. Rockhurst, who almost scored in the opening seconds of the match got their first goal at the 4 minute mark, and their second came just 8 minutes later after applying almost constant pressure on QU's defense. RU pushed their lead to 3-0 just before half-time giving them a commanding margin they'd never relinquish. RU added tallies in the 59th and 75th minutes running the score up to 5-0 in their favor, dooming the QU Hawks to one of their worst defeats in recent years.

The upcoming week has the QU Hawks on the road for two more crucial GLVC encounters.
On Friday 10/7 they face Drury at 7:30 PM in Springfield MO, and then on Sunday 10/9they visit Missouri S & T in Rolla at 2:30 PM. Both of these matches are vital to the teams success this year. The Rockhurst loss has to be put behind them and and the team's focus must be on "getting the job done" this weekend.