Men’s Team: A Quest for Consistency
The SFU men’s soccer team has been hit with the unfamiliar feeling of adversity in Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) play this season. As four-time champions, the soccer program branded itself as the team to fear in recent years, but has been humbled in the early stages of the 2014 campaign.
Last season’s results set the bar tremendously high, with 14 victories and just one loss and one draw. This season, the Clan went winless for the opening three rounds of GNAC play before notching their first conference win away against St. Martin’s University last week in impressive fashion.
Despite the much needed confidence boost, SFU fell to their biggest test soon after, falling to the high flying Seattle Pacific Falcons in a 3-1 result. The Falcons are now on a seven-game winning streak following their win against the Clan.
However, there are certainly no question marks about the quality of the side, something that head coach Alan Koch firmly believes will generate better results.
“I’ve got faith in all of my players, no matter who I start, I know they will be ready,” Koch said.
The men return to action at home when they welcome the Seattle Pacific Falcons to Terry Fox field on Thursday, October 16, hoping to avenge their recent loss.
Women’s Team: Signs of Improvement
SFU’s women’s soccer team has had its fair share of hardship in seasons past, prompting a change in philosophy and coaching staff ahead of the 2014 campaign. Head coach Annie Hamel assured that a new approach to the game would be implemented, and that it would take time for the team to adjust, but we are already witnessing a positive shift.
It only took three rounds of GNAC play for the ladies to find their first win, the first of back-to-back 1-0 results at home against the Western Oregon Wolves and Saint Martin’s Saints respectively.
This is already leaps and bounds ahead of last season, during which the Clan achieved their only victory in the 11th round of GNAC play.
Hamel’s side is building confidence in attacking play as well. The team has notched six goals in their seasonal play so far, only one shy of their goal total for all of last season.
While the results have not all gone their way, the side remains resilient, hoping to improve and overcome any obstacles.
The women will host the Northwest Nazarene Crusaders on Thursday, October 16.
