Truman Men's Soccer Weekend Notes (September 4-6, 2015)
Game #1: Truman (0-0-0, 0-0-0 GLVC) at #21 Northeastern (Okla.) State (0-0-0, 0-0-0 MIAA)
When: Friday, September 4, 2015 || 7:30 p.m. (CT)
Where: Tahlequah, Okla. || Dr. Dan DeLoache Field
Live Stream: None Available
Live Stats: http://sidearmstats.com/nsuok/msoc/
Stats: Truman (not available yet) | GLVC (not available yet)
Twitter: @TrumanAthletics || @TrumanGameday || @TrumanMSoccer || #BewareofDog
Game #2: Truman (0-0-0, 0-0-0 GLVC) vs. #14 Fort Hays (Kan.) State (0-0-0, 0-0-0 MIAA)
When: Sunday, September 6, 2015 || 11 a.m. (CT)
Where: Tahlequah, Okla. || Dr. Dan DeLoache Field
Live Stream: None Available
Live Stats: http://sidearmstats.com/nsuok/msoc/
Stats: Truman (not available yet) | GLVC (not available yet)
Twitter: @TrumanAthletics || @TrumanGameday || @TrumanMSoccer || #BewareofDog
A First Look:
The Truman men's soccer team will take the field for its 37th season on Friday evening, as the Bulldogs will tackle two former conference rivals – both of whom enter the 2015 season nationally-ranked in the NSCAA top-25.
The Bulldogs, who come into 2015 following a 5-11-1 campaign a season ago, will face two Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) schools within a 41-hour timeframe in Tahlequah, Okla. Truman will look to spoil the home opener for the tournament-host No. 21 Northeastern (Okla.) State RiverHawks on Friday night's (7:30 p.m.) opener before battling the Tigers of No. 14 Fort Hays (Kan.) State on Sunday morning (11 a.m.).
This will be the first time Truman has played either team since 2012 – the final year of MIAA membership for the Bulldog Athletic Department. That season, Truman went 0-2 against NSU and 1-0 against FHSU, falling 4-0 at NSU and 2-0 in the MIAA semifinals to the RiverHawks sandwiched around a 2-1 home win against the Tigers. The Bulldogs are 4-3 all time against NSU and 1-2 all-time against FHSU.
Just six starters from last year's team return for the Bulldogs, as a plethora of new faces dot the Truman roster at the start of the season. The team's top returners are seen in its three –member senior class, as midfielder Corey Nolte (team-leading four goals in 2014), midfielder John Lee (three points in 2014), and defender Matt McMillin (17 starts in 2014) look to balance the Bulldog lineup. The purple and white will also look to a new goalkeeper in 2015, as both of last season's choices graduated – leaving redshirt freshman Jory Knernschield, sophomore transfer Zach Suazo, and freshman Drew Orf as options for this fall.
Head coach Duke Cochran – who needs just four victories to become Truman's all-time winningest coach – begins his 11th season at the helm of the men's soccer program in 2015.
Bulldog Tweet-ables (140 characters or less):- #MSOCHistory: This weekend starts the 37th season of MSOC at Truman. The all-time record is 369-222-53 (.615).
- #SaveItForLater: Last season, the Bulldogs scored 11 of their 15 goals in the second half or OT.
- #ThirtyOne: The 2015 Bulldog rosters features three SRs, four JRs, 11 SOs, seven redshirt-FRs, and six true FRs.
- #ShowMeState: Of Truman's 31 players on the opening day roster, 24 hail from the state of Missouri. CO, IL, KS, and MN also repped.
- #HighLevel: The Bulldogs now feature three players who have seen the NCAA-I level, including newcomers Kane and Klemm.
- #AlphabetSoup: 12 players return as previous letterwinners for the Bulldogs in 2015.
- #Luebbert2: Nos. 9 and 10 will have a brotherly feel this year, as Jeff City natives Tyler & Nate Luebbert once again lace up for Truman.
And Now, Let's Head to Brick Tamland for the Weather:- Friday at 8 p.m. – 81 degrees (feels like 84), Clear, 2-mph SSE
- Sunday at 11 a.m. – 85 degrees (feels like 92), Clear/Sunny, 7-mph S
Bulldogs Picked 11th in GLVC Preseason Poll:
The Truman men's soccer team was picked 11th in the 2015 Great Lakes Valley Conference preseason poll, as league coaches awarded 90 total points to the Bulldogs in the 16-team poll.
The Bulldogs landed just two points back of preseason-10th place UW-Parkside and were eight points clear of preseason-12th place McKendree. Indianapolis picked up the top slot with 206 points and six first-place votes, while Quincy received the most first-place votes (8) of any team but came in three points back at 203.
Rockhurst (194) fell in third in front of Drury, who garnered the remaining pair of first-place votes and 188 total points. Lewis (178), Missouri-St. Louis (161), Bellarmine (142), and Missouri S&T (113) closed out the top eight.
Southern Indiana (107), UWP, Truman, and McKendree slid in the 9-12 slots, while Maryville (52), Illinois Springfield (51), William Jewell (40), and Saint Joseph's (21) rounded out the poll.
The top eight teams will qualify for the 2015 post-season tournament, to be held Nov. 1 (quarterfinals) and Nov. 6-8 (semifinals/final) on campus sites.
Scouting the Opponents:
Two teams coming off strong 2014 seasons will look to replicate that again in 2015, as MIAA powers Northeastern State and Fort Hays State welcome both Truman and Missouri S&T for matches this weekend.
On Friday, the Bulldogs and host RiverHawks will square off at 7:30 p.m. in the 2015 opener for both teams. Last year, NSU posted a 16-3-2 overall record along with an undefeated 11-0-1 mark in MIAA play. They reached the NCAA Round of 16 before falling in penalty kicks at home to Fort Hays. Head coach Rob Czlonka's squad will look to replace its top three point scorers from a season ago, with sophomore midfielder Justin Todd leading the returners.
Then, on Sunday, the Bulldogs will face an even tougher foe in the rankings, as Fort Hays State and Truman will battle in the second match of the weekend. The Tigers, after defeating NSU in the Round of 16, eventually lost to GLVC-foe Quincy by a 3-2 score in the national quarterfinals to end their season at 11-6-4. Fort Hays returns four of its top six points scorers from 2014, including senior forward Michael Cole (7G, 4A). Brett Parker enters his fifth year along the Hays sideline.
Up Next:
The Bulldogs return to the field next Friday and Sunday to open Great Lakes Valley Conference play with a split-travel weekend. Truman will host Maryville at 1 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 11, before visiting Missouri-St. Louis on Sunday, Sept. 13, at 2:30 p.m.
