Bryan loses heartbreaker in conference tourney
October 30th, 2006Bryan College men's soccer team completed its season with a heartbreaking
loss to Virginia Intermont on Monday night. Bryan, who came into the AAC
Tourney as the #4 Seed, played host to the #5 Virginia Intermont squad, who
at one point in the season had been ranked as high as #11 nationally in the
NAIA.
As the crowd began to fill the stands and the red and gold banners
began to wave, a playoff atmosphere began to build and as the whistle blew
to begin the first half; the magnitude of this match was evident to all.
VI began the game with a physical manner of play that would eventually lead
to 5 yellow cards and a red card before the final whistle. Just nine
minutes into the match, VI opened the scoring as a through ball found the
feet of a VI striker, creating a one-on-one opportunity with NAIA All-Region
Goalkeeper Kevin Keeley, that found the back of the net. Seventeen minutes
later, VI would strike again as a cross found the head of #9 Reusche who was
able to place it past a diving Keeley. As the half came to a close, the
scoreline read VI 2 Bryan 0.
The second half opened with a focused and determined Bryan squad taking
the field. The Lions began to push forward and applied increasingly intense
pressure to VI. After a dominant half of play with the VI goalkeeper making
a number of incredible saves, one had to feel that a goal was coming.
Then, with eight minutes remaining, a scramble in the box led to Freshman
Curt Hayes blasting the ball into the back of the net from short range. As
VI kicked off, the Lions were all over them and a minute later, a deflected
cross began to fall outside the box and found the foot of Chilean Diego
Taucano as he hit an amazing one-time volley into the right hand corner of
the net, starting an explosive reaction from the home fans who have been so
faithful all year for the Lions. Unfortunately, for the Lions, VI's Mark
McCormick picked up a through ball a minute and a half later and, through a
great individual effort was able to find the net for VI, pushing them through
to the AAC Semifinal.
The Lions finished the season with a 9-6-2 record and a 4th place regular season finish. The future looks bright as only two seniors will be departing this year. Senior Kevin Keeley will be sorely missed as a leader off the field and an award winner on it. Also, Colombian Midfielder Felipe Vallejo, will be certainly missed as his work rate and commitment to the team was inspirational. With the returning players coming back more experienced and hungry next year, August can't get here soon enough.