MEADVILLE, Pa. – Heading into the last weekend of the season, both the men's and women's soccer seasons come down to the final conference game of the year as both teams are in position to make the NCAC tournament starting November 3rd. The road to the conference tournament for both is through Ohio Wesleyan University. Both games will be streamed live by OWU's sports information staff through the following link: http://stream.owu.edu/
Despite scenarios that would keep both the men out of the tournament, each team is still in a position of power. Essentially it is as simple as “win and you're in,” but an outright win worth three points is not the only positive outcome for each team. Both can also come away with a tie, earning one point, and be able to secure a spot in the top four.
After an incredible 10-game streak without allowing a goal, the women (12-1-3, 3-1-2 NCAC) conceded their first goal of the year a month into the campaign against Penn State Behrend. The Gators would rally in that game to come away with the victory 2-1, improving their record to 10-0-1 at the time. Given the unprecedented start to their season, it is hard to believe that there is a scenario that will keep the no. 21 nationally-ranked women's team out of the conference tournament. The women currently sit in fourth place in the conference with a mark of 3-1-2 in league play. After tying games with Kenyon and Wooster, the lone blemish on their season, came against first-place Wittenberg University last Saturday at home. The competitiveness of the NCAC in women's soccer now has the Gators in an uneasy position, yet they still control their destiny against OWU (4-9-3, 1-4-1 NCAC), who will be looking to play spoiler.
The men (8-6-3, 4-2-1 NCAC), like the women are in a position of power where they can control their own destiny and do not need any conference help to make the tournament. Currently sitting in a tie for third at 4-2-1, but would be the third seed if the season ended today by virtue of a, now monumental, 3-2 win over Oberlin (7-9-1, 4-2-1 NCAC) in the final minute of double overtime, the men have almost punched their ticket to the conference tournament for the first time since 2007 when they made it to the championship game before falling to champion OWU 1-0. The thrilling win was the third conference win in a row for the men setting them up in the position they find themselves in now. Although the goal going into Saturday night's game is simple, picking up any kind of point, the men will be tested to the fullest. Unlike the women for OWU, their men (13-1-2, 6-0-1 NCAC) have a conference championship and a no. 2 national ranking to play for.
After nearly two months of soccer, both the men's and women's regular seasons come to an end Saturday night and the outcome of each game, with some other slight conference help, if need be, will determine the playoff fate of both as well.
