Fall 2009 League Schedule

I'll admit, I lied. I said the next post would be a player spotlight but that is still in the works. I promise Curt gave me some great responses so look for it soon.

For the Fall 2009 Kansas-Missouri Soccer League (KMSL) season, eight teams have been divided into Eastern and Western divisions:

Eastern: Truman, Mizzou, Saint Louis University, Washington University (St. Louis)

Western: Kansas, K-State, Wichita State, Washburn

The format includes playing home-and-away matches against each divisional opponent with two additional matches against teams from the other division. The season concludes, for invited teams, with the Region IV North Tournament at Kansas State. FC Truman has been invited to the Region IV North Tournament in each of its two years of competition.  The winner of the regional tournament gains an automatic bid to the NIRSA National Tournament in Phoenix, AZ.

FC Truman's schedule (all games scheduled for 1 pm unless noted):

Sun 9/13 @ KU

Sat 9/19 vs. Wichita State

Sun 9/20 vs. Wash U

Fri 9/25 @ Mizzou, 7 pm

Sun 9/27 @ SLU

Sat 10/3 @ Wash U

Sun 10/4 vs. Mizzou

Sat 10/10 vs. SLU

10/30 - 11/1 Region IV North Tournament (Manhattan, KS)

11/19 - 11/21 NIRSA National Tournament (Phoenix, AZ)

Spring 2009 Recap: "We're like a controlled burn"

This is going to be a longer one, so bear with me (and keep reading).

FC Truman played four matches and had one scrimmage during the spring semester.  First up was the scrimmage against the Truman State varsity team that served as a tough tune-up before the spring tournament at Kansas State.  FC Truman fell 1-0 to the varsity team on a second half goal.

Next up was the Ed Chartrand Memorial Soccer Tournament at Kansas State University.  This was the second year we have competed.  The first year was a great experience, but this time around we were out to do one better and make the finals, as well as provide the departing players with one last chance at bringing home some hardware. For the 2009 edition, we were placed in a group with Pittsburg State (KS), McPherson College (KS), and Kansas State Alumni.  Initially, our hopes were high--this seemed like a manageable group compared to last year when we faced the likes of K-State and Nebraska in group play. However, we soon learned that we were going to face all three opponents in the same day. A tough pill to swallow for a marginally fit (to put it kindly) group of dudes, but, well, I'll let the results speak for themselves:

Game 1: Truman 1, Pitt State 0 (1-0-0 in group play)

Truman goal scored by Brandon Lamar (assisted by Adam Hoskins); cleansheet recorded by Martin Di Stefano.

It was an early one, and apparently Pitt State thought so too, as 4 or 5 of their players made a 20th minute appearance...to the complex.  We played well from the start, having the majority of the possession.  The game's loan breakthrough came from a late first half goal by Brandon Lamar, who one-timed home an Adam Hoskins cross into an open net.  We held on in the second half, controlling the tempo but failing to punch in a second (or third or fourth, as it seemed it could have been).

Game 2: Truman 1, McPherson College 1 (1-0-1 in group play)

Truman goal scored by Kyle Hood.

Our second game pitted us against an actual varsity team (apparently minus their departing seniors) in McPherson.  McPherson broke through first in the second half with well-orchestrated set piece that left us puzzled; without going into too much detail, let's just say it was controversial.  Fortunately, Kyle Hood banged home a loose ball in the waning moments to help us escape with a draw.

Game 3: Truman 2, K-State Alumni 0 (2-0-1 in group play)

Truman goals scored by Curt Ooton (2)  assisted by Collin Koenig (2); cleansheet recorded by Martin Di Stefano

The crowning achievement of our spring season, for what it's worth.  This game took place in Memorial Stadium in Manhattan, an FieldTurf field with plenty of room to get out and run wide. And, though it was our third match of the day, we took advantage.  We knew we had more legs than our competition and we took the game to them from early on in the match.  Curt Ooton scored his first Club team goal in the first half and then added a late second half clincher for the brace. This was a complete team effort and really validated our long day in the Kansas sun.  This win also clinched the group, earning us a favorable seed in the semifinals.

Game 4, Semifinal: Kansas State 3, Truman 0 (2-1-1 for the tournament)

A repeat semifinal exit was in the cards for us on Sunday morning.  After playing valiantly for three matches on Saturday, we unfortunately drew rivals Kansas State in the semis.  In addition to being fatigued from Saturday's games, our already thin squad was hit with two critical injuries to defenders Mike Holly and Bob Kearbey.  With only a few subs available, we wore down quickly in the cold, whipping wind as K-State had the lion's (wildcat's?) share of possession and created far more chances than we could defend (or muster ourselves). Interestingly, K-State went on to lose to McPherson 2-1 in the final.

We had plenty of fun while in Manhattan.  Highlights included Saturday night dinner at HuHot, meeting a man at our Super 8 hotel who had his reception there (at the Super 8) on Saturday night (we were invited, but declined to attend), and exploring the Aggieville district.  Congrats to the Women's Club team who got second place after losing 1-0 to Kansas in the final!

UP NEXT-----> Player Spotlight: Curt Ooton

Truman beats K-State 3-2, goes to 2-0 on the season

Truman FC defeated Kansas State University 3-2 Saturday in Manhattan, KS. Austin Rupp scored in the first half to give Truman a 1-0 halftime advantage. After KSU equalized in the second half, Truman added goals by Kyle Hood and John Doyle. K-State pulled a goal back late in stoppage time, but Truman rode out the clock for the victory. Next up for Truman is a home game against Mizzou next Sunday, Sept 21st.

Truman Finishes 3rd at K-State Tournament

Truman FC finished in third place at the 2008 Ed Chartrand Memorial Tournament in Manhattan, KS over the weekend, bowing out to eventual champions Friends University in the semi-finals. Truman had finished 1-1-1 in pool play, finishing second in their group.

In the first game, against the Kansas State Alumni team, Truman jumped out to a 1-0 advantage after Matt Pecherski headed in a cross from Kyle Helms, but gave up a late goal to tie 1-1.

In the afternoon game against Kansas State on the turf of Memorial Stadium, Truman gave up a second half goal off of a set piece to lose 1-0.

On Sunday morning, Truman defeated Nebraska 2-0 on two Thomas McIntyre goals to qualify for the semi-finals. After earning a penalty in the first half, McIntyre converted the ensuing spot kick. He added to his total with a breakaway goal late in the second half to give Truman the 2-0 advantage and a spot in the next round.

In the semi-finals, Truman lost 3-1 to a tough Friends University team. After an early penalty, Friends scored off of a corner kick to make it 2-0. Nate Weimer scored just before halftime to cut the deficit to 2-1, but Friends added a second half goal to win 3-1.

Truman to Play in K-State Tournament April 18-20

Truman State has registered for the 2008 Ed Chartrand Memorial Tournament at Kansas State University. The tournament will take place April 18th-20th in Manhattan, KS. Games will be played at KSU Memorial Stadium, home of the Kansas State football team. Teams invited to this tournament include: Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas and Truman State. Stay posted for updates about the tournament schedule.

Fall 2007 Results

2007-2008 marked our first full year as a competitive club. We joined the Mid-America Collegiate Soccer League, which was composed of:

Kansas
Kansas St
Mizzou
SLU
Southeast MO St.
Southwest Baptist
St. Charles CC
Truman
Washington Univ. (St. Louis)
Wichita St

League play featured 8 games, 2 each against the other 4 members of our division: SLU, SEMO, St. Charles CC and Wash U. Truman went undefeated and untied against their division rivals and finished our first league season at 8-0. We finished the season ranked 4th in the region (of teams from Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas) and were invited to the Region IV Tournament in Columbia, MO.

After a forfeit victory over Oklahoma St. and a victory over Central Oklahoma, Truman lost its first game of the season, falling 3-0 to eventual regional champs Kansas State. Having finished 2nd in pool play, however, Truman qualified for the semifinals against perennial power Mizzou. After giving up an early goal, Truman equalized, and then appeared to take a 2-1 lead. The goal was called back, however, and Mizzou weathered the Truman storm. Mizzou added 2 goals after half time to win the semi-final game 3-1.

Truman finished the Fall 2007 season with a 10-2 record, giving us a 13-3 record since our inception.

RESULTS
MACSL League Play (8-0-0)

9/9 at Wash U (WIN 6-3)
9/15 vs SLU (WIN 3-1)
9/23 at St. Charles Community College (WIN 2-1)
9/29 at SLU (WIN 2-1)
9/30 at SEMO (WIN 5-1)
10/7 vs Wash U (WIN 1-0, forfeit)
10/14 vs St. Charles CC (WIN 4-2)
10/20 vs. SEMO (WIN 1-0, forfeit)

Regional Tournament @ Mizzou (2-2-0)

Pool play
10/26 v. Oklahoma State (WIN, forfeit)
10/27 v. Central Oklahoma (WIN, 1-0)
10/27 v. Kansas State (LOSS, 0-3)
Semifinals
10/28 v. Mizzou (LOSS, 1-3)

FINAL RECORD: 10-2-0