by Ericka Simpson
Triangle Staff Writer
Bryan College’s men and women’s soccer teams completed their regular seasons this past week. The men’s team defeated the Bluefield (Va.) College Rams 3-0 on Oct. 24, and the women’s team overpowered the Reinhardt College (Alpharetta, Ga.) Lady Eagles 4-1 on Oct. 28.
The game against Reinhardt was the third game for the Lady Lions in five days. Head Coach Mark Sauve, said he was concerned the women would suffer from fatigue going into the game, but they did not use soreness as an excuse. He said they played mediocre the first half of the game, but put in the needed work for the second half.
Sophomore midfielder Cynthia Wade said that the team started playing better as they unified throughout the season and learned how to accommodate each other’s playing style.
“We are a good team and have the ability and talent to play well,” said Wade. “It just depends on how we use it in a game.”
Sauve said the women have learned to play with confidence and have the desire to work for each other. The women’s team finished third in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) for the regular season, and Sauve said he is excited for the women to host their first AAC tournament game.
“I am especially happy for the seniors to finish on a high note,” said Sauve. “All the hard work is paying off.”
The men’s soccer team finished its regular season, defeating the Bluefield Rams, and snagged the second-place seed in the AAC due to the 1-1 tie in the Reinhardt and Union College (Barbourville, Ky.) game on Oct. 31.
Head Coach Sandy Zensen said the team played one of the hardest schedules in the AAC because they played tough, consecutive games early in the season, but it made the team “battle-hardened.”
“I think the team is capable of winning the AAC tournament,” said Zensen. “And I don’t believe that any team wants to play us early in the tournament.”
Senior Matt Dee, right-back defensive player, said the team is focused this week on keeping the intensity up in practice and carrying that over into the AAC tournament.
“We can win the conference tournament,” said Dee. “We just have to put the work in.”
According to Zensen, the team has to focus on playing together at a high intensity and staying competitive in order to play well in the AAC tournament. He said the team seems to be peaking in the last couple of weeks.
Both the men and women’s soccer teams will begin the AAC tournament at home on Nov. 7; facing off against the Bluefield Rams.
