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A beefed up schedule set the tone for what was to be a record setting year for the Bulldog men’s soccer program.
After opening the season with a 3-1 loss to a heavily international and nationally ranked University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma and a forfeit win from Bacone College, the Bulldogs tied NCAA D-III Greenville College before turning back cross town rival Central Christian College.
A disappointing overtime loss to York was followed by a 1-0 win at Oklahoma Wesleyan before a one-goal loss to Manhattan Christian started a three game slide which included losses on the road to Oklahoma Christian University and nationally ranked Oklahoma Baptist.
The Bulldogs opened KCAC play with a 1-0 win at Bethel, then struggled in a 2-2 double overtime tie at the University of Saint Mary. Wins over Bethany and Ottawa was followed by an disappointing double overtime tie at Friends.
Still undefeated in KCAC play (3-0-2), the Bulldogs felt they let one get away when KCAC regular season champion-to-be Kansas Wesleyan came away with a 1-0 over McPherson on the Bulldogs home turf.
With the KWU loss basically shutting the door on the path to a KCAC title, the Bulldogs blew out Tabor, 5-0, then suffered another disappointment when they were tied by Southwestern in double overtime after having the game postponed one day due to lightning in Winfield. Knowing a win over Sterling in their regular season finale would give them a home berth in the first round of KCAC post-season play, the Bulldogs dispatched Sterling, 2-0, to finish 3rd in the KCAC race.
The KCAC quarterfinals brought Friends to McPherson Stadium, and the Bulldogs played one of their best matches of the season in turning back the Falcons, 2-0. With all tournament semifinals and finals being hosted by Bethel College, the Bulldogs dropped a 2-0 decision to #2 seed, Ottawa. But, the Bulldogs’ season wasn’t going to end there.
Based on the Longo scoring system, the Bulldogs qualified for the NAIA Region IV playoffs as the #5 seed. The first round of the Region IV tournament sent the Bulldogs to Salina for a match with #4 seed Kansas Wesleyan. Given the opportunity to avenge their earlier 1-0 loss to the Coyotes, McPherson dominated throughout in defeated KCAC regular season and tournament champion Kansas Wesleyan, 2-0.
With a win in its first region post-season appearance and a school record 10 wins on the season already in hand, the Bulldogs traveled to Parkville, Missouri, for a Region IV semifinal match against #1 seed and nationally ranked Park University. The largely international Park was more than the young Bulldogs could handle, and the Bulldogs’ season came to an end with the 3-0 loss.
The Bulldogs’ third place finish in the KCAC regular season and 10 wins on the season were both school record highs.
In the post-season vote of the KCAC coaches, Tyler Lawrence, Robert Magana-Garcia, and Nathan McDaniel were selected to the All-KCAC first team.
With only two seniors on the 2005, and now post-season tournament experienced, the table appears to be set for another step forward for the Bulldog men’s soccer program.
