2008 Season Recap
A five-match winning streak, including a school record three consecutive shut-outs, closed out the regular season for the Bulldog men and propelled McPherson into second place in the final KCAC standings. The second place finish was a school record for the highest regular season finish.
Thanks to their second place finish, the Bulldogs received a bye into the semifinal round of the KCAC post-season tournament, which the Bulldogs entered with a 6-2-1 KCAC mark and a 9-7-1 overall record.
Of the Bulldogs’ seven losses, five came to teams which are currently ranked among the NAIA’s top 25 or are receiving votes in the national poll.
Six Bulldogs received All-KCAC honors in a vote by the conference coaches. Junior Armando Rodriguez, Dallas, Texas, and freshman Tyler Tank, Austin, Texas, were named to the All-KCAC first team. Named to the second team were senior Jose Rodriguez, Dallas, Texas, junior Anthony Baldi, Arvada, Colo., and sophomore Calin Strong, Manhattan, Kan. Junior transfer Chris Plooster, McPherson, Kan., received honorable mention All-KCAC recognition.
The Rodriguez brothers, Armando and Jose, both received KCAC “Player of the Week” honors during the regular season, the first time in recent conference history brothers had received the honor the same season.
Men’s Soccer advances to National Tournament
The McPherson College men’s soccer team defeated Kansas Wesleyan 3-2 for the championship of the KCAC Post-Season Tournament. With the win, McPherson earned the conference’s automatic berth in the 50th NAIA Men’s Soccer National Tournament. The tournament title is McPherson’s first out-right KCAC regular season or tournament title in 30 years.
“This is what we’ve been playing for,” said McPherson men’s coach Doug Quint. “This has been a long time coming! I’m so proud of our guys and this program. This win was for everyone that has been involved or a part of McPherson College soccer over the years.”
With the win, the Bulldogs earned
the right to travel to Oklahoma City for a Nov. 22, opening round
match against Oklahoma City University, the tournament’s
top seeded team.
Playing in the NAIA
National Tournament for the first time in school history, the
Bulldogs came out on the short end of a 6-1 decision against the
#1 seed, Oklahoma City University Stars. The NAIA first
round match closed out the Bulldogs' 11-8-1 season, their third
straight 11-win year.
Quint concludes, “We have worked hard for this moment. This program has improved every year and finally the pieces have fallen into place! What a great and well deserved feeling!”
