Over Block Break, the men’s soccer team hosted two games, shutting out during both games. Southwestern University and Texas Lutheran University.
The team started off against Southwestern University on Friday. The first period was quiet. It wasn’t until the second period, in the 83rd minute, that the 0-0 tie was finally broken. Junior midfielder Soren Frykholm struck for the first goal of the game, ultimately securing the win for the Tigers. Frykholm was named Defensive Player of the Week by the SCAC.
“It was a great corner sent in by Robbie Malone,” said Frykholm. “We practiced that specific corner where we try to find Nathan Andersen at the back post, and he was there, and it was a wonderfully executed corner, and if [Nathan] feels like he can’t get a good look on goal himself, he heads the goal back across the goal for the rest of us who are crashing the goal. And it was just right there for me to flick on. I didn’t have to think too much. I didn’t have to do too much. It was just kind of an instinctual flick of my head, and [I was able to] send it past the keeper who was right on my back.”
A few minutes later, sophomore goalkeeper Theo Hooker defended against Southwestern’s only shot on goal of the entire game. “We had just scored our first goal so it was 1-0, and in the next couple of minutes they had a big ball over the top,” said Hooker. “Their forward…touched it past our defender and took a shot, and I just made a diving stop to the side.”
Shortly after, first-year midfielder Robert Malone scored an insurance tally for the Tigers. The game ended with a 2-0 victory.
“It’s just some games, maybe you’re not getting as many chances, sometimes you miss your chance, and I think we were having trouble coming up with chances in that first game,” said Malone. “We knew that we were better than both the teams we were playing. We were confident in ourselves, and because of that, we felt like both of the games should have been won better than they did, but it went well.”
“We had a poor first half, cut and dry,” said Head Coach Scott Palguta. “I think it was a matter of the guys refocusing their energy and coming out with a renewed effort in the second half. It was like night and day, the two halves. In the end we deserved the two goals that we got.”
Against Texas Lutheran on Sunday, the Tigers played a very different first half. “We knew we had to have a fast start against TLU, so that they couldn’t just sit back and put 11 guys behind the ball for the entire game as they did the last time we played them,” said senior midfielder Seth Newby. “There was more urgency from our attack to get on the scoreboard early, which is why we threw a lot of guys forward including myself.”
The Tigers claimed the lead early in minute 14. Andersen scored with a header off a corner kick by senior midfielder Ryan Huettel. Then, in the minute 27, the Tigers increased their lead with a goal by Newby. CC was winning 2-0 before Texas Lutheran had even had a shot on goal.
“It was really nice after the slow start on Friday to come out of the gate quickly against Texas Lutheran and seize control,” said Palguta.
“This year we have two freshmen on the backline which is uncharacteristic ,but it definitely doesn’t feel like we have two freshmen back there,” said Hooker. “We’re really working well as a unit. We don’t give up easy shots, easy goals, that sort of thing. We’re a very tough team to break down.”
“Our greatest strength this season has been our belief in our style of play,” said Frykholm. “A lot of teams that we play against like to boot the ball up the field we sometimes call it kickball but we really like to work the ball up the field…and try to play what we feel is more beautiful soccer.”
The style of play is clearly working. CC’s record is now 11-2-2 overall and 9-1-1 in conference play. Next, the team has two away games against Austin College and Centenary College.
“The game is the best teacher,” said Palguta. “You learn from playing. They’ll learn from this past weekend how different games can be when you start well or when you start slow.”
Fans that missed out on the Block Break games will still have a chance to see the Tigers in action when Colorado College hosts the SCAC Championship Nov. 6-8.