Armed with winning records, both the men’s and women’s soccer teams gear up for post-season regional and national tournaments.
SLCC Men’s and Women’s Soccer teams wrap up regular season play this month.
Both Bruins teams boast winning records this year, and both look forward to competing at the post-season regional and national level.
“Regionals are going to prepare us to gear up for nationals,” says Brooke Thompson, captain of women’s soccer team.
The Lady Bruins look forward to tournament experience
The winner of the regional qualifier earns an automatic bid to the 2012 National Intramural Recreation Sports Association (NIRSA) National Soccer Championships.
The Lady Bruins have already qualified for nationals by earning a winning record in Region VI, but the team will travel to Flagstaff, Arizona for the regional tournament.
“Regionals are going to be a really big deal for us since we’re just playing in the women’s league here,” says Thompson. “It’s important for us to go to regionals so that we can tune-up and really get what we’re going to be playing against at nationals.”
The men’s team is nationally ranked No. 9
The Bruins hold a record of 9-4 and 3 ties. Team captain and Business student Collin Wilson credits their success to Head Coach Enrique Velasquez.
“Enrique is an awesome individual. I noticed that we are extremely successful when we execute and do the small and simple things that he says,” says Wilson. “We find ourselves scoring goals and winning games and that’s what it’s all about.”
The men’s team finishes the season with two of their last four games against fellow top-ten nationally ranked opponents, No. 1 Weber State University, and then No. 6 University of Utah.
“These last four games will be the hardest games that we have of the season, they’ll really determine where we are in the standings for regionals,” says Wilson.
The Bruins need to win the tournament in order to receive an invite to the 2012 NIRSA National Soccer Championships in Memphis. If they don’t win the regional, they hope to receive one of the six “at-large” NIRSA bids given out after the regional tournament.
Bruin Pride
The Soccer teams are supported by Student Life and Leadership. Dr. Abio Ayeliya the Coordinator of Leadership and Diversity, is also a representative for the soccer teams. Ayeliya encourages students to come out to the games.
“Most of the games are scheduled [at] home, right here. I would like to see that strong Bruin pride out there,” says Ayeliya.
The men’s team will host Scenic West Athletic Conference (SWAC) foe North Idaho College on Oct. 12 in the team’s last home game this season.
Home games are held at Taylorsville Redwood Campus on the west side of the Lifetime Activities Center.
For more information, visit here for men’s team and here for women’s team.
