Everything on the Line

Laurie Bell, a junior on the 2013 Milwaukee men's soccer team, will once again be blogging all season long on the UWM website. Today is his 12th entry of the year.

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It’s post-season. A time when every game is your biggest of the season, and any game could be your last. When your next blog may be a season-reflector or a look ahead to a new opponent. We kick off tonight in the Horizon League semi-final against a tough Oakland side who finished just one place behind us in conference. The prize for the winner: a place in Sunday’s final against UIC.

So, we are in Chicago, stationed in our hotel rooms, each player preparing themselves for tonight in their unique way. We have just returned from our habitual pre-game walk. On today’s wander, we lapped a Super-Target megastore beside the hotel. The journey took us behind a loading dock that smelled worse than Ryan Onwukwe’s dreadlocks after a month without being washed. Perhaps it was some kind of preparatory strategy. If we can make it through that, we’re ready for anything.

A week ago, we recorded our biggest victory of the season, a 5-0 thrashing of Cleveland State. Our defense was huge in ensuring the clean sheet, and five different players notched goals. Ashy, Goodnetter, and myself added to our season tallies, and two freshmen scored their first goals for Milwaukee. Beau finished nicely to wrap up the scoring, after Kostas Kotselas earned an overdue first goal in the final game of a regular season that he deserved more from. Rami Younes starred with two assists and an impressive performance on his return from injury. It was a great way for the seniors to bow out of Engelmann action, and a fantastic set up for this weekend’s tournament. It has given us confidence that we will carry into tonight.

Earlier this week, the Horizon League awards came out. Andrew Stone and I were awarded First Team All-Horizon League honors, and Luke Goodnetter and Robbie Boyd were named on the second team. I must thank my team for helping me earn the Horizon League Player of the Year Award, too. Our whole squad felt rightly aggrieved, after our remarkable season, that we didn’t get more recognition in these polls. But, while they are good achievements, this isn’t why any of us play the game. If our priorities were the pursuit of individual trophies, we would have taken up tennis or golf.

But we are all footballers, soccer players. We participate in the greatest team sport in the world for a reason. To play in a team. To win, draw and, sometimes, even lose together. To work collectively with 25 other guys towards the same goal. The goal this weekend: to win a Horizon League Championship in Chicago. It is what we have worked towards all season, and it starts tonight against Oakland. We can’t wait.

The Engelmann Eight

Laurie Bell, a junior on the 2013 Milwaukee men's soccer team, will once again be blogging all season long on the UWM website. Today is his 11th entry of the year.

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Tonight we can secure the number two spot in the Horizon League and a place in the conference tournament semi-final. We can take our win tally to an impressive 13. It’s a big game and a big opportunity. It is also a chance to recognize the eight seniors who will be enjoying possibly their last-ever game at Engelmann Stadium.

Whether they have been here four years, two years or even six months, each player has contributed significantly to the program and will be missed next season.

Robbie Boyd, my fellow captain, has led us for the past two years. He has given us pace and quality down the righthand side and will be a tough act to follow for future wingers. It was at Robbie’s house that I spent my first week in Milwaukee. So, I thank him for helping me settle in, and also for all the penalties that he’s won!

Riley Weiner has battled through injury throughout his college career, but has still managed to contribute in every one of his seasons. Like a few of the other seniors, he’ll still be around UWM next year as he works towards his Masters. Hopefully, that’ll mean more days for us out on his boat.

Andrew Stone has only has one playing season for us, but he has made a significant impact. His defensive quality and athleticism have given us real strength at the back this year, and his size 12's will be big shoes to fill. We wish him luck with his future ambitions in the game.

James Ashcroft is the only senior not from the state. Although, the first day I met him I couldn’t detect a hint of his British accent and mistook him for a Wisconsinite. A former captain, he has shown leadership, quality and versatility in his years as a Panther, and the locker room will feel very different without his presence when he’s gone. Something tells me the wannabe-American won’t be too far away though.

I’m not sure what Kevin Ferron’s plans are after college, but I have a feeling he’ll do well for himself. On the field and off it, he has a knack of getting what he wants. He also has the coolest mode of transportation on the team. It won’t feel right when we leave practice next year without him zooming away on his retro moped.

Aaron Cranfill, like Stone, had to sit a year before playing his only season for us. But, as our record shows, it’s a season worth waiting for. Fortunately, his goofiness will still grace our locker room next year as he begins his role as graduate assistant. We just can’t shake this guy.

Austin Toth had to play for UWM. He has told me the story a couple of times how his parents met each other on Engelmann Field. His dad was a soccer player and his mother a dancer. She has now made her own mark on the program by baking delicious desserts all fall! A.To is embracing his short time here since arriving over summer after four years at DePaul. His unwavering smile even remains as I regularly beat him at ping-pong.

Luke Davey is a Panther. He always has been and always will be. He knew from an early age he was going to play here, and I believe his plan is to spend his old age watching more Milwaukeeans grace the Engelmann turf. I will miss my locker buddy and we all will miss our devoted teammate.

So, tonight we shall pay tribute to the Engelmann Eight. And before we deal with losing so many big characters and quality players next year, and before they tackle intimidating post-college lives, we will collectively try to help them sign off their careers with silverware and success.

Spooky Soccer

Laurie Bell, a junior on the 2013 Milwaukee men's soccer team, will once again be blogging all season long on the UWM website. Today is his 10th entry of the year.

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On Halloween-eve we took on Northern Illinois in the battle for the LeWang trophy. True to occasion, the setting was more fitting for a scary movie than a soccer game. The rain lashed down in a near-deserted stadium and just the odd spectator in dark, hooded clothing dotted the touchline. The game was ugly and not particularly eventful. The longer it remained scoreless the more the suspense built. Then, in the 74th minute, we carved open the NIU defense like a pumpkin.

Patrick Ruhland carried the ball down the right wing, ghosting past defenders and crossed to Kostas. He battled with their defender and set the ball invitingly to my right foot. I wielded my axe and the ball went spinning away like a decapitated head in a low budget horror film, landing in the back of the ghoul. I mean goal. Our opponents gave us some late frights, but our defense was monstrous, ensuring that none of our missed chances from set pieces came back to haunt us. We shook hands and hurried onto the bus before any bad befell us. The team and trophy arrived home safely.

Our next and last regular season match is on Saturday against Cleveland State, meaning a ten day space between games. This is both unusual and welcome. Our hectic schedule often only gives us two or three days rest for niggling injuries, which are common at this time of year, to be healed quickly or bandaged heavily.

Fortunately though, our squad is deep this year and anyone who comes off the bench, not only covers well but adds something to the team. This enables our coaches to rotate and rest players without harming our quality on the field. Recently, Beau Laufer, Kotselas, Riley Weiner and Patrick Ruhland have been particularly impressive when they have featured. Kyle Neumann, who has started the last two games, has held his own in midfield, contributing to a couple of wins.

The uninterrupted practice time is also providing opportunity for us to train hard. We are working tactically, technically and physically in preparation for the Cleveland State game and then the postseason competitions, which will define our fall. If we are victorious on Saturday, we will end the regular season with 13 wins. Regardless of what happens after that, we will have had a remarkable season. But we want it to be a truly memorable one for UWM men’s soccer. We have our sights set on the NCAA tournament, which would be a special experience for the players, coaches and the program.

We certainly believe in ourselves, and our record and performances this year give reason for others to do so too. But we are taking it one game at a time. We ask everybody to support us Saturday on Engelmann, and wish us luck on our travels beyond.

Happy belated Halloween!