Men's Soccer | 9/7/2010 9:30:05 AM
Game Notes (PDF)
Live Stats
The Matchup
The McPherson men’s soccer team will host Manhattan Christian College in a midweek non-conference matchup at McPherson Stadium in McPherson, Kan. Kickoff is set to begin at 8:00 p.m. CST. Live stats will be available at www.macbulldogs.com.
McPherson (0-1-1) will be seeking its first win of the season against the Crusaders. The Bulldogs opened the season with a pair of matches against Concordia University and the University of Sioux Falls. MC senior
Brent Mulford (Topeka, Kan.) recorded a late goal against CU to propel the Bulldogs to a draw in match one, but the team failed to score against USF dropping the match, 1-0.
Mulford continues the lead the team with two points on one goal, while sophomore
Sam Tucker (Thornton, Colo.) ranks second on the team with one point on one assist.
Junior goalkeeper
Blake Jett (Fort Worth, Texas) has played all 200 minutes between the pipes this season. Jett has recorded three saves, while allowing two goals for a .900 goals against average.
Looking past Manhattan Christian, the Bulldogs continue their season opening home stand against Briar Cliff University on Saturday, Sept. 11 at McPherson Stadium. The game will begin at 8:00 p.m. CST.
Last week for the Bulldogs
McPherson went 0-1-1 last week in home matches against Concordia University and the University of Sioux Falls. In Saturday’s loss to USF, McPherson recorded 17 shots, including seven shots on goal, but failed to find the back of the net.
Last Wednesday’s match against Concordia, McPherson outshot CU 19-9, but failed to notch the go-ahead goal in the double overtime draw. MC trailed for 22 minutes in the second half until senior forward Brent Mulford buried a pass from sophomore Sam Tucker into the back of the net. Both sides battled late into the second overtime, but failed to break the 1-1 tie.
Scouting MCC
Manhattan Christian (0-1-0) enters Wednesday coming off a 1-0 loss at Ottawa University. The two sides remained even through most of the match until Brave midfielder Greg Klenyaev found the back of the net for the eventual game winning goal.
A year ago, the Crusaders finished the season 17-7-1 to win its six consecutive MCCC conference championship. MCC failed to win the tournament championship, but continued its season into the NCCAA tournament, where they won the region and finished sixth nationally
Head coach Dr. Rick Wright has been at the helm of the Crusaders for sixteen seasons and holds a career record of 282-65-8. During his tenure, Wright has led the program to fifteen conference championships and three NCCAA Division II National Championships. He was selected regional Coach of the Year in 2001, 2003, 2004 and 2008.
Series Breakdown
McPherson is 4-1-0 against the Crusaders over the last five seasons, including a dominating 5-1 win in 2009. During this period, the Bulldogs outscored MCC 12-5. Manhattan Christian’s lone win came in 2005, as the Crusaders topped the Bulldogs, 2-1.
