With victories in its last five games, the Massachusetts men’s soccer team certainly realizes the postseason is right around the corner and the stretch run toward it has arrived.
With six matches remaining on its regular season schedule, UMass is currently tied with Rhode Island for second place in the Atlantic 10 standings with 12 points apiece. Richmond – the only team that is undefeated in the conference – is currently holding the No. 1 spot with 15 points.
This weekend the Minutemen have a chance to take over that top spot as they face off with a pair of conference rivals – the St. Joseph’s Hawks and the Temple Owls.
Today at 3:30 p.m. in the friendly confines of Totman Field, the Maroon and White will put its five-game winning streak on the line against the tough Hawks.
SJU comes into the match with a 7-4 overall record and a 3-2 mark in the Atlantic 10 conference. After suffering a heartbreaking 2-0 loss to Richmond last Friday, the Hawks regrouped and shutout George Washington 3-0 two days later. St. Joe’s has won three out of its last four matches.
UMass is coming off a 3-2 win over non-conference opponent Siena. And in order to get his players ready for the stretch run toward the postseason, Head Coach Sam Koch rested his starters for half of the match.
“To get ready for a team like St. Joe’s, we have to make sure that we are healthy,” Koch said.
Senior back Shawn Green suffered an injury to his left leg in the match versus Siena. The Marshfield, Mass. native was going for the ball on the right side of the field when a slide tackle from one of the Saint defenders wounded him.
As of Wednesday, he was questionable for today’s match with the Hawks, but his coach feels that he will be ready to play.
“He was cleated, but he’s OK,” Koch remarked. “He will be alright for Friday.”
Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. UMass duels with another A-10 opponent at Totman Field, except this it is against a team that has struggled all season long.
The Temple Owls are currently 2-9-1 overall and 1-4 in the Atlantic 10 conference. The squad is trying desperately to stay out of the cellar of the conference standings.
They currently have a five-game losing streak going, but the Minutemen know that they should not take any team easily, especially during this time of the year.
“We have to limit our touches and move the ball a little quicker,” said Koch, about what his team needs to improve on. “We want to try to make as easy as possible for the guy with the ball as we can.”
Coach Koch was a little disappointed after the game against Siena for the way his team gave up the two goals. He said that his squad “showed some sloppy play.”
This weekend, Koch hopes that his team can improve on the shoddy play and extend its winning streak to seven games.
“Soccer is a simple game; we just have to make it as simple as possible,” he said. “If we can do these things, we will have a good weekend.”