2008 Woodie Awards
Men fail to improve record
Soccer team loses Homecoming game and ties Illinois-Chicago
Issue date: 10/8/08 Section: Sports
The men's soccer team played two games last weekend with two very different results. After a heartbreaking 1-0 defeat to Loyola in the Homecoming game on Friday, Oct. 3, the Raiders rebounded with a hard-earned 1-1 draw against No. 9 Illinois-Chicago two days later.
Wright State set an aggressive pace in the first half against Loyola, out-shooting the Ramblers 9-3. Playing in front of an electric home crowd, their largest of the season, the Raiders had four shots on goal in the opening period, two coming off the foot of senior forward Josh Grossman, but none found the net.
Loyola struck first with the only goal of the game early in the second half on a corner kick. The ball was played into the middle of the penalty area and went untouched by the Raider defense. It landed at the feet of a Loyola player, who buried the short-range shot.
"We played well the whole game and then they get that one corner kick and it goes in the goal," head coach Mike Tracy said. "How it felt right there I'm not really sure."
The score was one of only two shots on goal the Ramblers could manage all game.
The Raiders had to play a man down for much of the second half after a questionable second yellow card to Josh Zimmerlin. They still nearly tied the game with less than 15 minutes to play on a deflection by junior Braden Fleak that forced a diving save. But Wright State could not find the equalizer and fell 1-0.
The Green and Gold looked to turn things around Sunday, Oct. 5, against one of the top programs in the country, Illinois-Chicago. The ninth-ranked Flames entered the game unbeaten, and last year advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament.
Wright State scored first in the 38 minute with a beautiful far-post header by Fleak on a cross from the left sideline by freshman defender John Gulden.
"(Gulden) made a great cross, and Fleak, that's a world-class finish with his head," Tracy said.
UIC tied the game three minutes into the second half when the Raiders failed to clear the ball following a corner kick. Sophomore keeper Matt Koewler shut down the Flames' attack through the end of regulation and two overtime periods to preserve the draw.
Wright State has played their best soccer when it has mattered most this season. After starting 1-7 in non-conference play with several tough losses, the Raiders are 1-1-1 in the Horizon League.
"We might be the best 2-8 team in the country," said a smiling Tracy.
The team returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 11, when they will host Detroit at 7 p.
Wright State set an aggressive pace in the first half against Loyola, out-shooting the Ramblers 9-3. Playing in front of an electric home crowd, their largest of the season, the Raiders had four shots on goal in the opening period, two coming off the foot of senior forward Josh Grossman, but none found the net.
Loyola struck first with the only goal of the game early in the second half on a corner kick. The ball was played into the middle of the penalty area and went untouched by the Raider defense. It landed at the feet of a Loyola player, who buried the short-range shot.
"We played well the whole game and then they get that one corner kick and it goes in the goal," head coach Mike Tracy said. "How it felt right there I'm not really sure."
The score was one of only two shots on goal the Ramblers could manage all game.
The Raiders had to play a man down for much of the second half after a questionable second yellow card to Josh Zimmerlin. They still nearly tied the game with less than 15 minutes to play on a deflection by junior Braden Fleak that forced a diving save. But Wright State could not find the equalizer and fell 1-0.
The Green and Gold looked to turn things around Sunday, Oct. 5, against one of the top programs in the country, Illinois-Chicago. The ninth-ranked Flames entered the game unbeaten, and last year advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament.
Wright State scored first in the 38 minute with a beautiful far-post header by Fleak on a cross from the left sideline by freshman defender John Gulden.
"(Gulden) made a great cross, and Fleak, that's a world-class finish with his head," Tracy said.
UIC tied the game three minutes into the second half when the Raiders failed to clear the ball following a corner kick. Sophomore keeper Matt Koewler shut down the Flames' attack through the end of regulation and two overtime periods to preserve the draw.
Wright State has played their best soccer when it has mattered most this season. After starting 1-7 in non-conference play with several tough losses, the Raiders are 1-1-1 in the Horizon League.
"We might be the best 2-8 team in the country," said a smiling Tracy.
The team returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 11, when they will host Detroit at 7 p.
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