Donald Smith Sports Column by Donald Smith
The Metropolitan Everyone was trying to avoid something this week. The women's volleyball team was trying to avoid falling under .500 in conference play; the men's soccer team was trying to avoid .500; and the women's soccer team is just trying to avoid boredom, as they haven't had a close game since they lost to Cal-State Bakersfield Sept. 2. Okay, at least the men's team was able to avoid .500. Women's Volleyball (4-8 overall, 1-3 RMAC)
ìPARTY AT CHADRON!î The Chadron State Eagles beat the Roadrunners for the first time in almost two decades (last Chadron win was 1986). Now, the ëRunner women's volleyball team must set their sights on their five-game road trip, which includes Northern Colorado, arch rival Regis, and Fort Lewis. All I can say is, if they can't turn it around right now, it could be a long season. Oh yeah, FYI: I only think Renee Hazlewood and Stefanie Allison know this, but Metro's been putting a hurting on the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference for years. Therefore, while the names have changed, the jerseys have remained the same. Basically, ladies: juniors and seniors from schools like Fort Hays State , Nebraska Kearney and others in the conference are just taking years of frustration caused by past Metro teams out on you. So the reason I think so many teams enjoy trying to beat you as badly as possible is quiet simpleórevenge is sweet.
No. 9 Women's Soccer (7-1 overall, 5-0-0 RMAC)
Really, when you've outscored your last five opponents 22-2 and, yes, I know it looks like a football score; you have to say you're playing good soccer. I don't know if they'll have another nail-biter until the playoffs, but I do know this: Metro has the best goalie in the RMAC (2002 first team All Tournament Team, Mandy Allen), who canóbut doesn't have toómake very many saves.
Men's Soccer ( 4-2-0 overall, 2-2-0 RMAC)
First, they win three straight and I thought, ìThis year could be big,î then they lost two straight and I wondered, ìWhat happened?î Now, I'm just wondering if they can take advantage of their nine-game home stand. If they can, they have a chance to put themselves in great position to both host an RMAC playoff game and make the Regional playoffs. But let's not get a head of ourselves. You have to beat St. Edwards, then Northeastern State óNo. 8 in the region. Afterwards, just as a reward; a type of bonus prize, I might add, they get to play Incarnate Word, the No. 1 ranked team in both the region and the nation on Oct. 5. Oh, yeah, did I mention that before you get the opportunity to avenge the Colorado Mines loss (Oct. 15), you have to try and improve your conference record, playing CU-Colorado Springs and CSU-Pueblo this weekend? Fun, fun, fun I tell you! Good luck with trying to get all 27 points.
While everyone this last week was trying to avoid something, this week everyone is striving for something. The women's volleyball team is striving to beat their next five opponents on the roadóthe biggest being Northern Colorado , who have taken time out of their busy D-I team-riddled schedule to play us. The Metro women's soccer team, I guess, is just striving to once again go undefeated in the RMAC, but what the heck, they've got a five-game win streak in which they've beaten their opponents by three goals or more, so, why not keep that going? Lastly, the men's soccer team is striving to become the hunter and not the prey, as they will play nine games, mostly against the top teams in the conference and the region, in a little under a three-week span. In conclusion, everyone are looking to do one thingówin. |
