The ebb and flow of a Saturday in the postseason

The ebb and flow of a Saturday in the postseason

Sitting in the pressbox yesterday as the women's soccer team battled an upstart Wentworth team, it was difficult to contain my excitement.

With a just-strong-enough wireless signal and a text message update from Head Athletic Trainer Brian Razak (from Assistant AT Tara Peterson), I was able to stay abreast of our other teams on the road at Western New England.

Men's soccer was leading top-seeded Western New England College in the second half. Cross country runner Matt Veiga had won the individual The Commonwealth Coast Conference Championship; Jess Partlow finished second in the women's race.

And even though the women's soccer team trailed Wentworth at the time, I knew we would battle back.

Several minutes later, the excitement level was even higher. The women had knotted the score at 1-1 on a goal by Karina Scavo. We had the momentum and seemed destined to move into the semifinals.

Right after that, I received an e-mail from Western New England SID Ken Cerino. The men still held a 2-1 lead with less than 25 minutes to play.

I was starting to formulate the headlines for what could prove to be one of the greatest Saturdays UNE sports has seen in quite some time.

The headline writing may have been a bit premature.

Another update from Ken at WNEC had the men's soccer game tied at 2. Moments later, Stephanie Crockett scored for Wentworth in the 86th minute for what would prove to be the game-winner. Just before the final horn sounded to end the women's game, the e-mail came in. The WNEC men had notched another goal and held on for victory.

I was consumed by disappointment.

But as I ambled across the field back towards my office, I was able to reflect on what this Fall season has brought us.

The men's soccer team came less than 25 minutes from knocking off the TCCC's best. Andy Biggs' team more than doubled its win total from a year ago. The women posted a nine-game win streak during the regular season and are currently 14-3 (we would seem a certain lock to receive an ECAC bid). The previous night Tristan Durgin and I were writing press releases about Anne Cowles, Ali Trafton and Ryan Tarr being selected TCCC Senior Scholar-Athletes of the Year in their respective sport; field hockey coach Joan Howard being voted TCCC Coach of the Year; Taryn Flagg being named TCCC Player of the Year in field hockey; and 14 soccer and field hockey players earning all-conference accolades.

For me, the emotional roller coaster of the afternoon had come to a close.