Aaron Johnson – Sports Editor
The wind ripped through Jess Dow Field on the campus of Southern Connecticut State University last Wednesday as rain poured down on the men’s soccer team’s 1-0 win over in-city rivals University of New Haven.
“I don’t think the weather really affected us,” said Co-captain Jonas Folstad. “I think we kind of just panicked when they started putting balls over the top.”
The Owls dominated the possession of the ball, as they have done for most of the season. Southern outshot the Chargers 21-2 during the game. Sophomore Markus Jacobsen found the back of the net, for his fourth goal of the season, in the 39th minute putting the Owls ahead for the remainder of the game despite a late push by UNH late in the match.
“When you play a team like that their game plan is to sit in wait for us to make a mistake and play on the counterattack,” said junior forward Daquan King. “We had possession throughout the whole game so they didn’t have anything going for them. We had to find ways to break them down. It was frustrating. But we found our way eventually.”
No. 7 Nationally Ranked Men’s Soccer Team Defeats UNH 1-0 http://t.co/1MS2USldDm
— SCSU Athletics (@SCSU_Owls) October 23, 2014
Through the rain and the wind that redirected a few shots and passes for both teams, the Owls were able to continue their winning ways as the win improved the team’s record to 12-1 on the season and 9-1 in the NE-10 conference. Folstad said the win is always nice, but the team really was focused on taking care of business and getting the points for his team.
“I mean it’s the three points,” he said. “That’s pretty much it. It wasn’t a great game but you get the three points and that’s the most important thing.”
New Haven was able to get some pressure late with three corner kicks in the second half, including one in the last 10 minutes of the match. The Chargers fall to 2-12 on the season with the loss. Folstad said the team has to remain within themselves to not panic in situations and let a team like UNH get back into the game.
“You just got to stay composed,” said Folstad. “When we get the ball just keep it. Because you see the last 50 minutes we couldn’t put more than two passes together before we lose it. So it’s all about keeping the ball.”
He said by constantly losing possession late in matches against a team like New Haven does nothing but feed into their confidence.
“When we just give it back to them,” Folstad said. “We’re just feeding into them and they’re just feeding off emotions. At the end there when we get the ball off in the corner just keep it up there. As long as the ball is up there they can’t do anything. If we give it back to them you know that they’re going to come.”
The Owls have been able to win three straight matches and have been ranked in the top 10 in the country for most of the year. While Southern is No.7 in the country they have been able to hold down a No. 2 ranking in the region behind No.1 Southern New Hampshire. Folstad said one thing he wants his team to focus on with a one goal lead is not letting the opponent get back into in with the equalizer.
“These last 50 minutes their only one goal down,” he said. “So anything can happen. If we give it back to them you know they’re going to come. One goal and their back in it.”
Photo Credit: Derek Torrellas
