10/30/2009 12:01:00 AM WABASH COLLEGE SOCCER: Near tourney berth Wabash soccer one win away from first conference tournament
Photo provided by Wabash College
Wabash sophomore Femi Oluyedun has scored eight goals this season
WIN AND IN
**Here's how Wabash could advance to its first North Coast Athletic Conference men's soccer tournament.**
The top four teams make the tournament. Ohio Wesleyan (21 points), Denison (16 points) and Kenyon (16 points) are already in. The fourth spot is still up for grabs between Wabash (12 points), Hiram (10 points) and Oberlin (10 points). Teams receive three points for a win and one point for a tie.**
SCENARIOS
-- If Wabash beats Oberlin on Saturday, the Little Giants automatically make the tournament. They'll have 15 points and finish ahead of Hiram and Oberlin.
-- If Wabash ties Oberlin, Hiram would have to beat Wittenberg on Saturday to knock the Little Giants out.
-- If Wabash loses to Oberlin, the Little Giants do not advance. Oberlin would finish with more total points than Wabash.
Sophomore Dylan Andrew wants to make Wabash College soccer coach Roberto Giannini's season.
The Little Giants have never made the North Coast Athletic Conference tournament. In fact, they didn't even win a conference game last year.
But after Wednesday night's thrilling 4-3 win over Earlham, they're just win away from reaching their first NCAC tourney.
"It's really refreshing to me, not only personally, but it'd be nice to see for coach [Giannini]," Andrew said. "His senior class this year was his first recruiting class. It's not only a reflection of where the program is heading, but how coach has had a big role in our success."
With a win Saturday over conference rival Oberlin (8-6-2, 3-4-1 NCAC), Wabash (9-8-1, 4-4 NCAC) could advance to its first North Coast Athletic Conference Tourney since joining the league in 1999.
The top four teams advance to next week's conference tournament.
Currently, the Little Giants sit in fourth place with 12 points - two points ahead of conference foes Hiram and Oberlin.
If they beat Oberlin, the Little Giants are in. It's that simple.
They've gone from not winning any conference games in 2008 to taking four and possibly finishing with an above-.500 record in conference play this year.
"It feels great," junior Mark Babcock said. "The past few years we've had some rough seasons. It feels good to turn it around this year. We're playing up to our capabilities."
Giannini admits Wabash has made its share of mistakes this year. But thanks to their offensive firepower and creative passing attack, they've got a chance to make history.
Wabash has scored 38 goals this season and has four players - sophomore Femi Oluyedun (eight), Babcock (seven), sophomore Austin Jennings (six) and Andrew (five) - with five goals or more.
That's nearly 15 more goals than they had all of last season and 20 more than they scored two years ago.
Andrew leads the team with nine assists, while Oluyedun (seven) and freshman Ryan Fier (five) are right behind.
"We're really good at moving the ball around," Oluydeun said. "We have freshmen who can move the ball around, and this year, we're more relaxed and composed. We're able to control the ball."
On Wednesday, the Little Giants hung on for a 4-3 win over Earlham. They let a 3-1 lead slip away and into a second-half tie before Jennings scored the game-winner with 11 minutes left.
Unfortunately for Wabash, Jennings will miss Saturday's game. He's out with the flu. Andrew thinks they'll be OK.
"If one player doesn't show up to his full potential, we have four other guys who can score," he said.
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