With four games remaining in their regular season, the Falcon soccer team is gearing up to make a run in the Mid-American Conference tournament.
But before challenging Northern Illinois and Florida Atlantic for a spot in the MAC tournament, the Falcons will travel to Wright State University (4-9-1) for a non-conference battle of nine loss teams.
The Falcons (2-9-2) will look to continue their recent run of good form, which has seen the team take four points from their last three games, including a draw with Hartwick College, the second place team in the MAC.
‘We feel like we have some good momentum,’ BG coach Eric Nichols said. ‘I am excited about the game and I feel really good about where we are. Wright State is similar to us, they have a good history but they have struggled the last few years.’
As important as every game on the Falcons schedule is, Nichols is faced with the task of making sure his players will be motivated for the game and not looking ahead to the conference match-up with Northern Illinois on Saturday.
‘We have been talking all year about how the next game we play is the most important one,’ Nichols said. ‘With only two wins this year, it’s not as if we can look past any games.’
Defender-turned-forward Jacob Lawrence will look to continue to add to his goal scoring account, after netting four goals in the Falcons last three games, including scoring twice against Buffalo and Hartwick.
‘I took it on as my responsibility to start scoring and so far it has worked out,’ Lawrence said. ‘I hope I can continue to do it into the last few games of the season because we are going to need those goals even more.’
Lawrence will once again be partnered up top with Ahmad Smith, whose recent form has given the Falcons the spark they have been missing since playmaker Cameron Hepple re-injured his groin last week.
‘Ahmad has been huge for us, we feel like we have had a lot more ability to score goals recently with Jacob and Ahmad up front,’ Nichols said. ‘His ability to get in behind defenses, his strength on the ball and his hold up play gave the Hartwick defenders fits, and those are some good defenders.’
As the Falcons offense started to click without Hepple, junior Thomas McLean has filled the void on defense.
‘It’s good to be back there again,’ McLean said. ‘It’s like being back home really. The cohesiveness is really good at the moment.’
Regardless of the today’s result, the Falcons still have a chance to make it into the MAC tournament. If they win their last two conference games, they’ll be in good position to qualify for postseason play.