Men's Soccer

Men’s Soccer Poised for GLVC Repeat
         Southern Illinois University Edwardsville men’s soccer wants another trophy.
         After winning the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament last season, SIUE heads into this year’s tournament with a 14-game winning streak and a 15-2 overall record.
         SIUE, ranked 10th in the latest National Soccer Coaches Association of America NCAA Division II poll, plays rival Quincy on Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Korte Stadium in a tournament semifinal game. That game will be preceded by the first semifinal matchup featuring second-seeded Southern Indiana, 10-6-1, and third-seeded Lewis, 10-5-2, at 5 p.m. The championship game of the tournament is set for Sunday at noon.
         SIUE men’s soccer coach Ed Huneke is confident that his team’s 13-day layoff should be a plus rather than detrimental.
         “We’ve had time to heal some wounds, and we can still create intense enough practices to keep them sharp,” said Huneke.
         The Cougars will not take fifth-seeded Quincy lightly. Huneke said the two teams’ long-time rivalry may be a factor. He also sees Quincy aiming to end its season on a positive note. Quincy, 9-8-2, upset fourth-seeded Wisconsin-Parkside 3-0 in Sunday’s quarterfinal game in Kenosha, Wis.
         “Winning the conference tournament would be a big plus for them,” Huneke said.
         The Cougars feel confident of their spot in the NCAA postseason. SIUE holds just one loss in the region to undefeated Truman State, a 1-0 defeat on a neutral field on the first day of the season.
        
         -siue cougars-