Soccer Teams End Tourney With Wins

Both squads come up with victories on final day

General Sports News - (11/8/2004)

After dropping the first two games at the NCCAA DII Tournaments in Kissimmee, Florida, both the men's and women's soccer teams found a way to win on the final day of competetion.

The men's team, participating in its first National Championship in five years was shutout in its first two games. Thursday, #3 seed Baptist Bible (PA) displayed its speed and experience in a 6-0 win.  The next day the Vanguards were unlucky to come out with a 4-0 loss to #7 Cincinnati Christian.

It looks as though the tournament would end without a win, when Simpson was down 6-2 with just 15 minutes left in the seventh place game against #8 Dallas Christian.

How quickly things changed though as the Vanguards found the back of the net four times in 15 minutes, including the tying goal in the final minute of regulation.

Simpson then won the game in the second overtime period to take seventh place overall.

The women also faced Baptist Bible (#1 seed and eventual champs) and fell 2-0.

After giving up a late first half goal against Kentucky Christian, Simpson immediately replied with a goal from Julie Swinburne.

The game was tied after regulation time and even two overtime periods could not seperate the two squads.  After the typical five penalty shootouts frames it was still tied, with Kentucky finally advancing 6-5 after the ninth shootout round.

The Vanguards came back the next day as Becki Swinburne scored a goal late in the first half in the fifth place game against Southestern College of Florida.  The goal was all the offense that was needed as the defense held on for a 1-0 win.