Well, they certainly proved us wrong.
Five games into the season and the menís soccer team is showing signs of great improvement from last seasonís 6-10-1 campaign, starting off with only two losses through five games.
The key element to the Scotís 2-2-1 record is the increase in scoring.† Last season, the Scots were only able to find the back of the goal 20 times, their second lowest total in the past 10 seasons.†† In the first four games this season, the Scots have scored seven goals, placing them fourth among the other NCAC teams in goals scored this season.
Through the first three matches, the Scotsí looked unstoppable, outscoring their opponents 6-2 and compiling a 2-0-1 record.† In their home opener against Otterbein College, the Scots were tested early and often, with the game ultimately culminating in a tie after 110 minutes of play.† Goalkeeper Taylor Takacs í12 finished the game tying his career high in saves with 10, three of which came in the first 10 minutes of play.
In their second match against Washington & Jefferson College, Scott Buckwald í10, who led last yearís squad with seven goals and 18 points, scored twice in the final 20 minutes of the game to push the Scots over the top and win 2-1.† Eight minutes after they had let up their first goal of the season, Buckwald scored on an unassisted play to even the score.† With under four minutes remaining in regulation remaining, he scored again, this time on a pass from teammate Karl Ruter í10, to give the Scots the go-ahead score and eventually the win.
After playing second fiddle to Buckwald in the match against Washington & Jefferson, Ruter became the go to guy against Malone University, scoring a career high three goals and leading the Scots to a 4-1 victory.† Ruter, who scored half of his total goals from a season before, was the first Fighting Scot player to record a hat trick since Brian Conway had one against Oberlin College in October of 2004.
The Scotsí unbeaten season was broken up this past weekend, however, with a 4-1 loss at the hands of Defiance College.† Defiance, which scored within the first five minutes of the game, never lost the lead or the momentum, with Fighting Scot players only able to record two shots during the entire first half.† Buckwald did end up scoring his third goal of the season, tying him with Karl Ruter as the teamís leading scorers this year.
While it was certainly a disappointing loss after the outcome of the first three games of the season, Defiance is not a member of the NCAC, therefore not hurting the Scots chances at the conference crown.
The important note for all of the games is how effective the Scotsí defense has been.† With the exception of the game against Defiance, where a large number of backups started the game, the Scots have only allowed two goals on 52 shots, which would have placed them second overall in the conference.† Also, this season the Scots have totaled 23 saves, placing them first in the NCAC.
The Scots lost in devastating fashion at home on Wednesday against Muskingum College.† The game remained scoreless for the majority of the 90 minutes, with Muskingum netting a late goal to take the lead and eventually earn a 1-0 victory.† Starting defender Ryan Schlothauer í11 missed the game due to illness.
Their next action is tomorrow, Sept. 19 at Wabash College.† It will be the Scotsí first game against a conference opponent.† The next home game is Sept. 26 when the Scots will host Kenyon College in conference action.