The Scots’ record-breaking season came to a close on a brisk Friday afternoon at Knox College. A return to the conference tournament for the first time in 18 years brought a great deal of anticipation as we played the overwhelming favorites and hosts, Knox College.
The game started off in a cagey fashion before Knox players asserted their dominance and scored 18 minutes into the half. Further compounding the Scots’ problems were injuries to lead scorers, Lucas Sondgeroth and Alvaro Alvarez, as both missed the majority of the match. The Scots dug in, however, and made it a tough, physical, and fierce contest. There were many solid performances across the board as seniors Martin Zafirov, Mario Sanchez, and Duh Thang worked tirelessly in midfield connecting passes, making tackles and acting as a real engine room for the side. The work of the defensive unit was also impressive as they held firm against a threatening front three for most of the afternoon. Up forward Nico Esparon was as lively as ever, creating serious problems for the Knox defense as well as an impressive cameo from Connor Graham, who may have found a new position in the attacking midfield role. Despite all our hard work, Monmouth was unable to break Knox down and conceded again midway through the second half, eventually falling 2-0.
After a grueling loss, many players were emotional after seeing such a wonderful season come to an end. This season saw the Scots return to the playoffs, as well as tying the second-most wins in a season with nine. The Scots now look to next season with great optimism, hoping to build on the success of this season and make the playoffs a regular occurrence.
Kieren Marshall - Contributing Writer