2008 Woodie Awards
Roos continue to roll
David Cordill
Issue date: 10/6/08 Section: Sports
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Senior midfielder Caleb Mitchell got his second goal of the season in the 25th minute for the game winner, and senior forward Brian Harris knocked in two second half tallies in the win.
The victory is the third in a row for the Kangaroos who currently sit in a first place conference tie.
UMKC Head Coach Rick Benben said he was not only happy with the way his team played, but with the boisterous fans in attendance for the Kangaroos homecoming match.
"Conference games are just so crucial and the crowd was awesome," Benben said after the game. "To put on a good performance like we did feels good. It's not easy in soccer to play like we did Tuesday night [a 4-3 win against number 25 Drake] and come back and play like we did."
Harris echoed Benben's sentiments.
"It's great," he said. "I'm really enjoying this winning streak. We've got two conference wins in a row and two shut outs."
The Kangaroos (5-3-2) got on the board at the 24:54 mark when Mitchell connected on a bounding shot into the Jaguar goal, the result of a nice feed from sophomore midfielder John Bayron Sosa.
"Sosa ran it up the middle and played a perfect ball," Mitchell said. "The goalie came up and I put it right by him. It was a good ball, I couldn't miss it."
UMKC made it 2-0 in the 50th minute when Harris got behind the defenders and put a move on IUPUI goalkeeper Tyler Keever. Harris snuck the ball past a sliding Keever who had committed himself too early on the shot. Junior forward Levi Coleman was credited with his team-leading fifth assist on the play.
The Roos capped off the scoring in the 81st minute when Harris and Mitchell teamed up for UMKC's third goal of the afternoon. Harris rifled a 12-yard blast into the back of the net for his second strike of the match.
"I got a flick from Caleb," Harris said. "The defender stopped and I just ripped a shot."
The Jaguars were frustrated throughout the 90 minutes, as UMKC defenders were dominant on the pitch, allowing very few chances for IUPUI to find open space or quick strike opportunities.The Kangaroos held the Jaguars to two shots on goal which were not much more than routine saves for senior goalkeeper Ken Cooper. UMKC sophomore Chris Markey also came up with a threat-ending defensive play late in the first half, heading out a dangerous ball from inside the penalty area.
With another league matchup coming up next Saturday against a tough opponent, the Kangaroos know they can't relax for a minute.
"We've been whuppin' up on the conference so far and that's important," Mitchell said. "We just need to keep our momentum and use it against Western Illinois."
UMKC takes on the Leathernecks of Western Illinois University this Saturday at 1 p.m. in Macomb, Ill.
dcordill@unews.com
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