Sunday, September 6th, 2009:

Today was the second game of the BSC Labor Day Classic with Sewanee defeating Blackburn College 6:0 in the first game of the day. In the final game BSC defeated Mississippi College by a score of 3:0. This win assured us of winning the tournament and starting our young season with a 2-0-0 record. It has been an awfully long time since we have begun the season with two straight victories, let alone 2 straight shutouts. Boy, does it feel really good, especially after last season. We still have a very long way to go to reach our full potential, but we are on the right path at the moment. Nothing ever makes me happier than seeing our team execute a game plan to perfection, especially defensively. Today, we learned what it meant to have some luck! Yes, it is the same luck we always talk about..."when opportunity meets preparation". Today we were prepared for those opportunities and succeeded in having our "luck"!

Now, to the actual game and how we played. We started off a little sluggish, but were able to re-group and score a beautifully executed goal in the 16th minute. Tony Crocker received a great ball from Stephen Rumble and beat his man on the end line and played a perfect ball to an on rushing Tyler Evans, who put a perfect finish to a terrific ball and make the score 1:0 BSC. The score remained that way until half. We certainly started finding our rhythm and balance and started creating a great flow to our attack. Our defense was super, with our marking backs, Andrew Stein and Michael Alfano completely neutralizing their strikers, to the point of great frustration on their parts. Our sweeper, Scott Shelton was always in the correct position to shut down any impending attack through the middle. Shachar was up to the test in goal and make great saves to keep us with a 1:0 lead until the 60th minute when Nicolas Reitmeier played a through ball to Garner Shivers for our 2nd goal. 8 minutes later Andrew Shelton sent Tyler Evans a terrific ball which Tyler put in the back of the net for a 3:0 score, which would prove to be the final tally of the game. During the second half, there was about a 15 minute period when we were completely out of rhythm, but again we bounced back and finsihed the game game off with another clean sheet. This team is learning about Pride and what the Tradition of this program has meant to so many former players. I believe we can do great things this season, if we continue to believe in ourselves and each other and continue to learn and work even harder. It si very easy to work hard when you are losing in order to try and make things right, but it takes a greater amount of work in order to continue to build and keep winning. Losing makes you say "I did my best", but it takes "winning to always strive to do more than your best". We are learning what it takes to win and I truly believe this is going to be a very special season for our young team. We must work harder than ever before and make sure we have always done more than our best.

Now, we will take tomorrow off and then get back to training Tuesday afternoon in preparation for another tournament at Sewanee this coming week-end. On Saturday, we will play Washington and Lee University at 12 noon and then on Sunday, we will play Emory and Henry at 12 noon as well. This will be a tough test in that we must play 2 games in 24 hours. We have not done this in the regular season since our NAIA days. We can do it, as I believe we are in great condition. Today, that fitness level of our team was the determining factor in our victory. I felt Mississippi College was not very fit through-out the game.

On a special note, I would like to thank all our Alumni who came out to support us this week-end. It is always very special seeing my former players and knowing how much loyalty they always continue to show to our program. Today was a very special day for me personally, as we won our 300th game since we started the program in 1983. It was a great milestone, but I certainly did not win all those games by myself. My players were the ones that put that number up for me. I was just the lucky one to have been on the sideline and coaching them for all these victories. They are the ones that deserve all the credit. This milestone would never have been possible if were not for the love and support of my wonderful family, who have been by my side from the beginning. They are my Heart!! I must also thank my Athletic Director, Joe Dean for all his support and especially all his Loyalty to me over the years. It was quite special to have him present for this milestone and having him share it with me was even more special. I would be remiss if I did not thank the one person to whom I am most grateful for giving me this opportunity 27 years ago...Dr. Neal Berte. If were not for him, none of this would have ever been possible. Now, the person I would like to thank from the bottom of my heart is Greg Vinson. He has been with me as a player since 1991 and a fellow coach since 1996. He has seen all milestones as either a player or coach from the 100th win to the 20oth win and now to the 300th win. I could never have done this without his help. He is very, very special to me as a person, a friend and fellow coach. Thank you Greg for all your help, support, loyalty and especially your friendship. It has been quite a journey and hopefully, this present journey is only beginning!

So, I will say goodnight and thank you to my present team, for such a wonderful week-end that will always be such a special day for me and my family. Thank you! Now, let's keep the Pride intact!

Coach Goldfarb from BSC