Cats denied bid to tournament, eye future return

By Clark Brooks

There will be no dancing for the UK men’s soccer team.

The Cats were not selected to receive a bid for the upcoming NCAA Tournament after falling short of team goals this season.

UK senior defender Barry Rice and the Cats didn't earn an invitation to the NCAA Tournament this year. The Cats finished 13-6-0 on the season, 5-3 in C-USA. Photo by Adam Wolffbrandt | Staff

The Cats’ goal coming into the season was simple: win the Conference USA Tournament and thus automatically earn a bid to the NCAA Tournament.  But like in years past when the postseason rolled around, the Cats were unable to accomplish that goal, losing 2-1 to eventual C-USA champion Tulsa on Friday night.

“In past years, I felt we paid too much attention to what other people thought of us,” UK head coach Ian Collins said. “This year, I haven’t thought about making the tournament with an at-large bid. Our goal coming into this year was to win the C-USA and put the decision into our own hands. We just fell a little short.”

It has been the formula for the past few seasons for the Cats: have a strong start, stumble in the middle of the season, then dig deep and make a run going into the C-USA postseason. This year was no exception.

“Every year going down the stretch, we always have our fate in our own hands,” senior captain and All-American defender Barry Rice said. “But, things never go according to plan.”

The Cats started the 2009 season 5-0-0, tying a school record for best start, and improved their unbeaten streak dating back to last October to 15 games. But the Cats’ good fortune didn’t last long as they only won three of the next eight contests, including a skid where UK lost three straight.

To keep their postseason hopes alive, the Cats needed to start winning games and fast, as UK only had one conference win on Oct. 17.

Like something out of a fairy tale, the Cats, rallied with their strong senior class, won five straight games in clinching the No. 4 seed in the C-USA Tournament.

“A while ago the seniors talked to the rest of the team and wanted to turn things around,” said senior forward Tim Crone. “Since then, we have gone into training sessions more focused and determined. We definitely had our backs to the wall, and I feel that’s when we play our best.”

When it seemed like things were going to go the Cats’ way, fate snatched hope away from them yet again with aid of a familiar culprit — the Tulsa Golden Hurricanes. Tulsa had beaten the Cats in penalty kicks in the 2008 C-USA Tournament and had barely stolen a victory earlier this year, netting a goal in the 87th minute against UK.

UK’s fortunes didn’t improve. On Monday night, the NCAA selection committee decided to not give the Cats the nod to get into the 2009 tournament.

Returning for the Cats will be their top two goal scorers in Matt Lodge and Tyler Burns, leading assist man C.J. Tappel, All-C-USA defender Brad Walker, as well as a supporting cast of Cameron Wilder, Taylor White, Jacob Kemper, Josh McCrary and Josh Albers.

“I’m sure next year’s team will keep making it a goal to win the C-USA,” Collins said. “We’re losing a lot of talent, but we’re a top program that can compete year in and year out.”