 Matt M. Youngblood, junior international business major, dodges the Elon defense. Photo by Marc DeRose | Special to The Appalachian These men are out for revenge.
After a tough overtime loss to Tennessee Wesleyan just two weeks ago, ASU faces the Bulldogs once again Friday at 5:30 p.m. in the first round of the SELC playoffs.
“Tennessee Wesleyan squeaked out earlier in a game that we should have won,” junior history and secondary education major and club secretary Justin T. Leath said. “We’re looking to take some heads at the tournament while keeping the underdog mentality that we have carried with us all year. I think that we are very prepared.”
This year marks the 23rd year of the SELC championship event. The Division II playoff will consist of six teams, while the Division I playoff has expanded from six to eight teams this year.
The men said their success this season has prompted and prepared them for the tournament opportunity.
“We went on an eight-game winning streak [this season], were ranked No. 23 in the country at one point and we beat UNC-Charlotte for the first time in several years,” club president and junior international business major Matthew M. Youngblood said. “We’re pretty confident in what we can do. Realistically, we think that if we can beat Elon we can beat anyone.”
Should the team win Friday night’s game, Appalachian will take on Elon at noon Saturday.
Bad blood sits between the Apps and the Phoenix as well, because on the day following the men’s defeat against Tennessee Wesleyan, they also lost to Elon.
TWC and Elon lead the Central and North divisions, respectively, upon entering this weekend’s playoffs.
“Elon beat us when we were tired, and they weren’t too nice about it, so we are looking forward to revenge against the first two teams that we would play,” Leath said. “We come together as a team. We’re a really close group, and any time you have a group of guys all working hard with the same goal in mind, there’s room for success.”
As Friday approaches, the team is revisiting its prior mistakes and implementing new offensive tactics in order to prepare for the tournament.
“This week we plan to go over our clearing game, which is where we struggled previously against both Tennessee Wesleyan and Elon,” Youngblood said, “and we plan to work on some offensive sets that we haven’t used in hopes that we can capitalize on some of their weaknesses.”
The men are comforted by their team strengths as they approach this weekend’s familiar competition.
“Our offense is prolific. They know how to score, so that’s going to be a big help,” junior health care management major and club treasurer Tyler A. Southern said. “If our defense can keep up with our offense, we’ll be good.”
The championship will be held in Johns Creek, Ga., approximately 25 miles north of downtown Atlanta, for the sixth consecutive year.
Northview High School is the host facility and the location for the semifinal and championship rounds for both divisions.
“This year has been a complete turnaround from the past two years I have played [at Appalachian],” Southern said. “We just have to give 100 percent. I think if we can do that we can win the whole tournament.”
Story: RANDI KITTS, Sports Reporter
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