Bulldogs primed for playoffs

After a 3-0 victory against Drury University (Mo.) and former head coach Alf Bilbao, things continue to look a lot brighter for the men's soccer team than they were earlier in the season.

It seemed like only yesterday the 'Dogs were walking off the field after being crushed by the top team in the region, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, 4-0. After the game, the team sat with two losses, both in the region against other top-tier teams, realizing that nearly every match left was a must-win.

Barring a 1-0 loss at Northern Kentucky University, where the 'Dogs were called for more fouls, issued five more yellow cards and were on the bad end of a questionable call that resulted in the one NKU goal, one could certainly argue the good guys have played amazing soccer since the matches in early September.

That amazing soccer might just have them playing in mid-November after all, just like everyone expected.

Before we get to how the playoff teams are determined, let's take a crash course regarding the NCAA Div. II and the playoff structure timetable. Three teams from eight different regions are selected to participate in the playoffs Nov. 7. Those teams travel to the host site, typically the campus of the top team in the region. On either Thursday or Friday, the second- and third-ranked teams play with the winner advancing to play the top team during the weekend.

The Bulldogs are a member of the Great Lakes region, which encompasses teams from Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Many of those teams come from either the Great Lakes Valley Conference or the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletics Conference while others, such as the purple and white, are independent because the MIAA and some other conferences do not sponsor men's soccer.

Kevin White, assistant athletic director for communications and operations at Truman, is the head of the committee that determines the top three teams in the Great Lakes region.

"Regional games are the most important for a team when it comes to selection criteria, but we take a look at all the factors, both regional and non-regional, that go into the team's final record," White said. "It's a combination of who you've played, who you've beat and your regional record."

This past weekend provided a lot of shifting at the top of the polls. Coming into the weekend, SIU-Edwardsville, Rockhurst and Wisconsin-Parkside held the top three spots.

With just two weeks to go before the playoffs are set, the polls now show the top team in the nation, SIUE, still holding the top spot.

But Truman has moved up to second, 12th overall in the nation, with Rockhurst clinging to third and ranked 19th overall in the latest poll.

Both Rockhurst and Wisconsin-Parkside split their matches last weekend. However, Wisconsin-Parkside's loss came at Kentucky Wesleyan University, now 2-18 overall. Think of them as the Kansas City Royals of the Great Lakes Region, which equals a bad loss for the Rangers.

Because the 'Dogs are independent in men's soccer, their season continues as normal until the final Sunday of the season.

Meanwhile, SIUE, Rockhurst University (Mo.) and Wisconsin-Parkside are starting the GLVC tournament, meaning that whichever team is on the outside, currently Wisconsin-Parkside, gets one last chance to show that they belong.

This makes it harder for the selection committee to determine who should or should not make the playoffs.

"A team could conceivably play themselves into it, such as Wisconsin-Parkside, should they play all the way to the finals of the tournament," White said. "They could make a case for making the playoffs based on earlier wins, but there is no automatic bid into the playoffs for any conference tournament winner."

Regardless of the outcome of the tournament, the 'Dogs have shifted themselves into a much better spot. If they just keep playing great soccer and continue to compete, then "Selection Monday" should provide the campus with more great soccer in the next few weeks.