The Journal

Issue date: 11/2/06 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Ashley Heifner Junior Kyle Milfeld, left, busts a move to try and deceive the defenseman of Maryville University Oct. 28 at home.

As the calendar page flips from October to November, the Gorlok men's soccer team leaves a successful regular season behind. Now, the defending conference champions prepare for their first-round match-up in the Saint Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament this week.

Webster finished the regular season with an overall record of 12-3-2 and received the top seed in the SLIAC tournament after barreling through the conference with a 7-0-1 mark. The Gorloks put the final touches on their season with a 2-0 victory over SLIAC foe Maryville University to close out the regular season.

Sophomore Captain Kevin Fann scored both goals in Webster's victory over the Saints, bringing his season total to 19 goals. That mark ties former Webster player Jeremy Amsler's school record for goals that has stood for 20 seasons. Fann has a chance to break that record with at least one more game remaining in the win and advance SLIAC tournament.

The Gorloks' first-round opponent will be the fourth-seeded Fontbonne University Griffins on 4 p.m. Nov. 2. at the Anheuser-Busch Sports and Conference Center.

The Gorloks felt a little resistance from the Griffins in two contests this season, but are familiar with the other two teams to round out the four-team playoff. The winner is crowned conference champion and receives an NCAA berth. Webster defeated the second-seeded Greenville College Panthers 5-0 in late September, and defeated the third-seeded Principia College Panthers 3-2 Oct.7.

The Gorloks surrendered their only non-win in conference play to the Griffins with a 2-2 tie Oct. 7 before dropping a non-conference game to Fontbonne Oct. 18 in a 1-0 loss after two overtimes.

"If you look at that Fontbonne game we lost, and the number of golden opportunities we had, we had to finish," Head Coach Marty Todt said. "And when we finish early, we're more relaxed. And when we're more relaxed, we play our game better."

Game results back up Coach Todt's theory since Webster has jumped out to the early lead in 11 games this season, with eight victories and one tie resulting in those 11 games. Webster also has outscored the opposition 29-9 in the first half of games this season.

Continued...

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