Men's Sectional Previews: Central

By Ryan Harmanis

Third Round - Friday

Quarterfinals - Saturday

Sectional Final, 5:00 pm ET

How they reached the Sweet 16

Wheaton (Ill.): CCIW Automatic Berth (AQ) | 1st Rnd: Bye | 2nd Rnd: W3-0 UW-Whitewater (H)

Wartburg: IIAC Automatic Berth (AQ) | 1st Rnd: T1-1(2ot-pks) Milwaukee Engr. (H) | 2nd Rnd: W2-0 Chicago (H)

Loras: Pool C at-large berth | 1st Rnd: W2-0 Westminster (Mo.) (H) | 2nd Rnd: W2-0 Gustavus Adolphus (H)

Trinity (Tx.): SCAC Automatic Berth (AQ) | 1st Rnd: W2-1 Hardin-Simmons (N) | 2nd Rnd: W1-0 Texas-Dallas (A)

2014 Statistical Overview

Wheaton (Ill.): 19-3-0 (.864) | 2.73 GSA, 0.77 GAA (+1.96) | Avg. D-III OWP: .588 | Last Ten: 9-1-0

Wartburg: 13-3-6 (.727) | 2.21 GSA, 0.94 GAA (+1.27) | Avg. D-III OWP: .553 | Last Ten: 5-1-4

Loras: 17-2-2 (.857) | 2.63 GSA, 0.88 GAA (+1.75) | Avg. D-III OWP: .568 | Last Ten: 8-1-1

Trinity (Tx.): 23-1-0 (.958) | 3.41 GSA, 0.58 GAA (+2.83) | Avg. D-III OWP: .540 | Last Ten: 10-0-0

Wheaton (Ill.) Season Review

Wheaton (Ill.) is back in the Sweet Sixteen after last season’s surprising loss to Kenyon, and will be looking to use home-field advantage to book the first ticket to Kansas City. Wheaton took on all comers and racked up an impressive 19-3-0 record that included a first-round bye. The Thunder played a typically daunting non-conference schedule, and a surprise 0-1 setback to Whitworth looks much better now that the Pirates have also reached the Sweet Sixteen. Wheaton would also split a pair with traditional MIAA powers Calvin (win) and Hope (loss) before going on a 10 game winning streak. During the streak, the Thunder would knock off tournament teams Dominican, Montclair State, and Chicago before Carthage provided another reality check. Since that close loss, Wheaton has reeled off another seven wins, including the CCIW conference championship and a comfortable victory over UW-Whitewater in the tournament’s second round.

Wheaton has five players with six or more goals, but the headliner is junior Stephen Golz (17g, 3a). He and his brother, senior Jordan (7g, 7a), have combined for nine game-winning goals, including Stephen’s last Sunday. However, the Thunder scored just a single goal in its three losses, meaning the key to beating Wheaton will probably rest with another team’s defense rather than its attack. Wheaton has started quickly, scoring early on Calvin, Dominican and Montclair State. However, in each of those games the opposition actually came back to draw even—including Montclair State overcoming a three-goal deficit—so Wheaton’s focus will be on controlling games once it takes the lead.

Wartburg Season Review

Wartburg also returns to the Sweet Sixteen after a surprise run last year, and eight starters from the 2013 team led the Knights to a 13-3-6 record and another shot at reaching the Final Four. Wartburg began with a road win over NCAA participant Gustavus Adolphus, but then went through a rough patch, dropping games to Webster and Carthage while surrendering three goals to each. The Knights appeared to have righted the ship, as they handed Luther its first loss while also picking off St. Olaf, but Wartburg got caught looking ahead to Loras and were held to two draws and a loss to close out the regular season. Loras ultimately won the IIAC title in come-from-behind fashion, but Wartburg gained a measure of revenge by winning on penalties in the conference championship. The Knights hosted last weekend, and Mother Nature got involved with a minor blizzard, causing Wartburg to need penalties again to overcome Milwaukee Engineering. The second round was less dramatic but more impressive, with Wartburg taking down UAA champ Chicago on goals from Connor Johnson and Paris Martins.

Dan Nadeau (12g, 10a), Martins (7g, 6a) and Zubeen Azari (9g, 1a) lead Wartburg’s balanced attack. The trio also formed the Knights’ leading scorers last year, and that continuity seems to have paid off. Wartburg has played Jekyll and Hyde for much of the season, often playing its best in big games (GAC, Luther, Loras, Chicago) while poorly in others. Wartburg’s 22 goals against—the most of any team in the pod—suggests they may need to outscore opponents, but the biggest concern for Wartburg would be Mr. Hyde making a reappearance at the most inopportune time. Still, six draws suggest the Knights’ calling card has been an ability to avoid losing games, and last year’s experience at this level should be instrumental in Wartburg’s approach this time around.

Loras Season Review

Loras would have been forgiven for using 2014 to rebuild, considering the Duhawks lost two of the most decorated players in program history in Kevin Cavers and D3Soccer.com Defensive Player of the Year Dan Figura. Instead, Loras simply reloaded and cranked out another dominant season and a 17-2-2 record. The Duhawks started with four wins, but cracks appeared in a 2-1 loss to St. Thomas. Defensive fragility appeared and would plague the Duhawks through a six-game stretch where they surrendered an alarming eleven goals. Nevertheless, a dramatic overtime win over Chicago showed quality remained, and Loras hit its stride as IIAC play rolled around. Despite the strength of Wartburg and Luther, the Duhawks went a perfect 7-0 in conference play, only to fall to Wartburg in penalties after a 2-2 draw in the conference tournament final. Order was reestablished in the NCAA opening rounds, as Loras quickly dispatched Westminster 2-0 and impressively held off Gustavus Adolphus by the same score to set up a 2013 rematch with Trinity (Tx.).

Mike Pizzello has (almost literally) filled the gap left by Figura and Cavers with his 6’4” frame. The senior has 14 goals after only five prior to 2014, including two last weekend, while playmaker Tom Fluegel has dropped deeper into midfield to add six assists. One area of concern could be in net, as Duhawks keeper Adam Roloff saves only 73.3% of shots on target. Compared to the other teams—Wheaton saves 78.5%, Wartburg 80% and Trinity 85.9%—it takes fewer shots to score on Loras, and there will be a substantial amount of firepower at Wheaton this weekend. On the other hand, the Duhawks’ defense has improved since the switch to Roloff in goal, and with Pizzello on a tear Trinity (and anyone else) will be hard-pressed to match the physicality and mental strength Loras will bring to the table.

Trinity (Tx.) Season Review

Trinity is enjoying its best season since 2008 and built off last year’s Elite Eight appearance to go 23-1-0 thus far. The Tigers, part of the typically one-bid SCAC, increased the difficulty of their non-conference schedule, beating NCAA regulars St. Scholastic (W 3-1), Washington U. (W 1-0) and Christopher Newport (W 5-3). The lone blemish was a 2-1 loss at Texas-Dallas, but outside of that game Trinity was impressive in avoiding blemishes. The SCAC was down this year, with only two other teams over .500, but Trinity still went a perfect 14-0-0 and won the conference tournament, impressively beating a 15-win Colorado College team for the third time. Trinity was inexplicably sent on the road for NCAA opening weekend, but the Tigers answered the call in impressive fashion. First, Trinity came from behind to beat Hardin-Simmons in a rivalry slugfest. Then the Tigers avenged their only loss by scoring early and holding off host Texas-Dallas to earn a rematch with Loras.

As usual, Trinity is a high-flying scoring machine: six players have at least five goals, while an additional three have at least five assists. Johnny Lawson leads the charge (17g, 8a), while Victor Araujo always provides a threat and grabbed the winning goal against Texas-Dallas last Sunday. One major difference from 2013 is the number of close games the Tigers have played; they’ve won 12 two- or one-goal games in 2014, compared to a 2013 season where the majority of games were blowouts. This experience in tight matches should serve well, as will the experience of players such as Lawson and junior defender Tom Carwile.

Seniors' 4-year Record (through Nov. 16)

Wheaton (Ill.): 64-19-7 (.750) overall | NCAA's ('12-'13'-'14): 5-2-0, Sweet 16 - '12-'14, Elite 8 - '12

Wartburg: 45-27-11 (.608) overall | NCAA's ('13-'14): 3-1-1, Sweet 16 - '13-'14

Loras: 76-9-9 (.856) overall | NCAA's ('11-'12'-'13-'14): 9-3-1, Sweet 16 - '12-'13-'14, Elite 8 - '12-'13, Final Four - '12-'13

Trinity (Tx.): 77-7-7 (.885) overall | NCAA's ('11-'12'-'13-'14): 6-3-1, Sweet 16 - '12-'13, Elite 8 - '13

Tournament Experience

Wheaton is a staple in the NCAA tournament, and in 2012 the Thunder made it all the way to the Elite Eight. Seven players that played in that match started last weekend and will be unfazed by the stakes. Wartburg is the least experienced, as last year was this group’s first trip, but the Knights were unfazed and will know what to expect this time around. Loras and Trinity are perennial threats to go deep in the tournament, although Trinity hasn’t made the Final Four since 2007. Loras, on the other hand, is coming off back-to-back Final Fours and the Duhawks’ seniors have played an incredible 13 NCAA games already. Trinity did reach the Elite Eight last year, and over half of the starting lineup is back and ready for another rumble with the Duhawks.

Tournament Re-Matches

Although Wheaton didn’t face any team in this pod in 2014, we could be looking at a rematch of the 2012 Elite Eight if the Thunder and Loras both advance to Sunday. However, Trinity will have the first shot at revenge against Loras, as the Duhawks eliminated a ten-man Tigers teams at this same stage last year. Keeping with the theme, Trinity went through Wartburg to face Loras last year, so the Knights will also have a potential rematch in mind. Finally, Loras and Wartburg, as members of the IIAC, meet on a regular basis in conference play and the conference tournament. The teams have traded wins a number of times, with Loras winning this year’s regular-season matchup while Wartburg took the conference crown on penalty kicks.

Why they will advance to the Final Four

Wheaton (Ill.): Home-field advantage is enormous for the Thunder, as they average over 1000 fans each game. Wheaton also might just have the most talented team outside Messiah, and when you combine that talent with home field the Thunder will be too much for Wartburg. Enter Loras, and Wheaton avenges its 2012 Elite Eight loss to return the Thunder to the Final Four for the first time since 2006.

Wartburg: This program has gone from a losing record in 2011 and 2012 to back-to-back Sweet Sixteen appearances, and the logical next step is to reach the Final Four. The Knights got many of their best results against top competition, and late-season battles with Loras prepared Wartburg for Wheaton’s physicality. Having come out of a blizzard last weekend, the Chicago weather feels like summer as Wartburg shocks the hosts. A third matchup with Loras or a grudge match against Trinity awaits, and either way the Knights don’t let the extra opportunity pass by.

Loras: Pedigree matters, and this season Loras has proven that programs at the top reload despite major losses to graduation. These players, and this program, expect to not only reach the Sweet Sixteen but advance past this weekend, and that’s exactly what they’ll do. First, the Duhawks out-muscle Trinity as the Tigers can’t handle the cold, then Loras takes down Wheaton in a game worthy of the Final Four. The Duhawks, led by Pizzello, head to Kansas City determined to finally grab the program’s first national championship.

Trinity (Tx.): It’s usually hard to judge Trinity because the Tigers don’t see the rest of the country’s top teams until this stage. This year, however, a wild 5-3 win over Christopher Newport validated the Tigers. They played in freezing cold last year and will know what to expect, and Trinity seems to have improved while Loras has dropped slightly from a season ago. Finally, Trinity has been hovering in the Top 10, with Final Four talent, for several years without making it back. This is the year the Tigers claw their way to Kansas City and the Final Four.

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