Although the season is now
over, November held some big
news for the Men’s Soccer Team.
On Nov. 6, Coach Justin Burroughs
was informed that his team
had won their conference, despite
losing in the playoffs. This was
achieved by having the best
record in the conference.
Burroughs wasn’t completely
thrilled by that news; he would
have preferred to have more substantial
success in the playoffs.
However, there was other big
news that did catch his attention.
“The more important thing that
I learned on Friday is that our
team will be switching conferences,”
Burroughs said.
Next season the team will be
moving into the National Junior
College Athletic Association
(NJAA). This now gives the team
the opportunity to play in nationals
and be a nationally ranked
team.
“I wish we had gone a little further
in playoffs this year, but
switching conferences is great for
us,” Burroughs said.
In order for the team to make
nationals, the team must go much
further in the playoffs than they
did this year. Nevertheless, Burroughs
is excited for the new opportunity.
So much is to be said for the job
Burroughs has done at Bucks over
the last five years. His incredible
work this season won him 2009
Coach of the Year.
In 2009, the team fell one win
short of being in the playoff’s
championship game and winning
their second straight title.
Despite their loss, the team can
look back on the season and consider
it a success. They had an
overall record of 11-7 and two
cancellations in 20 games, three of
which were against top-10 nationally
ranked teams.
Winning has become second nature
for the Men’s Soccer Team
and their move to NJAA is a huge
feat for the college’s athletic program.
At the end of their season, Burroughs
said, “I knew they could
dominate the other teams in the
league.”
“I won’t be with the team next
year, but it will be exciting for the
team,” sophomore goalie Christopher
Shaffer said. “Moving from
this smaller conference to a much
bigger one will be a challenge;
we’ll have wait and see how they
do.”