This will be my last blog for the fall due to our season ending very abruptly last Tuesday. Whilst we had lost nearly all but mathematical hope of reaching the Nationals, we still believed we had a good chance of winning the SAC tournament, but once again, like the story of the season, we fell short.

When I first agreed to write this blog, kind of like programme notes in England, giving an insight into the action behind the scenes, I imagined it to be an enthusiastic read, full of our successes on the field. However, the season hasn't turned out that way! Whilst 3^rd place in the conference is pretty good, considering our squad, and our season objectives, it's not so good unfortunately.

Lets get Tuesdays game out of the way, we lost at home, in the SAC tournament quarterfinals, for the second season in a row. This has been particularly disappointing for me as it's been my only two chances in this tournament, and we've failed spectacularly both times. The game was fairly even but we ended up losing 2-1, with them grabbing the winner with only a few minutes to go, which was particularly gut-wrenching.

After the game we had a circle on the pitch and it got emotional, with the squad effectively saying farewell to the seniors, who have given so much to the program. There's a few of us that have only been here for a couple of years, but got emotional, so I can only imagine for the undergraduate seniors who have given 4 years of their lives to help the team. Every single player has had an influence on the team, and the program has benefitted from every player that is graduating this May.

As mentioned in my last blog, I am a senior, and so I ended my competitive career with Carson-Newman last Tuesday also. Whilst it was a disappointing way to finish, I will always look back on my time here with such warmth, and happiness. There has certainly been ups, and certainly some downs too, but that's soccer, there is always winners and losers. I have made some great friendships, and some that I hope to carry through with me as I move on in May. Every player that I have had the pleasure of working alongside day to day in practice has influenced me in some way, and that is particularly special. The memories that I will take away with me are moments that nobody can create, nor take away, and that is so special.

Who knows what the future holds, Coach Moodie came back to coach the team after being a player, so I wouldn't completely rule that one out. Whatever all of our futures hold, I am proud of where the program has been taken in my two season here, and all of us graduating will be doing everything between now and May to get the boys that are here as ready as possible for the fall season next year.

We never did get our team awards ceremony sorted, but we had it unofficially at a team meal a few weekends ago, here's all the winners, (second place).

Best practice player: Kristian Speake (Bob Bishop)

Best Dressed: Marius Staalby (Nick Skoda)

Worst Dressed: Aidan McGovern (Nick Skoda)

Best Dancer: Jalen Goddard (Sindre Welo)

Worst Dancer: Kristian Speake (Sindre Welo)

Most Intelligent: Wade Collins (Jake Fielder)

Most likely to be in a news scandal: Nick Martin (Kristian Speake)

Most likely to be a billionaire: Franklin Taylor (Jake Fielder)

I hope you've enjoyed reading the blog, getting a small insight into the team performance, and locker room antics. Rest assured, we will all be working as hard as we can to improve this program and get the boys back to where they should be next season.