VIDEO: Armstrong Press Conference
VIDEO: Wingate Press Conference
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Following a 5-0 victory by fifth-seeded Armstrong State Friday night at McCown Field, the Pirates sent coach Eric Faulconer and senior goalkeeper Morgan Luckie to the podium for the press conference. Wingate coach Chip Wiggins held serve for the Bulldogs.
Q: Coach if you could open us up with a statement about this game.
Faulconer: We really played fantastic tonight. I told our team all year long that we battle-tested them with our schedule. We played some of the best teams in the country. I said we have seen everyone we just have to go out and play. Did I expect 5-0? No. I'll be honest. I'd be lying to you if I thought that. I definitely thought it was a game we could win. We have been playing better as of late. They are starting to believe in themselves.
Q: It's a team that had only allowed two goals in the first half this season. What was your plan of attack to go against a team that was difficult to score against?
Faulconer: We watched a lot of film and we felt there was some things we could exploit on film. We are an athletic team and a lot of different personality players that can put the ball in the net. They can't key on one player for us. I think that gave them some trouble. We have been working on finishing. We created a lot of chances. It's never been a problem getting chances or creating shots. It was putting it in the back of the net. Today, it all went our way. Everything seemed to find the back of the net for us. It was just one of those nights.
Q: Morgan, what did you think of the team's performance? You didn't see a shot on goal the whole game. What did you think of how your team played?
Luckie: Obviously we have a strong defense. We have done well all year. We just haven't put the ball in the net like he said. It was good to get off to an early start. We struggled in the first half a little bit all year, but we scored two goals and we fortunately got the third quick in the second half so it was fun to watch. We were sound defensively so it was an easy day for me.
Q: I'm sure it feels good for you. I think there was 12 minutes left when you came off of the field for the substitution. What does a win like this in the tournament mean for you as a senior?
Luckie: It was awesome. Every single person on the team got to go in even a girl that tore her ACL, a senior. So that was fun to see. It was just good. We are looking forward to Sunday. It was a good win.
Q: Coach, Carson-Newman, a top-seed in this region. What kind of things have you seen from them and what kind of things do you need to get ready for with the Eagles.
Faulconer: They got some dynamic players. I was talking to coach the other day and he said we got a good team last year but we were missing pieces. 17-2? You don't get there by accident. We know that any game in the NCAA Tournament is going to be a difficult game. We had to play today and they got to rest so that makes a difference. They deserve that. They're the one-seed and we have to come onto their home field and put a performance like we did today to make it an interesting game. They are a great team and learn a little bit about them. They got some special players.
Q: Coach, opening us up with a statement on tonight's game.
Wiggins: Friday the 13th. It was one of those games where you make a couple mistake and you have a hard time recovering from it and it just snowballs from there. I thought early on we had some quality chances and we just didn't have the composure to finish. If we do that we don't know what happens. That's football. It's a cruel game sometimes.
Q: Was there anything that Armstrong did in particular to frustrate your back line or was it just the amount of chances they had?
Wiggins: I just think we were a little disorganized, a little rattled. Obviously we showed our youth tonight. They were probably the total opposite after they got their first two goals. Their composure went up and their confidence went up. Ours declined a little bit until we could settle down but I don't think it was anything that they did. They had some individual players that broke down some young players. From there they finished their quality chances.
Q: You had allowed two first-half goals all year. You allowed two first-half goals today. What did you say to the team at halftime to try to get them going?
Wiggins: We were kind of disappointed. They looked scared at the beginning. They looked scared to make mistakes. You can't do that in these kinds of games. You have to come out and not be afraid to make mistakes. That was one of the biggest issues we had going into it. At halftime that's what we told them. We had to show a bit of pride and come out and fight. Then they get a goal in the first couple minutes. They are young. Sometimes you needed these types of experiences to grow and hopefully we will grow from it. We will have a good spring season and be ready for next fall.
Q: Just two seniors graduating from this team. What kind of experience can you take from this match in the future to teach the younger players?
Wiggins: Some of the older players from Armstrong just showed them what college soccer was all about. At this level anyway. It was kind of like baptism by fire tonight: Hopefully they will grow from this and be better players because of it.
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