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University of Massachusets Athletics
UMass 3, Central Connecticut 1 - Postgame Quotes
December 02, 2007 | Men's Soccer
Dec. 2, 2007
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NCAA TOURNAMENT THIRD ROUND POSTGAME QUOTES
UMass Head Coach Sam Koch On The Game
Very pleased with the way we played today with the elements that we had to play in, and I couldn't be more proud of a group of guys than I am right now.
Koch On The Weather Conditions
We're in New England and fields freeze when it goes below 32 degrees and to not play, I didn't really understand, but I was going to do whatever they told me to do. We were ready to play right now, we wanted to play right now, but if we had to play tomorrow we would have done that as well.
Senior Defender Kenny Cook On The Progression This Season
As the year has gone one we have really gotten a lot strong, I think now we really know our team identity. We're taking it game-by-game.
Sophomore Bryan Hogan On The First Goal
A lot of times it's about being in the right place at the right time. Mark got his head on it and it was just perfect because I was there so I just saw it and hit it as hard as I could. We practice this stuff everyday, we do drills crossing, shooting, and heading so after a while you just get the hang of it.
Hogan On Postseason Success On Corner Kicks
This is actually unbelievable because last year I don't think we scored a goal on corner kicks all year. I'm so excited that we're finally getting the hang of it, it's about time. Now we're really dangerous on corners so it's really good. Today we were just trying to do what we usually do, we just tried to find Kenny's head and I think we did a pretty good job. It was tough, with the surface and how slippery it was, for the guys to get good balls in but I think we did a good job.
Koch On The Emotion Of The First Goal
I just felt relief, we had been knocking on the door for most of the game and the longer we kept it 0-0, the more dangerous it became.
Koch On The Crowd
For them to all come out, in this weather, that's fantastic. We were very excited to play in front of them and we hope to play again in front of them next weekend. It certainly gives you a lift, and you really feel their energy.
Cook On The Delay
We were just trying to stay focused; we had no clue what was going to happen. If we had to postpone the game then we would have played it tomorrow or whenever, but if we were going to play now we were ready to play now.
Hogan On The Goals Being The Biggest Of His Career
You could say it was the biggest goal. After scoring the goal, it was really just shock, relief, excitement. It was awesome, I felt great, I thought our team did everything we had to do to score and I think we deserved it.
Hogan On Lessons Learned From The Boston College Game
We know that a team can just come back on us and sometimes we lose focus and fortunately we had three goals to work with instead of one, or two. It happens and it's just about playing the full 90 and sometimes we get relaxed. We played well and we got the results though.
Central Connecticut Head Coach Sean Green On The Game
UMass definitely deserved to win today; they were the better side today. I don't think the game should have been played today, I thought the referees initial decision was a correct one, not to play the game because of the surface it certainly deteriorated our performance from the first whistle to the last whistle of the game. We had to totally change our style of play. The footing for our players was certainly different from the footing of their players. They were prepared for a hard surface, we were not. Not to take away from their performance, I think that UMass played exceptionally well and they had a great game.
UMass really stuck to their game plan, we knew their game plan coming into it, and we knew they were going to be very defensive in the back and great defensive shape. We also knew that they like to play counter-attacking soccer. They're dangerous on corner kicks; they scored two goals that way against Boston College. We've also been pretty tough on corner kicks as well; defending that has been our strength. They played exactly how we thought they would. We knew that when they scored the first goal, or whoever scored that first goal was crucial. If they scored they would have closed up shop and if we scored we would have gone to a 4-5-1 and close up shop anyways. I give credit to them they tied up the back, they persevered and did a good job defensively. They shut us down and they took their opportunities and were more patient to take it. Sooner or later one of those chances was going to go in. I thought Sam Koch did a great job preparing the team for this game, he's got them organized, motivated, and I can see this team going to the Final Four.
Senior Defender Andrew Cooper On The Game
We couldn't really get the ball up the field to our strengths and we couldn't get our footing and get the ball up to Yan. He is one of our strengths and he's more gifted with his feet. I think they adjusted our game, but at the end of the day, its soccer, and two teams have to play and the better team won.
Midfielder Yan Kukowski On The Game
Usually I like to play strong and push-off but it's a very difficult way to go out, not being able to play to my full potential, or the team's. I gave everything I have anyways, but I know on a different day I could have done so much better. UMass fully adapted to the conditions and they played a great game.