Club soccer advances to nationals with 8-2 record

By Dan Elledge     11/18/13 6:00pm

After posting a dominant 6-1 record during the regular season and upsetting Texas A&M University in the Region IV Tournament championship game Nov. 3, the Rice University men's club soccer team is going to nationals. The team is traveling to Phoenix this week, where the tournament will be held Nov. 21-23.

Duncan College sophomore JB Makhani said that after the final whistle went off and the team knew it had defeated Texas A&M, the team was jumping around in celebration. Makhani said the LADS, the men's club soccer teem, seemed to play its best this season when the moment was right, and Makhani said this is one of the reasons the team is heading to nationals.

"We were so excited," Makhani said. "We came in as an underdog getting there, and seeing A&M, [Louisiana State University] and Baylor [University], we knew going in that it was a long shot. It was a combination of hard work and everything just coming together at the right time."

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Team Captain Chris Hurd, a Duncan senior, said the team has improved this season due to the infusion of talent from exchange students Martel College senior Rick Totten from England, Martel senior Martin Honore from Denmark and Duncan senior Rodrigo Estima from Brazil. Hurd said the visiting players have contributed to the off-field culture as well by helping to create a sense of chemistry both on and off the pitch that has led to a successful season.

"Obviously, they are very talented, but [they also] bring different skills, so we continue to play with them and learn from them," Hurd said. "It's really changed the dynamic of the team."

Honore said the off-field camaraderie among the players helps them play better on the pitch. He said trust and friendship have helped them get to this point.

"I think the reason we are doing so [well] is that everyone respects each other and everyone runs for each other," Honore said. "No one feels like they are better than anyone else and we fight. I can still yell at one of the guys, and [he can] do the same to me, but after the game, we are friends again, and I think that is one of our strengths because we want it so badly."

Hurd said that after its victory over A&M, the team has been preparing for the 24-team national tournament by practicing three times a week. Since the team has only traveled as far as Louisiana to play a game this season, the LADS are headed into unknown territory, possibly playing northern schools such as Pennsylvania State University, Ohio State University and Virginia Tech University.

Even though the team may play against some of the most populous programs in the nation, Hurd said he thinks Rice could win the whole thing.

"I'd like to win it, and everyone on our team thinks we can win it," Hurd said. "That's been one of the cool things about the team this year. We go into every single game believing that we can win."

Honore said he is also confident in the team's ability to win. He said that even though the LADS are coming from one of the smallest schools in the field, he does not doubt that this team can win it all. Honore said it has been the motto of the team all

year long.

"Of course, we are all very excited," Honore said. "It's going to be a great experience. I think by far we are the smallest school, so we believe that we have a chance to win it. It's going to be difficult. We are going to meet some great teams, but we have the belief in ourselves that we can win the

tournament."

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