Marquette University Athletics
Annual Blue & Gold Game Produces A Draw
4/7/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
April 7, 2008
MILWAUKEE - This year's Marquette men's soccer Blue & Gold game was held Saturday, April 5 with the match ending in a 2-2 draw. While the experience gave Golden Eagles fans a first glimpse of their team at Valley Fields since the conclusion of the fall season, it also gave the MU coaches another opportunity to evaluate their roster.
"I think the players got a big buzz out of that," said MU head coach Louis Bennett regarding playing in front of people at The Valley again. "I think there was some more zest and feistiness in their approach. Everyone was out there to win. Some of the things we've been working on definitely were shown on Saturday, also some things that we need to do better."
The event was in conjunction with the MU Soccer School's Spring Classic, which included a round-robin tournament amongst four U-14 club teams from Milwaukee and Chicago. [GoMarquette.com/soccerschool]
There was nothing not to enjoy about the sunny day with temperatures in the low 60s. But wind gusts across the open terrain made the players adjust to the conditions.
"I certainly think that the flow of the game when the teams were with the wind was not what we needed it to be," said Bennett. "It was actually a little bit more productive when they were against the wind. So the wind was a huge factor; however, dealing with that wind and trying to manipulate the wind so that it will help us was important. You have to work with whatever you're dealt with on any given day."
Bennett, who has expressed satisfaction with his team's continuous improvement in a variety of areas since last fall, was full of praises once again following Saturday's game.
"I was encouraged about the fact that some people were continuing to improve in terms of becoming specialists," said Bennett. "You've got to be happy with Hector Navarro, who scored two goals from that outside wing position.
Marquette will continue its almost-daily training, conditioning and fitness sessions through the semester with a few more head-to-head competitions along the way. The Golden Eagles' remaining games this 2008 spring season will all be held at The Valley. Next on the schedule is Kentucky, who will come to Milwaukee next Saturday, April 12. That game has been moved to a noon start time.
"Certainly, we still have some issues that we have to work out about taking and creating opportunities," said Bennett. "I think that's going to be a common theme until we find exactly the right combination of personnel and we solidify some of the roles and responsibilities of the front five."
