Post-Game Quotes: SIUE
11/17/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Michigan State Head Coach Damon Rensing On what he told the team after the game…
Well that's a coin toss, the penalty kicks are tough. SIUE called heads and that's the way it came out, it's the way the coin landed, it's kind of a 50-50 thing. I think what you do is that you tell your guys that you are very proud of them, and it was a very well-played game. If you're a coach on this side, there's not a whole lot of things that you can argue with. I thought the referees did a very good job. That's not something that's always told, but I think we should make a point to say that those guys did a good job in the game. I thought it was well-played by both teams, and at the end of the day we just couldn't get that game winning goal, and then it goes to PKs and it's tough. Well, 11 doesn't happen very often either, so like I said, credit to SIUE and we wish them all of the best in the next round against Butler.
On the missed opportunities on goal…
Well, I thought the first half went the way we wanted it. It was 1-0, and we really didn't give any chances up to SIUE. I thought the next 15 or 20 minutes we were kind of just tentative, we played not to win and they got some territory, and they had the wind. Credit to their guy, they had a really good shot. Then we had three really good chances to put the game away in the last 15 minutes and one, their goalie made a great save. Two they cleared it off the line, and then they cleared the ones we had off of the top. That's soccer, and I think we played well for large spells of the game. We outplayed them and certainly out-chanced them in the game, but if you don't put away those chances it can come down to PK's and then you're on the coin toss.
On his team and the seniors…
I would like to say that I am just very proud of this team. I think about how we were 8-9-2 last year, went through the spring, it was kind of up and down in the spring and for them to come back and do what they did this fall â€" we should look at all of those things. 13-5 and this is a tie, so 13-5-2 really did a lot for this program and I'm very proud. The last thing I want to say is that I'm very proud of our seniors. These five seniors, Dewey Lewis, Andrew Herr, Brian Winterfield, Austin Piwinski and Ali Scheib. One thing that I would like to say for them is that those guys aren't always in the stat column, but they took care of stuff off the field, on the field, or whether it was just working hard in practice. Those are the unsung heroes that really make programs. It's not just all about the All-Americans, it's about all the kids. We had five of those kids from the last four years, and I'm very proud of them and lucky to coach them.
On the atmosphere here all season…
First of all we didn't lose, we tied and they advanced on penalty kicks. We are 9-0-2 at home. Our fans were great, it was awesome. I saw a lot of different teams out there supporting us. We love playing at DeMartin, and are very fortunate there. We are excited to build that home field advantage, hopefully fans understand, and if you are a soccer fan we do a really good job playing the game. I think we play an attractive brand. Lights are coming next year. Look out.
On memories with the seniors…
Well I told the guys after the game that there's not a whole lot I was going to say to make them feel better. But I think we will get together 10, 15, 20 years from now, and we'll probably talk about this game, but we would probably talk about something stupid I said in practice or what happened on the bus or what happened in the hotel room when we were traveling. Those are the memories and those are the relationships. Those guys are great â€" all five of them. They were fun to be around, I enjoyed seeing them. They are all respectful people, and I'm proud to know them as people as much as soccer players.
On fatigue in this game…
I don't think fatigue was too bad. We had a couple injuries â€" we didn't have Giuseppe [Barone] today, we didn't have DeJuan [Jones]. I think when you have to shift some things around we got a little thin there. The other thing is that some of the guys off of the bench stepped up, Michael Marcantognini had a great goal. I think both teams were tired and both teams played hard. That's what happens.
On the wind as a factor in this game…
Yes I think the wind was a factor. Both of those shots were struck with the wind, and you could see it really leave the guy's foot. I thought in the second half though, against the wind, we still created more chances than SIUE. I thought we played a little conservative there in the start of the half. We did start the half well with a good chance that was saved. As the game went on we got a little tentative and that's when their goal came.
On success this year…
You look at 2013 and 2014 when we went to two Elite Eights, and we lost a lot of leadership, a lot of quality players, and sometimes you just can't replace that in one year. Credit to our guys, Dewey Lewis, Brian Winterfield, and Ken Krolicki., those guys have started to develop. Jimmy Fiscus is a leader, and now you take those guys in a good leadership role, along with sophomore likes Brian, Connor [Corrigan] and a talented freshman class, and I think that all came together and I think our leaders have to take a lot of credit for that.
Michigan State sophomore forward Ryan Sierakowski
On ending the season like this…
It's tough because we had one heck of a season. We were undefeated at home, and came out and beat some tough teams â€" Notre Dame and SMU â€" and just in this game we came out and we out-played them for most of the game. We were up by one and then they hit a banger and tied it up, but other than that I thought our season was going really well.
On success this year…
I don't think much has changed. This year we were in a ton of games that we weren't in last year. I mean at Notre Dame we lost 4-0 last year. This year we came out every game, showed our character, and we fought through it and every minute we grinded it out to get results.
SIUE Head coach Mario Sanchez Opening statement…
One, obviously I'm super excited for our boys. For SIU, obviously being a mid-major, it's a program with a ton of history soccer wise, and I couldn't be more happy for our athletic department, for our AD, Dr. Brad Hewitt, for the alumni, and for these young men right here next to me. We've overcome a lot this season, and I'm just extremely excited for them.
And also hats off to Damon Rensing and the Michigan State team. That is a very, very good team, and obviously if you go down to PK's it's always a tough way to end a season. But I have a lot of respect for that team, and for what Damon has done. Not only here, but for college soccer.
On the message at half time to his team…
Honestly, it was just to stick with it. I also thought we played well, but not great. I told the guys, we have more in us. And really, not to change much, but I just thought we needed to pick up the tempo a little bit, and I thought the wind would play a factor. I think for both teams, whoever had the wind at their back, in regulation and overtime, it was a big factor. Both goals, you could say were a little bit wind aided, because I mean, the ball just really took off for both kids on both teams.
At halftime it was, we're good let's just pick it up a little bit more, but at the same time be patient and let's be true to who we are. I give full credit to these guys, they never panicked, and they stuck with it. A lot of credit to this young man right here next to me [Austin Ledbetter], you know, he has been a huge leader to us on and off the field. He showed today what he can do, he pushed the guys through it."
