St. John's University Athletics
POSTGAME QUOTES: ST. JOHN’S MEN’S SOCCER AT WEST VIRGINIA
St. John’s Men’s Soccer Head Coach Dr. Dave Masur spoke to the media after a 4-3 overtime loss at West Virginia in the NCAA Tournament First Round on Thursday night
Head Coach Dr. Dave Masur
Opening statement…
“It's a tough opening statement. First, we knew West Virginia was a super talented team, really good going forward. We knew we had a work cut out for us. I'm really proud of our guys. That came in and fought really hard. We got the lead on them early in the second half off a penalty kick and then a good play down the flank and across.. But again, West Virginia is super talented and super good going forward. We knew we had to press them a little bit. We couldn't sit on our own end because they have a lot of talented players on the attack. So I'm really proud of our guys. It was a pretty entertaining game. I'm just sorry that we lost it when we had the lead with three minutes to go.”
On the go-ahead goal in the 81st minute…
“[Godwin] Partey made a big play. He stepped in and won a ball, and then he got it wide to Gabin [Thomelier] and then he got the ball across, then Julian [Jakopovic] got forward and knocked the ball back across to Guilherme [Gomes] for the goal.”
On West Virginia’s Marcus Caldeira…
“They kept him on ice for a little bit and then he came in and did very well. So again, I probably exposed our guys a little much. We didn't have much cover on him. Their team moves the ball really well. They know how to operate as a group. He individually is super good because he's individualistic as he scored the last goal, which was fantastic. But he also has a way of setting up other people and using other people to create space for himself. He's a very crafty player and we knew that coming in.”
On his mindset going into the game…
“We've started about four or five real freshmen on the field so we have a good mix of newer and more experience players. We were excited to be here. We thought we could pull the game out. We thought we could win the game. We certainly had that plan and it looked like it was going along pretty well at 2-0.”
On goalkeeper Alec McLachlan…
“He’s been great for his entire career for us. He made a big save at the end of the game. Where they countered and could have won the game there in regulation. And so it's happy He made some big plays, made a big punch in the first half of the game. Always pleased when you have a good goalie back there. He patrols the back line very well and gives us some calming influence and so I think he was quite good in that regard.”
On the St. John’s men’s soccer program going forward…
“At St. John's, we made our 23rd NCAA Tournament appearance in 35 years. We've been to a bunch of Quarterfinals, a bunch of Round of 16’s, we've been to four College Cups and won a national championship. As the competition throughout the country has gotten harder and harder the margin for error has gotten less and less. You have to be cutting edge to be better everywhere on the field to be a top level team. We’re proud of the group that played this year at St. John's. We're proud of what we've been able to do. We're proud to come down here and play a great team like West Virginia and play them hard until the very end.”
Opening statement…
“It's a tough opening statement. First, we knew West Virginia was a super talented team, really good going forward. We knew we had a work cut out for us. I'm really proud of our guys. That came in and fought really hard. We got the lead on them early in the second half off a penalty kick and then a good play down the flank and across.. But again, West Virginia is super talented and super good going forward. We knew we had to press them a little bit. We couldn't sit on our own end because they have a lot of talented players on the attack. So I'm really proud of our guys. It was a pretty entertaining game. I'm just sorry that we lost it when we had the lead with three minutes to go.”
On the go-ahead goal in the 81st minute…
“[Godwin] Partey made a big play. He stepped in and won a ball, and then he got it wide to Gabin [Thomelier] and then he got the ball across, then Julian [Jakopovic] got forward and knocked the ball back across to Guilherme [Gomes] for the goal.”
On West Virginia’s Marcus Caldeira…
“They kept him on ice for a little bit and then he came in and did very well. So again, I probably exposed our guys a little much. We didn't have much cover on him. Their team moves the ball really well. They know how to operate as a group. He individually is super good because he's individualistic as he scored the last goal, which was fantastic. But he also has a way of setting up other people and using other people to create space for himself. He's a very crafty player and we knew that coming in.”
On his mindset going into the game…
“We've started about four or five real freshmen on the field so we have a good mix of newer and more experience players. We were excited to be here. We thought we could pull the game out. We thought we could win the game. We certainly had that plan and it looked like it was going along pretty well at 2-0.”
On goalkeeper Alec McLachlan…
“He’s been great for his entire career for us. He made a big save at the end of the game. Where they countered and could have won the game there in regulation. And so it's happy He made some big plays, made a big punch in the first half of the game. Always pleased when you have a good goalie back there. He patrols the back line very well and gives us some calming influence and so I think he was quite good in that regard.”
On the St. John’s men’s soccer program going forward…
“At St. John's, we made our 23rd NCAA Tournament appearance in 35 years. We've been to a bunch of Quarterfinals, a bunch of Round of 16’s, we've been to four College Cups and won a national championship. As the competition throughout the country has gotten harder and harder the margin for error has gotten less and less. You have to be cutting edge to be better everywhere on the field to be a top level team. We’re proud of the group that played this year at St. John's. We're proud of what we've been able to do. We're proud to come down here and play a great team like West Virginia and play them hard until the very end.”