2008 Woodie Awards
SectionsBusy weekend ahead for Ice Bears
Kevin Price
Issue date: 1/18/08 Section: Sports
The Missouri State Ice Bears look to bounce back from their two losses last weekend following a monthlong break.
To do that, the Ice Bears have concentrated on putting together a complete game during practice this week.
"We've focused on shaking off the rust from break and playing a good solid 60 minutes as a team again, because that was our biggest problem down in Florida," said freshman goalkeeper Mike Poepping, referring to Missouri State's two losses to Florida Gulf Coast.
On Friday and Saturday, the Ice Bears face the St. Louis Billikens, a Division I squad.
Junior forward John Odenwald said the Ice Bears will attempt to utilize their speed advantage against St. Louis.
"I expect them to be a bigger team than we are accustomed to playing, but we'll be quicker," said Odenwald, who scored two goals against Florida Gulf Coast last weekend. "We are just looking to get back to our winning ways and forget about last weekend's losses."
Poepping said the Billikens (6-14-3) are better than their record indicates.
"Typically SLU isn't a very strong D1 team," Poepping said. "However, this year they are on a tear, and the games should be close and fought hard."
The Ice Bears (14-7) have had problems with Division I opponents this year.
Their first two games of the season were losses to Division I Central Oklahoma.
Missouri State also had its 10-game winning streak snapped, at home, by Division I Minnesota State - Mankato on Nov. 17.
The Ice Bears then dropped a pair of games to another Division I team, Iowa State, on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1.
All together, Missouri State is 1-5 against Division I teams this season and has been outscored 33-18. The only win was a 5-3 decision at home against Minnesota State - Mankato on Nov. 16.
Missouri State will have a winnable game Sunday afternoon, as they travel to Robert Morris - Springfield. The Eagles are 4-16 overall and started the season 0-15 before defeating Bradley 8-1 on Dec. 1.
The Ice Bears defeated Robert Morris - Springfield 8-3 on Sept. 29.
Poepping said Missouri State wants to make sure effort will not be a problem again.
"We just didn't sustain real pressure (against Florida Gulf Coast), and it was tough to come back and be placed in a situation like that (with the break)," Poepping said. "This weekend we will make sure to play hard until the final buzzer sounds."
To do that, the Ice Bears have concentrated on putting together a complete game during practice this week.
"We've focused on shaking off the rust from break and playing a good solid 60 minutes as a team again, because that was our biggest problem down in Florida," said freshman goalkeeper Mike Poepping, referring to Missouri State's two losses to Florida Gulf Coast.
On Friday and Saturday, the Ice Bears face the St. Louis Billikens, a Division I squad.
Junior forward John Odenwald said the Ice Bears will attempt to utilize their speed advantage against St. Louis.
"I expect them to be a bigger team than we are accustomed to playing, but we'll be quicker," said Odenwald, who scored two goals against Florida Gulf Coast last weekend. "We are just looking to get back to our winning ways and forget about last weekend's losses."
Poepping said the Billikens (6-14-3) are better than their record indicates.
"Typically SLU isn't a very strong D1 team," Poepping said. "However, this year they are on a tear, and the games should be close and fought hard."
The Ice Bears (14-7) have had problems with Division I opponents this year.
Their first two games of the season were losses to Division I Central Oklahoma.
Missouri State also had its 10-game winning streak snapped, at home, by Division I Minnesota State - Mankato on Nov. 17.
The Ice Bears then dropped a pair of games to another Division I team, Iowa State, on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1.
All together, Missouri State is 1-5 against Division I teams this season and has been outscored 33-18. The only win was a 5-3 decision at home against Minnesota State - Mankato on Nov. 16.
Missouri State will have a winnable game Sunday afternoon, as they travel to Robert Morris - Springfield. The Eagles are 4-16 overall and started the season 0-15 before defeating Bradley 8-1 on Dec. 1.
The Ice Bears defeated Robert Morris - Springfield 8-3 on Sept. 29.
Poepping said Missouri State wants to make sure effort will not be a problem again.
"We just didn't sustain real pressure (against Florida Gulf Coast), and it was tough to come back and be placed in a situation like that (with the break)," Poepping said. "This weekend we will make sure to play hard until the final buzzer sounds."
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