Southern West Virginia King's Warriors News Release -- www.wvkingswarriors.org
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
BLUEFIELD, W.V. -- The Southern West Virginia King's Warriors will play their final two regular-season games this week, both at home, with a PDL playoff berth and the South Atlantic Division title on the line.
Southern West Virginia (6-4-2 for 20 points) has won four games in a row, and its playoff fate is in its own hands. On Tuesday, the King's Warriors will host the Carolina Dynamo at the East River Soccer Complex at 7 p.m., and on Saturday they will close out the regular season at home against in-state rival the West Virginia Chaos. If the King's Warriors win both games, they will punch their ticket for the PDL Playoffs.
To add to the intrigue, both of the Southern West Virginia's opponents this week are also in the playoff hunt. It starts Tuesday against the Dynamo. The loser of the match will be eliminated from the playoff race. If the teams tie, Carolina would be eliminated but the King's Warriors would still be alive.
The King's Warriors are unbeaten at home this season at 4-0-1. The Dynamo is 1-3-1 on the road so far this season, while the Chaos are 2-2-2 away from Charleston, W.V.
"I would simply reiterate the approach we have taken from the beginning," said Southern West Virginia Head Coach Scott Reitnour. "This type of approach builds credibility with the coaches who send us players. As we head into the final week of the regular season, in the midst of a playoff race, it is difficult not to get distracted by the league table. Our goal as a team is to continue to focus on the processes that have brought us to this point.
"We will continue to focus on player development. We want to ensure the boys return to their collegiate environments in perfect health, in fine form and ready to contribute to their team cultures. Our main focus Tuesday night will be on playing to our own standard, playing for each other, and playing for an audience of one."
Southern West Virginia is coming off a 3-0 victory against the River City Rovers this past Saturday, its fourth straight win. During the four-game winning streak, the King's Warriors have outscored their opponents 11-4. The Dynamo, meanwhile, kept their playoff hopes alive this past Saturday with a must-win 3-1 victory against the Cincinnati Dutch Lions in Greensboro, N.C.
"It's a big game as the winner will inevitably kill off the other team's playoff hopes," said Southern West Virginia midfielder Sam Blackman. "The lads are treating it as a semi-final type game as three points lines up a winner-take-all game with West Virginia on Saturday. But all the chaps are focused on getting a positive result tomorrow, enjoying the game and representing this club in a positive manner as that's what it is really about."
The King's Warriors are 1-1-0 so far in the three-game season series with Carolina. Southern West Virginia was defeated 4-1 in Greensboro on June 21, but came back to get its first-ever victory against the Dynamo in the team's three-year existence at home on June 28 with a 2-1 triumph.
King's Warriors' leading scorer Gideon Asante gave his take on Tuesday's game. "Well with our preparation for this game, we are going come out and play to glorify the Lord. And with that being said, we are not going to dwell on either a win or a loss but we are going to play hard to our highest potential."