From USAO Sports Information
CHICKASHA – For the first time in school history, the Drover men’s soccer team broke into the NAIA Top 5, sitting at third in the nation in the most recent NAIA Poll.
Stephen Owusu, a freshman from Ghana, heads the ball against Baker University in August at Drover Pitch. (Kellie Driscoll/USAO)
“It shows a great amount of respect and recognition for what our program has been able to do the last couple of years, combined with a few big wins this year,” Head Coach Jimmy Hampton said. “We’re honored people think we are headed to new heights.”
The Drovers, who started the season ranked seventh, opened the season with a 2-1 double overtime win over No. 2 Baker University and a 2-1 win over the 2011 NAIA Runners Up, Hastings College. After a regulation tie against Midland University, who is receiving votes nationally, the Drovers are 2-0-1.
Conference opponents Oklahoma City and Oklahoma Baptist are both receiving votes in the latest poll.
Goalkeeper Bryan Byars said rankings help keep the morale up on the team, but that he and his teammates try to take each game one at a time and keep a level head, something Hampton tries to stress.
“We’ve just been circled on a few schedules now,” Hampton said. “We get to find what it’s like to be hunted, to have the bulls eye on our backs.”
The Drovers’ next home game will be against Lyon College at noon Saturday at Drover Pitch.
Jessica Jackson is the Sports Information Director at USAO.