Hawks Advance to Final Four
By Abbie Gittinger

After defeating Lindenwood on Sunday Nov. 24, the Hawks earned a ticket to Evans, Ga. for a shot at winning the NCAA Division II championship.

Held at Rockhurst University’s Bourke Field, excitement and anticipation for the game was high. Strong defense throughout the game and an early goal by Rockhurst’s midfielder Paolo Scoppola bought the hawks a 1-0 victory.

Head coach Tony Tocco said he told the Hawks to “play together as a team, play as a team at all times.” Following the advice of the long-time soccer coach, the Hawks teamwork is what ultimately merited a win.

Rockhurst University ranked number 14 when they faced the number 1 seeded Lindenwood on Sunday. Despite Lindenwood’s dominant possession of the ball, the Hawks were able to keep out goals mainly credit of senior goalie, Ryan Bass.

Students, parents and faculty alike braved the cold temperature to support the team. Bass, grateful for the support, said, “It’s always great to have fans at your games.”

Unfortunately, few Hawks will be able to attend to semifinal game in Georgia next week. The Hawks will face Southern New Hampshire (20-1-1) on Thursday, Dec. 5. as they battle for the trophy.

The Hawks are entering the semifinal game with a six-game winning streak, hoping to put an end to the 21-game winning streak of opponents, Southern New Hampshire.

This is Rockhurst’s seventh appearance in the NCAA Division II national tournament. The Hawks have not forgotten the tragic loss at the national quarterfinals in 2011, but are looking forward to a good game.

“It’s going to be a battle and that’s what you expect when you get down to a final four,” Bass said. “We’re just going to go down there and take care of business.”

Kickoff for the match is scheduled for 4 p.m. CDT on Dec. 5. Live stats and free video streaming will be available for the game so fans will be able to cheer on the Hawks, even from over 900 miles away.