Judson heads to world series
Published 9:38 pm Tuesday, May 3, 2011
The Judson College Eagles played their way into a No. 7 seed and a trip to the United States Collegiate Athletic Association World Series in Akron, Ohio. The Eagles will face some of the opponents they battled during the regular season. -- Chris Wasson
Just two weeks ago, the Eagles of Judson College were wondering what their fate would be when the United States Colligate Athletic Association began their national championship in Akron, Ohio.
On the outside looking in to the top eight, which would qualify them for the national tournament, the Eagles were hoping to play their way into the spot and when the results were finalized on April 26, Judson had played their way into the seventh seed.
“When they found out the girls were elated,” Judson head coach Lee Jones said. “They are just very excited to go up there and have the chance to compete for their chance to win.”
The Eagles squad, which failed to make last year’s national championship tournament, will be relying on younger players who haven’t seen a game of that size yet in their careers.
“Between the transfers and all of the younger girls we don’t have many girls who went last time,” Jones said. “It’s a new experience for them. We are leaving in the morning (Wednesday), which will give us a couple of days to get all the way up there and there will be a banquet on Thursday, then games start.”
When Judson takes to the field at Firestone Stadium May 5 against St. Mary of the Woods, it will be the first game for the Eagles since April 22.
Jones said that he doesn’t expect the layoff to have any impact on his team.
“We have been able to practice some since then,” Jones said. “We have had five or six practices, but we have had to work around finals schedules as well. We will practice again once we get up there and we should be ok.”
Judson’s opponents are a familiar one.
The two teams have already faced off once this year in Judson’s spring tournament with the Pomeroy winning 6-3, but they have also seen each other in the national championship tournament as well.
“We have had a couple of really good games with them,” Jones said. “We have won one, they have won one. This is a different year though and our girls have a chance to win it all for the first time in Judson history.
“We are just working our hardest to pull that off.”