University of North Carolina Athletics
Men's Soccer Postgame Press Conference Report
December 2, 2001 | Men's Soccer
Dec. 2, 2001
Post-game quotes from Sunday's NCAA Tournament Men's Soccer Game
American University head coach Todd West:
"I can't believe we lost, and Carolina is the best team we've played all year. When Mike Behonick saved the penalty kick, I thought it was our year. I just had that feeling that we were going to win the game. I'm still in shock that we lost.
"I want to emphasize that the seniors set the bar pretty high, and this team will be back [in the NCAA Tournament] next year with hopefully a different result. My hat's off to Carolina, they are the best team we've played this year."
UNC head coach Elmar Bolowich:
"With American, we knew what we would get in terms of a well-coached team, a well-balanced team. Many probably would have thought in the beginning or even at midseason that American would show up in the [NCAA] playoffs, but today and last week they proved why they are here and why they can play. They have a lot of quality players on the field, and their coaching staff has done a great job molding that program [into a winner].
"Last weekend, American scored very early. They scored twice in the first six minutes against Ohio State and scored early against Wake Forest. We knew right off the start, they'd be going hard. That's what they did, there was no surprise there. For us it was just a matter of staying concentrated defensively. We wanted to start pressing them instead of them pressing us. In the end, in overtime, it was a question of who would make an error or go for that one ball that would break the game open and produce a winner.
"After Mike Gell missed the penalty kick, I sensed a change in his attitude and the way he played. I felt from the bench that he was perhaps ready to make up for that, that he felt some personal responsibility. I saw that change [in him] and I kept him in. I said to [assistant coach] Oliver [Weiss], 'I hope he scores the winning goal because I really want it for him.'"
UNC forward Mike Gell:
"I felt bad for the seniors [after missing the penalty kick]. I didn't want us to go out like that. I just played hard and put a little extra effort in. I had a couple of good chances, which made me want to work that much harder to put it in and score."
