By Jim O'Hara

ROME, Ga. – For the first time in three weeks, the Shorter men's soccer team will be back on the pitch.

But although the unusual long break between matches isn't what he wanted, head coach Paulo Neto is confident that the Hawks can continue a season of success into a successful postseason when they open play Thursday afternoon in the NCCAA South Region Tournament at Emmanuel College in Franklin Springs.

"It's hard," Neto said about the layoff as the Hawks, the top seed for the tournament and the recipient of a first-round bye, prepare to face the winning of Wednesday's match between Bob Jones University and Southeastern. "You just don't have a reference point because the last game we played is so far back. You don't know where you stand.

"It's not ideal but it has given us a chance to rest and work on our issues," the coach said. "The guys are ready to play"

So far this season, the Hawks proved they were ready to establish themselves as an NCAA Division II program to watch as they compiled a 9-6-2 overall record during the regular season and an 8-5-1 slate that gave them a third-place finish in the Gulf South Conference standings.

Utilizing a free-flowing Brazilian-style of play Neto established, the Hawks opened the year putting together a five-game win streak during September and claimed three wins during a rugged five-straight road tests in October. Shorter last game of the regular season came Nov. 1 when GSC rival Lee dealt the Hawks a 2-0 setback.

"We had a good start but when we got to the second half I felt like the other teams had a better idea of what we do, and of the six losses, three of could have been different," Neto said about three one-goal losses the Hawks had. "We just didn't finish our chances."

Still, the Hawks took advantage of other chances as Shorter displayed a well-balanced look from end line to end line.

Heading up the offensive charge have been three junior Hawks who give the team a triple threat. Robert Ochieng has a team-high nine goals along with one assist; Irvin Espinal has contributed five goals and five assists; and Diego Gonzalez found the back of the net four times but leads Shorter with eight assists.

Anchoring the defense has been sophomore goalkeeper Nicolas Ferrigno, who has stood his ground with 1.24 goals against average, recorded 57 saves and has posted five shutouts.

Neto said that the Hawks know they have to be even better in the seven-team regional tournament that opened Wednesday with three matches. In addition to the Bob Jones-Southeastern contest, Southern Wesley and point squared off while Emmanuel and Columbia International met in the third match.

"We've been able to watch a little bit of video on Bob Jones and Southeastern and I'll be able to watch them when I get down there," said Neto, who went to Franklin Springs on Wednesday with the team making the trip Thursday morning. "But we'll play a certain way, our way no matter what."

The Hawks will face either Bob Jones or Southeastern at 5 p.m. on Thursday, while the second semifinal will see the Southern Wesleyan-Point winner go up against the winner of the Emmanuel-Columbia match. The region championship will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. with the winner advancing to the NCCAA National Soccer Championships on Dec. 2 in Kissimmee, Fla.