BLOG 5: Gibson Feels Tough Schedule is a Positive

By Sandy Gholston

BIG RAPIDS – Don’t think for one minute the schedule Ferris State head soccer head coach Neathan Gibson assembled was designed to be as tough as it is by accident.

Gibson is hopeful the Bulldogs’ tough schedule will have the squad battle-tested for the rigors of a long Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference schedule. It has been tough, too. Ferris already has played the No. 1-ranked Division II soccer team in the land, Tampa, and Sunday it hosts the No. 3-ranked team, archrival Grand Valley State, Sunday at 12 p.m. Sunday’s showdown is the first of two scheduled regular-season meetings between the Bulldogs and Lakers (the second takes place in Allendale on Nov. 1 and is the regular-season finale).

Ferris State forward Tammy Unsworth listens for instructions before beginning a drill at the FSU Soccer Field. (Photo/Sandy Gholston)

“I like it this way,” Gibson said when asked about the challenging nature of his team’s schedule – particularly early with Tampa and regional foe Southern Indiana in the first two matches. “I like the fact we have one of the toughest schedules we could put together with Tampa, Grand Valley and then with Southern Indiana all being opponents this early in the season. This is exactly what we need to toughen us up for GLIAC. This is definitely the way I would prefer it.”

The league schedule now features home-and-away contests between all league teams this season. As the GLIAC has grown stronger, over the years, so too has the competition Ferris must contend with to climb the ladder toward the top. Sunday, as the Lakers roll into town for a 12 p.m. contest, the home and league opener for the Bulldogs, Ferris gets another early glimpse of how it stacks up against one of the nation’s best squads.

The Bulldogs are 1-2 so far with a 1-0 win over Southern Indiana (Aug. 29) preceding a 3-1 loss to Tampa (Aug. 31) and a 2-1 setback at Lewis (Sept. 7).

If you have any questions, ideas or comments feel free to contact Sandy Gholston at sgholston2@netzero.com