By Mark Thomson

Off to a 9-2-1 (3-1 in the MIAC) start, the men’s soccer team is poised to go deep into postseason play. But the team isn’t allowing themselves to think too far ahead. “We’re not thinking about the playoffs yet,” midfielder Stephen Murphy-Logue ’11 said. “We’re taking it one game at a time.”

Forward Taylor Rasmussen ’13 agreed. “It’s cliché, but I don’t even know who we’re playing after St. Mary’s.”

Rasmussen was recently named MIAC Player of the week after scoring the only goals in consecutive 1-0 victories over Carleton and Bethel. He leads the team with six scores.

Head coach Ian Barker is making sure that the team takes nothing for granted. “We have the ability to run the board and win conference,” he said. “We also could miss the playoffs with six games left to go. They’re aware of how good and mediocre they can be.”

Indeed, in the MIAC, the league race is wide open. Six of the eleven teams only have one league loss.

“There’s a chance for any team to finish in the top four,” Rasmussen said. “As we’ve seen thus far, anyone can win. We lost to Augsburg, and then they went off and tied St. Olaf.”

Despite the challenge of playing in such a strong conference, the team feels good about their chances for the rest of the season. “We trust that we can pull games out,” Rasmussen said. “Coach Barker instills this in us. We can go into a game and trust that we’re going to win the game.”

Murphy-Logue believes that this team has what it takes for continued success. “Not to say we’re cocky, because we’re definitely not, but we have a confidence,” he said. “There’s a certain level of trust, and it’s showing on the field.”

Barker has been pleased by the team’s performance and depth thus far, highlighting the team’s maturity. “Pretty much in every game there’s been consistent focus and discipline for 90 minutes. It’s unusual at the collegiate level to have this type of focus and prepare like they do,” he said. “Also, we’re deep. We have a squad of 48, 25 on the second team–we don’t use the word JV. They’re 6-1-1.”

This focus and discipline has prevented the team from getting down on themselves after setbacks in conference games. “We have a great ability to bounce back,” Rasmussen said. “Losing to Augsburg was not easy, but then we played a great game against Carleton. We keep our heads up and never get down on one another.”

However, that isn’t to say there isn’t room for improvement. Although the 9-2-1 record looks great on paper, Barker is looking for more. “We’re not expressing our dominance in terms of score,” he said. “We want gluts of goals rather than waiting until the last ten minutes in a 0-0 game.”

Still, the nine wins have given the Scots a third place rank in the MIAC going into tonight’s 7:30 p.m. home game against St. Mary’s.