The Beta Gamma Delta Patriots and the Pi Kappa Sigma Cobras will face each other for the second year in a row Saturday at 6:30 p.m.in Alumni Stadium for the annual Turkey Bowl, the intramural men’s soccer championship.
The teams advanced to the championship game after two close semifinal games on Tuesday, Nov. 6.
The Beta Gamma Delta Patriots dominated the competition all through the regular season. At this point, they’re undefeated. The Patriots’ quarterfinal game against the Chi Alpha Pi Cavaliers went into overtime last Saturday after a 1-1 regulation time finish.
The Patriots then scored in overtime with only a few minutes to spare before penalty kicks. In their semifinal game against the Pi Gamma Delta Royals, the Patriots won 2-1, knocking the No. 3 seed out of the tournament.
Last year’s Turkey Bowl champions, the Patriots were heavy favorites coming into this season—especially with the addition of former players from the Bruins men’s intercollegiate soccer team. Justin Woodham, the Patriots’ soccer coach, said, “Having four [former Bruins soccer] players, we’re expected to do well, so I think that’s something we need to live up to, to fulfill.”
Woodham said the team has a lot of talent individually. The goal then is to have the players working together. “Unity is the biggest thing,” he said.
The Pi Kappa Sigma Cobras, who lost to the Patriots in the Turkey Bowl last year, entered the tournament as the fourth of the top four teams. They lost to the top three seeds during the regular season, including a loss to the Pi Gamma Delta Royals in double penalty kicks.
However, the Cobras won a very physical and aggressive quarterfinal game against the Sigma Alpha Chi Spartans 5-2, matching themselves against the Alpha Razorbacks for the semifinals.
The Cobras and Alpha both played intensely at the semifinal game on Tuesday. But after regulation time was over, the teams were tied 1-1. Neither team scored in overtime, forcing the game into penalty kicks. The Cobras went first in PKs but missed their third shot.
Alpha made their first four shots but failed to win after their final shot was blocked, forcing the teams into double PKs, a tiebreaker in which the first team to miss a shot loses.
The Cobras made their first shot, but Alpha was blocked on theirs, sending the Cobras into the Turkey Bowl.
Tim Dahlhausen, the Cobras athletic director, said the team could have played better at times throughout the season. However, he said the team has had a good season overall.
Dahlhausen also said the Cobras welcomed several talented freshmen to the team this year and that the new and returning teammates were able to form a strong bond throughout the season. “I think we’ll definitely be able to make a run and hopefully win it all,” Dahlhausen said.
The Cobras will get that chance tomorrow night at 6:30 p.m. as they play the undefeated Patriots in the Turkey Bowl.
