"Scusate il ritardo" was the title of an Italian film by one of the most talented and charismatic actor/director whom Italy has had the fortune to produce, Massimo Troisi.  I am sure that most you - our readers - are familiar with the movie "Il Postino," Mr. Troisi's last work as an actor and director before his weak heart gave out one day after the last shot was taken and the movie set wrapped up in 1994. He was 41 years old.

"Scusate il ritardo" was Troisi's second film, two years after his acclaimed debut "Ricomincio da tre" in which he described the difficult life of teenagers and young men in the city of Naples. Scusate il ritardo means "Forgive the tardiness." And that is due to my lack of entries since September 14.

I didn't want to write the same things over and over again, year after year, where we seemed to take off and then land again - sometimes crashing - in our attempt to finally fly high and steady for a season, or two, or three...or create a winning legacy.

We had our moments of excitement - we beat Wheaton at their place when they were ranked 23rd in the country, we scored more goals than in the past, almost beat our foe down the road with 20 seconds to go on the game when they were ranked nationally, matched the number of games won since 2003, and having the opportunity to win one more to have a .500 or more season since 1998, and finally be still in the run for the first NCAC final four since 1999, when Wabash joined the conference.

We also had our heartbreaks - losing two home games 1-0 after outshooting and dominating the opponents who scored two goals with the only two shots on the net, one being a PK, losing a game against Denison when we had a 2-0 lead at halftime and squandered the advantage with 10 minutes of complete mental and physical blackout, dominating Wittemberg with 8 clear, close range changes to score created in the first 22 minutes of the game, but being unable to finish them and losing a game that if we played it another 10 times would end up with a large victory for us, losing against Transy with a PK awarded 90 seconds to the end of regulations, and battling OWU with resilience and determination but coming out empty handed after having given them three early Christmas gifts.

So we are, two games before the end of the regular season, still in contention and in the run for a little Wabash soccer history.  Two games that will define our present and possibly our future.

I won't say much about that. The pitch will speak for us and if we are there already this year or if we have to wait for the next season. I am not sure what the outcome is going to be, nobody knows, but I am sure of our lads' willingness to stretch our season another week and leave everything they have on the field will speak for the kind of program we are putting together.

Earlham and Obeling, two games in the next six days. Two games that are worth a season. I wouldn't have wanted it to be this thrilling and hard, but yet, nothing that is too easy is worth anything.

Two games to live up to our motto:  WAF! Wabash ALWAYS Fights!

Coach G