"It's definitely been a season of "it's a new season." You know, we didn't have, obviously, a ton of returning pieces. Nine new starters came in, and I kind of break it down into three phases. I think in the non-conference we hit the ground running and had some high highs, coming out of the gate pretty well in some of those games. 

Then, kind of mid-season, we had a bit of a lull, right? I don't think we got a win in about four games. We just found ways to lose games and came up short in some of those affairs. But now, I think this back end of the season, we're 5-1-1—hopefully 6-1-1 in the last eight after today—and I really think we're finding our best footing late in the season, which is really important. We're playing our best soccer right now and finding ways to win games, which was difficult for us mid-season. 

What's impressed me the most about the team is definitely the fight. I go back and think our season really turned against Georgian Court. You know, we're down 2–1 in the 86th minute, or wherever it was, and we end up up 4–2 in the 89th. We scored three goals in just over two minutes. I really think the fight in this group is special—this group is not going to go down easily. I think last year's group relied on a high level of ability tactically and technically. I think this group has much more of a fighter's mentality from that standpoint. 

If I had to think of our two big points of adversity, obviously, you take away the Georgian Court game—Goldy-Beacom and Holy Family stand out. Losing those games, letting up some pretty weak goals—some that we felt as a group were very preventable—was definitely a point of contention. 

If you look back, late in that Goldy-Beacom game, we're down 4–2 and taking it to them. We're creating chances, we get to 4–3 late, but it was just maybe a little too little, too late, I guess you'd say. But our group kept fighting. Even in the Holy Family game, we were up—what was it—2–1 in the 80th minute, then two or three minutes later, they're up 3–2. And in those last six or seven minutes, we just kept creating chances. We haven't quit on games at any point, and I don't expect this group to ever go down without a fight. 

This is definitely a group that's faced a lot of adversity and is really fighting its way back into games. And if you look at all our losses, we haven't lost a game by more than a goal. 

When we talk about what we believe is the key factor in the team's success this postseason, it's obviously that fighter's mentality. I think this is a group with a lot of guys who are squad players—more rotational-based than last year's team. But this is a team that's made the playoffs all five of my years here—and all four for the seniors. We've come up short in some quarterfinals and such, but they understand how important every game is this time of year. 

I really think we're rolling into this postseason playing our best soccer. Last year's team faced adversity, and the guys returning from that group grew through it and saw what it took in terms of sacrifice, playing well, and fighting together. Those squad players from last year are now important players. The key players from last year—specifically Kohta and Ayato, who are returning starters—have a desire that's palpable to take us far. 

I also really think Keiji is the top player in the conference. I believe he should win Conference Player of the Year. If you look back at the games where he records a point, I believe we've only lost one. If he gets on the scoresheet with a goal or assist, we're good money to win. I really think he's one of the top players in the region, and if he finds the right form and breaks through in games, we're going to be a very tough out for a lot of teams."

- Coach Brandon Levine