Reflecting on the K?State men's club soccer team's experience in Pensacola, Fla., team president Matt Campbell said he was grateful for the opportunity but somewhat disappointed with the team's loss.

"It was a great experience for us," Campbell said. "We had trouble scoring. We just couldn't get a win."

The team finished 0-3 in the 24-team tournament on Nov. 15 and 16, Campbell said. K-State lost each game by one point. Thursday the team lost 1-0 to defending national champion Michigan and 3-2 to Boston College. Friday K-State lost 3-2 to Georgia, Campbell said.

Though he said the team performed well, Campbell said the other teams were more prepared. However, he said he views the experience as beneficial for next year. "We played well," Campbell said. "We just didn't play to our potential. It's a good stepping stone for next year."

Defender Kyle Shipps, senior in electrical engineering, said he also sees the three losses as a learning experience.

"We learned about how seriously other schools take it," Shipps said.

Shipps said the team members were unsure whether they were going to nationals. Because of this, they were less prepared than other teams.

"We weren't even sure if we were going up a week before," Shipps said. "We all thought we knew the commitments, but it's obvious that the other schools most likely put a lot more time in than we did."

Shipps said the team played much better at regionals than at nationals.

"We definitely didn't play as well as we should have," Shipps said. "If we would have played (like we did at regionals), I think we would have come out a little better."

Sweeper Nick Gay, junior in electrical engineering, said the team played well, but - in the end - was just out of luck.

"The best way to describe it was we were unlucky," Gay said. "We were in every game. We just couldn't score. The outcome wasn't on our side."

With many players returning next year, Gay said it will be easier to succeed in future seasons.

"I think this year was a great chance for us to get some experience to see how other teams play out of our region," Gay said. "Next year I think we will be prepared for it and do better."