Will Roberts has gotten used to this trip, just like plenty of others on the University of Charleston men's soccer team.
He'll never mind the feeling of deja vu.
"Not at all," the junior said with a wide grin. "It's probably the best trip of the year, by far."
Roberts and the Golden Eagles packed up the bus Monday night on their way to their third straight national semifinals. UC (18-2-2) will head to Kansas City, Missouri, for a 3 p.m. Thursday date with Rockhurst University, also of Kansas City. The winner of that match faces the winner of Thursday's noon match, between Wingate and UC San Diego, at 1 p.m. Saturday for the Division II national title.
Two seasons ago, UC reached the national title game, falling to Lynn University, 3-2. Last year, Charleston's season ended in the national semifinals with a 2-1 loss to Pfeiffer University. A number of Golden Eagles, Roberts included, never have experienced anything but ending a season as one of Division II's final four teams. For them, the trip, the pomp and the circumstance are old hat. Roberts feels that experience will be crucial the third time around.
"The best part is we have the experience of the last two years," Roberts said. "We're coming in with a little bit of advantage, I feel, compared to the other teams. We're used to the whole setting. We know what it's about and we have no fear going into it this time."
That experience helps the Golden Eagles in a couple of ways, head coach Chris Grassie said. There are plenty of new faces on the UC roster, too, and veterans like Roberts are there to help them through their first voyage into the national semifinals. They're accustomed to the schedule - Roberts said UC coaches do a fantastic job of designing that schedule - and can offer plenty of advice to the newcomers. Grassie also said the experience reinforces with the team the idea they belong at that level and can compete at that level.
"It's more than just going to the final four," Grassie said. "It's kind of the foundation of the program. Excellence is what we're striving for. We try to tell them every day we want to be the best. I think they understand that, and I think they believe it because we're able to go to the final four."
There's only one thing that can make this trip better than the previous two, Roberts said - the result. After coming close the last two seasons, the Golden Eagles would love to cap this trip by carrying home a national title.
"Hopefully, this time we'll get lucky after the last two times," Roberts said.