By Jim Richards

The SMCC men’s soccer team clinched third place in the ACCAC regular-season standings with a 4-1 victory over slumping Mesa Community College in front of a packed house at the SMCC soccer field Wednesday afternoon.

The victory guarantees the Cougars (11-6) of a home playoff game Monday against a yet-to-be-determined opponent (either Mesa, Phoenix College or Paradise Valley).

SMCC’s  Saturday’s contest at No.1-ranked Yavapai (17-0) will be for nothing other than bragging rights for the two schools. Only Yavapai and No.15 Pima (14-3) finished ahead of the Cougars in the 2007 standings.

The season has been a remarkable turnaround for the program under second-year coach Mark Wilson. A year ago, the Cougars posted a 1-16 record and finished in last place.

“We have solidified third,” Wilson said after Wednesday’s victory. “We’re just, basically, going to get ready for the playoffs on Monday.”

Even though they’re going up against the top team in the nation, Wilson plans to keep things under control in Prescott.

“I’m going to do my homework, find out how (Yavapai plays) and try to keep everybody from being injured,” said Wilson, whose club fell to Yavapai, 5-2, at home a few weeks ago.

“I believed we controlled the temp of that game,” he said. “They just had a few chances and they put them away. I believe we can beat anybody.”