For Ohio Valley Conference teams, the real season has just begun.

Forget the month of playing non-conference teams. Forget the fact they either went undefeated, lost every game or were right in the middle of the pack. None of it even matters.

In the past two weeks, Eastern teams have started their fights toward NCAA tournament glory.

The Eastern women’s soccer and volleyball teams know each year the only way they will represent their school on the national showcase is through dominance in the OVC.

No matter how well a team does throughout the season, only one team gets through come the end of the year.

With football, especially this year, only one OVC team usually gets in. The way things are going for most OVC football teams, maybe none of them should be allowed to participate in postseason play, but rules are rules.

So with all this pressure put on performing well during conference games, which of these three teams will be on their way to a national tournament berth?

The women’s soccer team has been there the past two years and seems to be the first choice for this accomplishment.

They have a talented, young group of players with quality senior leadership from all-time Eastern points leader Beth Liesen.

I saw this team play for the first timethis season Sunday, and it looked very impressive for the first half against Tennessee Tech, but not so much in the second.

The problem is with consistency. I have seen both the good and the bad of what this team has to offer, but talent-wise they have the potential to be great.

A 2-0 OVC record is exactly what this team needs considering the conference tournament only accepts four of the eight teams.

The volleyball team is another young group on the rise. After having a “rebuilding year” last season, this team looks like it is starting to mature.

They have begun their conference season with a 3-1 record and Erica Gerth is killing and digging her way into the record books.

Now for the football team, which currently sits in last place in the OVC. This team is young in all the wrong places.

The offensive line will be good someday. But in time for the rest of conference play, I don’t know. Though it only has played one conference game against the OVC’s preseason favorite, it is going to be tough to get this offense to put more points on the board.

So which will it be? Well I’m going with the obvious. The women’s soccer team is the only team capable at the moment for a NCAA berth. They have the experience in big games and know exactly what it takes to go far.

The volleyball team is close. They will scare some people this season and be ready to compete next year.

Right now the football team looks lost. This year will be one of the worst teams coach Bob Spoo will have, but only because it lacks experience.

Next year is still a question mark. If Andrew Harris or even Andy Vincent can establish themselves as a leader, Spoo could be back on top in no time.

But as for this year, the NCAA College Cup will be the only place any Eastern team sees this Fall.