Going to the NCAA tournament is a daunting yet exciting experience for all teams fortunate enough to be selected.

Two years ago the UW men’s soccer team was at great odds when they earned an at-large selection and had to face soccer powerhouse Creighton in the first round, a team that has made 15 straight tournament appearances. If they were nervous, they showed no signs of it as former Husky Kevin Forrest notched a hat trick en route to a 3-0 upset of the Bluejays.

The final goal of that game wouldn’t have been possible without an assist from current senior George John.

“It was just one of those games where we absolutely dominated and everything was going our way,” John recalled.

Now just a few short years after that memorable game, John and fellow seniors Raphael Cox and Josh Swett are wrapping up their final season as Huskies.

Though John is the only graduating senior who’s played his entire four-year career at Washington, each of the seniors has had his own rollercoaster experience with the program and will be leaving a significant mark on the team.

The most recent addition to the team is Swett who played four years at Manhattan College before transferring to Washington.

“I wanted to play for a better team,” Swett said. “Now we have as many wins as I’ve had in my whole career at my old school.”

Swett isn’t the only one who’s happy about his decision to transfer. The entire team has seen how much of a difference he has made as a key substitute playing in 15 games this season.

“At the end of the day we’re glad he came,” UW coach Dean Wurzberger said. “He’s full of effort and energy ... he listened to what we wanted and he tried his very best to deliver it and we’re pleased we had him.”

Another essential transfer is Cox, who played two years at Highline Community College before playing in every single game in his three-year career at the UW.

“Raph has had a great three-year career on the wing, and it will be a challenge for the coaches to find a replacement,” Wurzberger said.

Cox still has some lingering regrets after a disappointing 0-3 end to this season that is unlikely to earn an NCAA tournament bid.

“If I could go back then I’d go back to any of the games that we’ve lost and play them again in a way so that we can get in,” he said.

The bitter end to this season is in part due to the loss of key players to injury, including John who missed his last five games recovering from knee surgery and had to watch from the sidelines as the Huskies’ chances of postseason play slipped away.

The injury isn’t the only obstacle that John has had to overcome in his career at the UW. Though it may be hard to believe, John has made the transition from being a soft-spoken freshman to a commanding presence as co-captain.

“I think mentally I’ve had to overcome some obstacles,” John said. “I think that somewhere between my freshman and sophomore year I gained a lot of confidence in my playing abilities and I really just got confidence in myself and started playing a lot better from there.”

All the rigorous training they have been through has clearly paid off as both John and Cox feel prepared enough to enter the MLS Superdraft.

John’s plan is to rehab his knee back to full strength and be prepared for scouts.

“Soccer is my passion and that’s what I live for right now,” John said. “So as long as I get picked up by any team I have no complaints.”

Cox might be more of a familiar face around Seattle next year if his dream of playing for the Seattle Sounders FC — the newest MLS soccer franchise — is realized.

“I’d play anywhere but if I could choose my ideal team it’d be here in Seattle,” Cox said. “I’m crossing my fingers.”

No matter where it is they end up, these seniors will have a lasting place in Washington’s soccer program.

“A good senior class contributes in their last year and we’ve had that from all three seniors,” Wurzberger said. “The best thing they did for the program is carry on the traditions of success, make sure that younger players get a feel for the program and carry on the quality and expectations of success that we have.”

Reach reporter Sheena Nguyen at sports@dailyuw.com.