Saturday, May 21, 2022

Orangemen Win DC Military & First Responders Cup

 For the second year in a row the Orangemen Soccer Team have won the DC Military and First Responders Cup!  Hosted by District Soccer and held that the growing "Fields at RFK Stadium the Cup took place on a Summer night in May...    It was 92 degrees at 6 pm and the start of the matches.

The Orangemen came adorned in their new "Black" kits with pink stripes (a result of a snafu with the supplier).  

A link to District Soccer and a history of this Cup can be found here.  https://districtsportsusa.leagueapps.com/leagues/soccer-(outdoor)/3057493-d.c.-united-military-and-first-responders-cup


Saturday, June 6, 2020

COVID Soccer - 6 June 2020

It was hot, damn hot, and humid.  They had not played since February.  It was the first Saturday in June, 2020. The country was slowly opening but sports had yet to resume.  Professional sports were beginning, but with absent crowds and in some creative venues, piped in noise.  It's also June 6th and the remembrance of D-Day. It was fitting that an international contingent of Orangemen Players was assembled.  Karl from Switzerland, Gene from Turkey, Rosie from the UK, and the remainder from the US with various nationalities including the Dutch in Jason, the Italian in Mooch, the Swedish in Ogre, and Polish heritage in Jan.

The Orangemen, playing the beautiful game since the 70's were keen to get back out on the pitch.  Today wouldn't have been possible had Ogre Ogren not orchestrated the game and the rules of the match.  First, we would not violate the Virginia protocol of not gathering in groups of 10 or more.  We had nine signed up to play.  Mo, Mr. Quality HVAC himself, was a no-show, because he had customers. Given the heat, Mo's priority would be to  broken air conditioners in the region.  Given the heat, he made the right decision, not to mention the income,  Mo missed a great game.

But first, more of Ogre's Rules.  Having spent some time studying aerial and ground warfare in his day job, he was keen to set up engagement zones. Jan and Mooch discussed the intricacies of the FSCL, but there would be no coordinated fires for this game.  Ogre described his vision of offensive and defensive zones from which players of either function had to remain until the ball transitioned.  We would play half field with four on offense, four on defense, with Gene playing keeper.  Face masks would be worn and the social distance of 6 feet would be maintained at all times.  Videos from players in Germany had a unique way to keep the social distance which involved the use of shopping carts and gas masks.  This protocol was outside the scope of what Ogre had in mind for a bit of fun and exercise for a Saturday morning.

As the group assembled and took the pitch the rules were explained.  Resistance (and confusion) was immediately apparent but it was also apparent that it was either too early in the morning, or a few modifications would be necessary in order for any of this to be any fun.  Never-the-less it was important to give it a try to see if it would work.  The outer zones would be for offense and ran the length of the field.  As would a single zone in the center of the pitch.  In between would be the zone for defense as well as the penalty box.  No one would be permitted into the goal box but the keeper.  The immediate result, beyond the confusion, showed early.  Strikes on goal would all have to occur from long range.  Passing would be from long range.  And transition from offense to defense required nothing more but the keen understanding of the mass confusion on who would go where.  At  this point an insurrection was discussed among some of the more senior players, in particular the Jag with Polish heritage, and the Manager of the Orangemen, Mooch.  Why couldn't we simply play a short sided game, 4 v 4 with small goals, a lot of space, and the understanding that all players would merely respect the 6 foot separation between each other.   

As we watched a few shots from the outside, miss both goal and field, two things occurred.  First, COVID rust was real.  No one had touched a ball in three months.  Second, the shots from the outside we understandably under-satisfying.  Someone had to speak up.  Mooch started the insurrection by yelling out the suggestion to Ogre.  Fortunately Orge is a man of nimble and flexible thought, flexibility being the key to air power.  We stopped play and immediately adjusted the pitch.  Gene would leave the goal and enter the field on the dark side.  Two lacrosse goals were moved to opposite ends of the field.  A familiar game ensued.  4 v 4 is well understood by all.  The movement, the passing.  The only adjustment necessary was an understanding of how close a defender could attempt to tackle a ball from an opponent.  The short answer was the player with the ball had an inviolate area of six feet around them that could not be breached.  Thus lacking a complete inability to control the ball, the player on the ball, would have an infinite about of time to decide what to do.  Thus the new rule, as discussed, would be to allow the player with the ball four touches.  When the pass would come in, the strike on goal would require only two touches.  As play began there was confusion over the touch rule with many players were only taking two touches.  In the prime of their lives, let alone with COVID rust, two touches is quite sporty.  Eventually it was decided that while in the field, three touches would be permitted.  One for the first trap, one to maneuver the ball, and one to pass.  The game was officially on. 

Run of play was open, passing was frequent, and shots were taken.  It took awhile for the first goal but then a few more would follow.  With Gene playing deep defense for the dark team, Karl (with his COVID beard) would play deep defense for the light side.  Jason, Jason's son, and Rosie (I just had a baby during COVID) were passing, over lapping their runs, and shooting.

Ogre, Mooch, and John, would similarly run the length of the field, running into space, passing and shooting on the large man who always seems in position to block some pretty awesome shots.

Passing and crossing runs into space pointed out an interesting feature of the social distancing rule.  It was easy to see the open areas of the pitch without much thinking.  Conversely on defense, it was necessary to immediately consider the passing options and prepare to close on the passing lanes.  This was an unexpected benefit of the rules and could potentially be a training option to teach both offense and defense once normal playing would resume.  Three touches worked well given distance and time all players would now have on the ball.  The only final tweak would be to call out violations of the social distancing space.  This initially occurred when a defender had time to close the ball before arriving at it's intended target.  In these cases, with two players vying for the ball the distance rule was violated.  Some (Ogre) initially thought Rosie would be the violator due to his intense competitive nature stemming from his fighter pilot background in the Royal Air Force.  However it wasn't Rosie who was the violator.  Karl, would be the player who frequently violated the rule, followed by Jan, and then Ogre.  By the next match, I believe, with a few instructions when the violation is apparent, we will all learn to play this virus thwarting safety space.

The game progressed well.  Space and runs were continuous with crosses coming in and wonderful shots taken.  Most shots still showed the effects of COVID rust but several found the back of the net.  On one such play, Mooch ran into space  between defenders and received the ball with only Gene, and his intimidating size, blocking any real attempt.  Out of touches Mooch was forced to shoot.  Gene blocked the ball, as anticipated.  What wasn't anticipated was the ball bouncing up and back taking a fortunate and nifty bounce just ahead and to Mooch's right.  Strangely, Mooch realized that Gene had touched the ball and thus his touch count was reset to zero.  As the ball bounced beside him and was at waist height, Mooch, in an incredible feat of dexterity, twisted his leg and brought his foot to kick the ball with the outside of his right foot.  A move typically used to return a bouncing ball in the path of your run.  In this case, there was no run, only the net.  It was a goal Mooch will have mounted and placed on his mantle.

With an adequate break in the middle for water and another thirty minutes of running, it was almost time to call it quits.  Everybody's legs were approaching rubber as the five minute notice was given.  At that point Jason  declared the last goal.  And we returned to play.  Soon the ball came up the right side of the field and Rosie would run onto it.  Sensing Karl had drifted slightly out of the mouth of the goal, Rosie hit a long range ball beating Karl to his right and hitting the upright and glancing the ball into the goal. Rosie would bag the game winner from the outside. I'm compelled to call it the best shot of the game, except it did strike the upright. A clean stretch of the net would have been spectacular. Thus by unanimous  agreement (of the author), the goal of the game goes to Mooch, who's goal, as described earlier, was a unique combination of rules and cagey wit.  Of which both were necessary to beat the large man, standing in the goal.

And so ended the very first COVID Match.  The success of the match led immediately to the decision to play again, on Saturday morning,  in a fortnight.  Without a doubt the rules can be tweaked to aid both the flow and safety of the match.  The social distancing worked as did the limit on touches.  Everybody had plenty of touches and exercise too last the week.  Thanks again to Ogre for having the vision and drive to get us back on the pitch!!

Sunday, May 19, 2019

Orangemen Defeat Braddock Road 6 to 4

It was  great night at South Run for the Orangemen.  As the teams assembled and the team management grappled with why the lights were not coming on, Bruce the Bugling Elk, took his position at center circle and blew the starting whistle.  For future reference the light box is no longer down the path on the side of the shack by the baseball fields.  It is on the light post directly behind the bleachers on the upper field.  See picture.

Both teams were at full strength with the Orangemen showing without a sub on the bench (we have to do better Orangemen, both signing up and showing up on time)

But the game was underway and it was clear
the Orange had speed and control on their side.  The pressure we put on Braddock Road, I think, took them by surprise.  Much was due to the speed of the defenders who David brought in for the match.  Our regular defenders (The Two John') were absent from the match.

With Sefrino and Jason started up front and would remain as strikers the entire match.  In the midfield, running his legs off the entire match, was Brian.   Alfredo and Mooch played on the outside.  The defense consisted of David sweeping with Karl in his normal right back, and the late arriving Peter playing on the left.

First blood went to Orange when Mooch found himself alone in the box with a shitty angle on goal.  With the ball at his feet he waited for someone to advance...either a defender to dive in, or an Orangemen to move into space.  Brian, suddenly made a charge from the top of the box and Mooch slide the ball across and into space between two defenders.  He could not see Brian but knew he would be arriving.  The ball beat the defenders but was slightly behind Brian.  Miraculously and at pace Brian let the ball pass behind him and brought his right foot around himself to hit the ball with force into the back of the net.  It was a spectacular goal to open the scoring.

We continued to pass well throughout the first half.  Braddock was limited to a few break away runs and we able to capitalize on mistakes in the back.  By half time they had closed a 3 point Orangemen lead to 1.

A the beginning of the second half we scored again but then so did Braddock Road keeping them us in their cross hairs.  And the momentum began to shift in their favor as Orangemen decided to stop passing for a while. Several individual efforts culminating, as the most often do in this sport, in disaster.  No body makes a run, everybody sits back and watches, and then, when the hero loses the ball, as they always do, a quick counter attack changes everything.  The Orangemen we on the brink of watching a victory fall.

Luckily we began passing again.  And Braddock Road could not counter attack when they couldn't take back possession of the ball.

MVP has to go to Jason for yet another Hat Trick.  But a close second goes to Brian for literally running his legs off.  In the closing minutes of the game, Brian was over heard saying, I've got no feeling left in my legs.  I know the feeling.

Well done Orangemen.  And I apologize to everyone for dropping the F-Bomb when it was necessary to bring your attention back to our lack of passing.





Sunday, March 12, 2017

First Spring Game of 2017 Orangemen vs Reston Lake Fairfax Park

Orangemen...it's been a while since I've posted the action from one of our games.  But 2016 was a rebuilding year, nevertheless, we had some successes.  Now has we enter 2017, with the addition of leadership coming from Q, we are starting to have even more success.  

Last night at Lake Fairfax park, even though numbers were down because temperature was in the low 20's, enough players showed up to have a classic match.  Q provided the following write up to me after midnight last night.  So he was clearly stoked...

We had 9 [players who] showed up. Reston had 5 players at the beginning but ended up with 9 at the end (players showed up late). They went up 2-0 after 20 more mins. Alfredo scored the first and I the second to tied it up by the half. Second half Reston went up by 2 again 4-2 (not again) Kenny equalized then Leon tied it up. We had a lot of chances as usual but couldn't finish. It was a really good and highly frustrating game because of all the chances we had. Jan and David we exceptional at the back as well as George....everyone worked they azz off, Kenny had a hamstring injury and came off for about 15 mins before returning but wasn't 100%. Game needed at 4-4.

Great write up Q.  I was right there in the action with you.  Sadly I didn't make the game as I pulled my left calf on an elliptical machine at the Marriott in Nashua NH, on Wednesday evening.  What does it say about your conditioning if you can pull a muscle on an elliptical?  Nothing good I assure you.  Great work Orangemen...now lets work on getting real numbers out for the game.



Monday, August 15, 2016

Orangemen vs Reston August 2016






I haven't posed a match result in a while. I think primarily because we haven't been producing games to write home about. While our first game of the 2016 Fall season changed all of that. On Saturday night, despite the sweltering 95 degrees as kickoff, against a very strong Reston team, arranged at the last minute, we produced a 3 to 3 tie and a Hat Trick for Jason.

Players on Saturday included...
Mooch (returning from a weekend Tourney in VA Beach)
Matt who brought a guest - central defense
Maurico and Alfredo - both having been absent a few games due to injury
Jason (our man of the match who brought a new Pentagon player)
Gene - keeper
Lalo (a new recruit, also from the DoD) - left defense
Jamal (who has begun playing with Orange after a long time absent)
Ogre - midfield
and Mike, who we drafted from the sidelines who we will also call up for future matches.

I played Jason up from for the first time...with Matt and his guest opting to shore up the defense. Lalo stepped right into the right full back position vacated by Karl as he decided to go bike riding in Switzerland.

We played well through out the game. Ball movement from the back produced run after run, and Jason tried to get on the end of every one. Jason produced three goals...one shot low and to the left. On shot from out side the box into the upper right hand corner, and his hat trick, robbing the keeper of the ball who had come out, stepping around him, and keeping his composure to place the ball into the net.

Other opportunities including a long throw from Matt, with Mooch standing in the box behind all of the defenders. No one thought Matt could hurl a ball close to 40 yards, but he carried the defense and Mooch tried to flick it into the upper 90, missing only by inches. A final opportunity saw a great run by Jason down the left flank, delivering a cross into the box that Jamal finished, only to be called back as an off sides.  Final score was 3 to 3.  Reston fought hard to come back and save the tie.






It was a great game...and we enjoyed a few drinks on the sidelines after the game...something we haven't done in a while but will continue through the Fall season.

Sunday, February 7, 2016

Orangemen vs Braddock Road Feb 2016

With the snow from Snowzilla leaving only a few dirty mounds in the parking lot, the league turned on all games for the weekend.  At 1 pm the Orangemen assembled to kick off their hibernation status and take on Braddock Road at Poplar Tree Park.   The temperature showed 28 in the morning but had climbed to a balmy 43 by kickoff…  It didn’t make a difference, most players kicked off their sweats, hats, and gloves, it felt like spring time..

Assembled to play were a couple of new faces but here was the line up…

Bryan in goal (First half)
Golden sweeping
New guy on right fullback
Eric (New guy Brit) left full back
Cris right halfback
Mo in central midfield
Tedd in central midfield
Gene a left halfback
Bernie up top
Karl M up top

Mooch
Q ‘s friend
Peter Z
and Steve Harris started on the bench.

It was clear we had a great defensive line up and could control the ball.  All through the first half we were pressing and Bryan rarely had an opportunity to touch the ball.  Kendall, who was playing Keeper for Braddock, on the other hand, had his work cut out for him.  Bernie pulled the trigger on a couple of shots that went high...and we had others…

With four subs Mooch had to make a few changes to the line-up to get everyone on the pitch.  He pulled Gene and sent in Q’s friend.  Then he added Peter Z up top for Karl, and worked Steve in as right back.  Later, Mooch would join the side for Mo.

We were dominating the half, it wasn’t clear why we were not stretching the net.  Kendall was making a few saves...but they were soft...he just wasn’t being challenged by the shots.  On a breakaway, Bryan was challenged once and make a great blocking save from point blank range while back peddling.  

Mooch came on and began playing in the right halfback position and Cris slid into the center with Tedd.  It was clear he wasn’t being heavily defended on the right so a few passes came through to him.  He was feeding it forward into space...and on three separate occasions the strikers were called for offsides…  Very close calls, wish we has some line judges or instant replay to see them again.  All of them looked good to Mooch.

The opening score came when we were in the box, the cross came in from the left, Mooch was running onto it from the right.  Peter was close and with those long legs had a play on the ball.  Mooch yelled for him to leave...and was surprised when he did.  Mooch hit it cleanly and lifted it up and toward the left corner.  Kendall had taken a step off his line and immediately recognized his mistake.  He back peddled and reach for it..but it was too high and dropped under the crossbar.  The Orangemen had scored.  1 to 0.  Just before the break, some would say after time had elapsed, Braddock had a break…  With our sweeper out of position, it was a one on one with Bryan.  Bryan had defended two similar breaks early on...but this one he was back peddling and the striker got a soft shot off to the far right post.  It carried in.  The half ended and to start the second half we continued our dominance.  Bryan started up top...and along with Bernie and a few more chances…

In the end both teams held...but the Orangemen had far more chances…  Mooch can’t complain about the passing and the control because we dominated.  It’s hard to say why we didn’t score a few more.  But...as always...a tie is better than a loss and had we not been out there playing well...Braddock would have easily done damage to us.  Great game Orangemen.  

Oh...I forgot to mention the Red Card.  This year the ref is going to give a Yellow card for dissent to try to keep the game under control early on.  A yellow card for dissent is one thing...but if you keep up the dissent and earn a Red Card there is no real excuse.  Players who can’t keep their mouth shut, can’t keep their emotions under control.  Hot heads are who the league is looking to suppress.  A lot of changes coming this year...including more liability safeguards up to and including insurance...which will definitely increase game costs…

So...our last Red Card was Feb 2015 (I believe that was our Bolivian Rancher).  Now we’ve dropped our consecutive days without a Red to zero.  I have to report to the league what happened...and then assess where to go from there...in the past a Red Card for two yellows might not result in a two game suspension.  Two yellow cards for dissent...absent any violence is a new one on me.  I will have to consult with the team elders before I pass judgement.

Sunday, November 8, 2015

Orangemen vs Turtles -- November 2015

We beat the Turtles 3 to 2 in an outstanding game...

Players

Gene in Goal
Golden Sweeping
Greg right fullback
Karl left fullback
Mauricio Stopper
Tedd Central midfield
Mooch rover
Pete defensive Halfback
Javar ?
Alfredo striker
FAHM Striker

With no subs we played the full game but it was a cool night so everyone ran their butts off.

Turtles scored first fairly early in the first half on what was clearly an off-sides call, at midfield, that somehow the Ref missed.  He was calling us for off-sides but not the Turtles.  Mooch had two magnificent touches to FAHM, over the top.  One with the outside of his left foot and one with his right...they were short looping balls directly into FAHMs path. In both cases, when he kicked them, FAHM was even with him, so how the ref judged those to be off sides I will never know.

FAHM returned the favor.  At halftime it was 1 to 1

Mooch opened the scoring in the second half when he received the ball at the top of the box...it was the a deflection from an errant shot by J.  I trapped the ball and with time and space, and  the ball sitting up nicely, it was all his to finish into the right side of the goal to an outstretched Tony.

But the Turtles came back to tie at 2 2 to make for an interesting finish to the game.  Tensions flared as a loud mouth on the Turtles kept complaining that FAHM was obstructing him.  His anger got the better of him and he took down Alfredo in a vicious tackle that earned him a yellow card.  Strange because he was taking down players left an right...so this speaks to the ability of the Ref to control the game.  He was losing control...on another night vs another team not as well behaved as the Turtles there could have been a different out come.  Way too much yelling from that loud mouth.

And speaking of loud mouths...Mooch did his sharing of yelling too.  But it was, of course, to get his own team to pass the ball.  Whereas we did win the game, and we did create plenty of opportunities...with the right pass at the right time we could have put the game last night away really early in the evening.  If Orangemen continue to hold the ball one, two, three, even four touches past when they should have passed, Mooch will continue to yell.  And he apologizes for any profanity that he might have used last night.  For the record it goes like this...

Pass the ball first touch - Great praise by Mooch
Beat the first player with first touch, then pass the ball - Praise by Mooch
Beat the first player, get ball stolen by second player - Mooch admonishment
Beat the first player, beat the second player, lose ball -  Strong admonishment by Mooch
Beat the first player, beat the second player, beat the third player, lose the ball...  Mooch goes apoplectic and who knows what will come out of his mouth, it's not his fault...

So the game winner came from FAHM...he received the ball just out side the box on the right side.  It set up nicely...and he hit a rocket with his left foot.  No spin, I could see the seams on  the ball as it went left into the side netting, Tony had no chance.  Definitely the goal of the game and the game winner.

Great play by all, including our defense that was left alone deal with a decent Turtles attack all too frequently. Golden was running down every ball even with a tight (insert medical term here) tendon in his back that was making his knee sore...or something like that...  Whatever it was he seemed to work it out as he was getting more distance on his goal kicks then he ever has.

Special thanks to Peter for making the long haul down from Baltimore to give us sufficient numbers.  Also, Peter played a lot of defense last night, most I've seen in a long time.  That was helpful too ensure our win.  I think Peter specifically didn't want to Turtles to beat us last night and made sure of it.