Orangemen vs U-18s

In a strange twist of events the team we played the weekend before Christmas was having a hard time fielding a team - we were to play long time  rivals Mt Vernon.  In fact they only had 5 confirmed going into the weekend.  Since the Orangemen held promise of having at least 15 or 16 at the show the Orangemen Manager convinced Jon (the Mt. Vernon manager)  not to cancel but instead show for the game and we would just combine the sides so we could all get out for a pre-Christmas run, and work of some of the meal calories ahead of time.  The twist came when only 2 players from Mt Vernon appeared and only 12 Orangemen...it’s pretty hard to make up two teams with 14 players.  A number of young players however were hanging out at Arrow Brook park as Jon and Mooch proceeded to ask a number of them if they would like to play.

As we started the game, Mt Vernon was at full strength, with 11 players, and the Orangemen were short handed at 10.  Mt. Vernon added 9 players to the roster which turns out, a number of them play for South Lakes High School.  We know this because a South Lakes Teacher plays with us, Mr. Palmer.  He was greeted with a “Hi Mr. Palmer” as he entered the pitch.  And in some weird transcending generational vortex, we found ourselves on a play ground among 16 year old kids showing us how the beautiful game is played.  Mr. Palmer, had to assume his roll as hall monitor instructing his kids to put their cell phones away.  That’s right, in the middle of the game at least two of these kids thought it was appropriate to pull their phones from the pockets and talk during the action...incredible for several reasons...however, the day is coming when this technology will be embedded bio-mechanically into our brains and we need never stop from the action to phone our wives our girl friends.

Turns out the Orangemen were  well outclassed by these kids -  these Sea-hawks from South Lakes, can’t give Mt Vernon too much credit for the score since there were only two of them, needless to say we lost by a healthy margin. But we passed well, kept out heads up, and had plenty of opportunity, we were just no match for the one thing they had in spades, speed.  Considering the game could have been a bust it was fun nonetheless that it all worked out.  Plus, since it was a home game, and with the exception of a few stragglers who made good on the cash, I collected enough to pay for the officials.  

 It was really fun playing with those young kids...and as it turns out those kids were playing when we got field and after the game and they continued to play.  Keep in mind it was pretty cold that night as well, and windy.  But they continued to play...no wonder they are so good.  I wish I could say that's the future of US Soccer...but still the best US athletes are not playing soccer and these kids don't stand a chance as the road forward is still for the elite who can afford to buy their way onto the prestigious traveling teams and building their playing resume in accordance with USSF.  After that, it gets very political , but this blog is to just report on the game.

Special thanks to Jon for not canx the game and managing the affairs of kids team so we could have this pre-Christmas match.

As small group went for pizza and beer at Bertucci’s after the match to relive some of the action...something I hope will catch on more following our home games.