Weather threatened the Orangemen game with Springfield 74 all week. Last weeks game was cancelled due to snow and we were worried the same fate would befall us this week. On Wednesday we were experiencing 70 degrees temperatures but by Thursday the most amazing transition occurred with warmer air out of the tropics colliding with arctic air out of Canada right in the midsection of the country. The result was tornadoes in January and snow. The temperature plummeted into the 20’s we awoke to a snow squall on Friday morning. Friday evening the snow flurries resumed but not enough accumulated to cover the turf field and force us to cancel the match. But as the temperatures started in the teens on Saturday morning, the warmest temperature we would see by match time was about 25 degrees. If snow didn’t cancel the game we were afraid players would simply fail to materialize for the match. By game time we were up to 8 v 8 with an agreement to share the remaining players as they arrived even it that would mean playing 12 v 12 to keep people from standing on the sidelines.
The Orangemen didn’t make it to 11 so we needed one player from Springfield. Rob, their manager, came over to our side to lend us a hand. In the second half we did play 12 v 12 and Alex, the Springfield sweeper, graced us on our side of the field. After defending well and keeping us to a single goa.
Orangemen drew first blood in a comical fashion. The shot on goal was nothing special but came early so it startled the keeper who retreated backward onto his line and then stumbled. As he fell backward the ball swerved to the right on it’s flight and carried past the keeper as he scrambled to his feet. A first goal was a good sign.
Springfield quickly recovered and mounted several counter attacks. It seemed that most of the Springfield players are very fast. Rob, had several attempts on goal but failed to stretch the net for us as he was visiting us from Springfield as an honorary Orangeman. At halftime the score was 3 to 1. Orangemen had given ground but it was insurmountable.
At the start of the second half more player had arrived so we agreed to play 12 v 12 so only one player, for Springfield, needed to stand-off in the cold. Springfield knew what to do with the additional player and was able to pass through us repeatedly and scored a few more times taking the game seemingly out of reach for Orange. We were down by 5 goals when the first snow began to really fall.
As the snow picked up and the flakes grew larger it was actually hard to breath. If you inhaled one it was like sucking in a giant bug. But it was beautiful and as the large flakes drifted down against the backdrop of the lights surrounding the field, it looked like we were playing in a fairytale. Although the temperature was in the twenties there was no place everyone on the field would rather be. After a goal kick the Orangemen won the ball back and it was played immediately forward to Mooch who turned on it about 25 yards out. Alex made a run to the left and Jan made a run to the right both drawing defenders away from the center. Mooch found himself with space and played it forward about five yards. He ran onto it as he considering a pass to Alex or Jan. The defense had not yet collapsed on him anticipating a through ball to hit one of the real threats on the field. Mooch looked up and knew he had enough space to shoot, so he lowered his head and hit the ball in stride with his left foot. The snow put enough wetness on the ball so it was slick but not heavy. Striking a slick ball always makes it easier to connect with it in a way where the ball leaves the foot true...and it left Mooch’s foot true. It was a fairytale strike from about 20 yards out. It arched above the first defender and traveled high into the upper left corner of the net outside the extended hands of the keeper. The Orangemen had picked up their second goal of the night.
Andres pressured hard all game and was finally rewarded for his energy. A cross came in and beat the keeper who dove to grab the ball. , Andres charged in and was able to get a touch on the ball and was able to keep it from the keeper’s grasp. A scramble ensued but Andres kept his cool and was able to poke the ball into the net for our third goal.
Final score -- 6 to 3. Although we lost it was a wonderful game, full of passing with plenty of opportunity. We celebrated in normal fashion after the game at Bertucci’s for Pizza and Sam Adams.
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