It was my contention that spending the weekend playing in a soccer tournament will make you stronger. Last weekend, whilst the Orangemen were having their match cut short due to the phantom thunderstorm, the Pentagon Team (coached by our very own Tedd the “Ogre” Ogren) and the Belvoir team (coached by our very own Judge “I can play with a separated shoulder” the Dredd Aldykiewicz), were playing in the first Wounded Warrior Soccer Tournament in Arlington. Aside from the coaching, both teams are comprised of large segments of the Orangemen squad as we traditionally have drawn players from both sources. Whereas both teams played three games over the weekend, the Pentagon Team advanced to the playoffs and played a fourth game. Those who played soccer in that intense heat and stress live by the words of Kelly Clarkson, in that, "what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger". It appears that at least one player didn’t die, but in fact, emerged stronger, much stronger than ever before.
Our good friend Dave Nanney played in the soccer tournament. He braved both days of heat and four soccer matches and even stayed to watch his other friends continue to play. Dave love’s our beautiful game and the beautiful family that surrounds it. Dave played for the Pentagon accumulated considerable field time in all four matches. Many of those playing in the tournament could hardly walk on Monday morning...but did it kill Dave or make him stronger? Fast forward a week and to our game against UnReal Fairfax.
During the week the game was always a bit touch and go. The unReal Fairfax was having trouble getting to their numbers. Mooch promised unReal we would produce extra numbers so they shouldn’t cancel by any means. At game time on Saturday two things were clear. unReal couldn’t produce a team and Mooch’s promise was about to be broken as the Orangemen couldn’t even get to 11 players either. However thanks to the arrival of Peter and Ceasar the Orangemen pushed to 12 except that only permitted us the ability to provide unReal with a single player. unReal had 4 regulars show for the game. Mooch had to look the other way as they invited a few of the players who had gather for pickup onto the pitch. Oddly, they unknowingly invited a player who had received a Red Card in a previous unrelated match. The referee, who had been standing around wondering if there was going to be a game, and wondering if he was going to get paid, flagged the individual and was asked to leave the pitch. With sufficient players now on the field the game started with the Orangemen giving unReal Steve to help balance the sides.
I must also mention that before we assembled for the game five of the Orangemen showed up to help the Adam’s Family move into their new home in Fairfax. With all those hands it took us less than an hour to empty the 26 foot truck...so with all the spare time on their hands, Alfredo and Mauricio when to the field early and played pick-up for an hour ahead of our game.
So at kickoff we had Peter, Dave, Tedd, Alfredo and Maurico, Matt, John H, Kendall, Ceasar, Mooch, and Gene rounded out the side. Steve played for unReal in his signature fullback position.
Once the game got rolling it was a lot of fun and fairly evenly matched. The play was wide open and the ball was moving back and forth equally. Highlights from the match include Matt having a spectacular run with a fantastic give-and-go to Tedd who pivoted on the ball as Matt continued his run into the box. Tedd played it back to him. Matt controlled the ball at speed and entered the box easily breaking free of any defenders and wound up for what was sure to be a certain goal. He connected well but the keeper anticipated the direction of the shot and moved to his right and making an impossible and miraculous saving.
Fortunately, Tedd was on and opened the scoring with a well placed left footed shot low and well away from the keeper into the bottom corner of the the net. The game, however, can be evaluated on the number of missed shots the Orangemen had.
Mooch had a great shot opportunity but was unwilling to kick through the ball with his injured left hoof and pulled the shot well wide by trying to place it with is instep. Instead he struck the ball with his heel...it didn’t hurt but it was a lame shot. No pun intended.
When Johnny H was forward he had a great shot that went high and wide. Kendall missed several opportunities as did Ceasar. Screams went out to Ceasar to pass the ball instead of trying to finish himself. Late in the match we had scored three with twice that many going wanting. We, however, were still losing 3 to 4.
As we only had eleven players there were no substitutes. Everybody was playing despite their fitness or level of injury. Mooch’s doctor told him not to play with his injured foot, but he ended up playing the full 90 minutes. By the end of the match Mauricio and Alfredo were nearing 180 minutes of continuous play. And of course Dave Nanney was at the full 90 playing the entire time up front as a striker.
In the closing minutes of the game we pressed forward. The ball was played out wide on the right and Caesar used his speed on the break away to collect the ball and bring in an attack from the flank. Everyone raced forward. Caesar had the option to try to beat the keeper on the inside, like he had tried and failed to do previously, or pass the ball through the box and across the face of the goal. He chose the second option. The ball came across the box screaming for an Orangemen player, any Orangemen who had legs left, to finish the ball past the keeper.
And there he was...arriving before anyone else. The longest serving Orangemen on the pitch. Dave Nanney arrived in the center of the box and turned Caesars cross straight into the net. It was a spectacular goal for every reason. Caesar made the right choice, Dave put himself in position to score in the last minute of the game. Dave had the fitness and skill after a long 90 minutes to finish with style. Dave had scored the tying goal of the match I contend last weeks tournament certainly did not kill him, it made him stronger. Dave is unanimously awarded Man of the Match Honors!
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