Halloween Weekend Defeat for Orange

With Hurricane Sandy making headlines this week, threatening to wipe out all of the weekend activities, and while waiting with anxiety until the 11th hour to formally secure a field for our competition, all stress was removed as the Orangemen took the pitch at Robinson Secondary School at 3 pm, on a B-E-A-utiful Saturday afternoon in Fairfax, Virginia.  Alas, the Orangemen were defeated, not by the storm, or by zombies, but by a well organized Braddock Road side that stayed tenacious and kept a well organized defense.

As it turns out the upper field at JW Robinson has just been resurfaced and is both a colossal and wonderful pitch.  As seemingly big as the field is at Washington & Lee High it provides a extremely large amount of space to work and move the ball around...provided you have the energy.  Our opposition, dressed in blue, were the long time Braddock Road rivals who typically use the Lake Braddock High School facilities (Home of Mia Hamm) but therefore must rely on the BRSC for field assignments...which clearly came late and does not favor the adult leagues.

The afternoon game afforded an opportunity for some of our long time teammates to make a showing, as opposed to the 8 pm games we’ve been locked into for many years.  Jim Lister, Chris Brody, and Scott Fearing among those who prefer the earlier match times...it was good to have them out.  Failing to show for the match was the Orangemen equipment...does anyone know who has possession of the Orangemen equipment trunk?

After suffering through some colorful commentary about the worthless nature of the new Orangemen system of play, Mooch shook off the criticism and lined the Orangemen up with more confidence than ever in our new formation.  Without Sam or Andy showing up today, Doug and Karl started as sweepers.  Jim Lister and Chris Brody lined up as our outside stoppers with Ben playing central stopper.  Andres and Tedd Ogren lined up to control the midfield in front of Ben.  Floppy and B played our wing half-backs with Jim Landoll lining up to control the center circle.

This is a defensive minded formation, with the five full-backs and three halfbacks always behind the ball and only the midfield wingers allowed to get forward on the attack.  During the first minutes of the game, B and Floppy made good runs forward as we had multiple opportunities forward.  Braddock Road was not without an attacking presence and they also penetrated forward on multiple occasions, always from the flanks.  However, this brilliant defensive formation blocked their advances again and again.  Karl, Chris, and Jim, career veterans of this sport, instinctively knew how to disrupt an attack with the size of Doug and speed of Ben clogging the middle.  As an example of why Jim L has to get out on the pitch more, he seemingly completely forgot how to throw in a ball, lifting both feet off the ground forcing the referee to blow the whistle.  There is hope for Greg Z who got to witness a veteran of the sport making the same rookie error that he has committed in two previous games and was forced by Mooch to watch remedial videos.  Mooch will not make Jim L suffer the same indignity, particularly since Jim handed Mooch cash at the start of the game.

The first break came for Braddock Road off a nicely crossed ball from the right wing arching in high to the penalty area..  Doug had a clear opportunity to head the ball back in it’s direction of travel.  However, without any pressure being applied,  Gene also had a clear opportunity to step forward and catch the ball.  As he stepped forward he called for the ball.  Unfortunately, if a defender is already committed to the play when he hears the keepers call, it’s awkward to break off the play.  Therefore, Doug half-heartedly raised his head up to meet the ball.  Instead of making solid contact, the ball skimmed off the top his head, eluding Gene’s reach. As it was angling down it continued to the ground in front of the net and hit Nate in the feet.  As this type of awkward play goes, with the ball traveling so fast. it could have bounced forward or backward.  Sadly Nate’s feet deflected it backward into the net for an own goal.  Unlucky, highly unavoidable, and a good example of what can always happen when a quality ball arrives right in the middle of the penalty area.

Play continued in an open fashion.  The Orangemen had multiple runs forward.  Later  in the second half Chris Harven arrived and took up the midfield wing position for Floppy, who decided to skip the remainder of the game due to his appointment with the Marine Corps Marathon this morning.  It’s his tenth marathon and we wish him luck...it should be an awesome morning to run.  Chris had run after run forward and had several opportunities to strike the ball at the net and to cross the ball into a marauding B, who tried no less than four time to head the ball on target.  Earlier Chris and precisely placed ball to the outside top of the box that he was able to run onto and strike with his signature right footed blast.  He hit it low and on target  it lifted enough to carry it over the far post, but not by much.

Ben, advanced out of the back, working with B and Chris, on several runs, beating defenders, into space, and creating room to strike the ball for a shot.  When Braddock witnessed Ben moving forward they immediately tracked back and flooded the box with Blue.  Yet with Ben’s speed and maneuverability he kept creating space and threatened again and again.

Later in the second half, the Orangemen figured out the key to the Braddock retreat was to work the ball through midfield, playing the ball to Jim L, or Dave N in the center circle, who would then play it back to the midfielder who could then hit Chris or B.  Several times this worked, several times Dave Nanney controlled the ball with his hand breaking up this play.  Every time, Chris or B would come inside and could get the ball played to their feet, this allowed them to either play it back to an advancing midfielder or try to hit their opposite winger on the run forward.  On one of these scoring opportunities, Mooch played the ball to Nanney who was withdrawn from the center circle, Nanney played the ball square to him as he advanced on a diagonal run the center.  Chris Haven ran in from the flank, forward of the center line calling for the at midfield. Mooch angled the ball through to him, as Chris continued his lateral run.  He played it heavy and called out to an advancing Mooch that he was intending to continue his run.  Mooch felt Chris had lost sufficient control that he could step in.  He clipped the ball out of Chris’s charging path thereby changing the direction of play as he moved forward center of the final third. He then passed the ball back out left where B was running forward and calling for it.  B ran onto the ball putting Braddock back on it’s heels.  Mooch continued his diagonal run into right side of the box.  B saw the run in time to play the ball back through the off balanced defense diagonally across the box giving Mooch years of time to run onto it and strike the ball.  Mooch knowing he had the scoring opportunity of a lifetime beat the last defender to the diagonal ball, and had time to do everything right.  His feet were in sync, his head was down, and his intent was to strike the ball back across the net.  He hit the ball ball well, it started low, and hard, but he couldn't bring it back across net.  His strike only straightened out the roll of the ball and was therefore destined to go wide.  The build up proved, however, that the Orangemen can actually play the beautiful game, even it the strike wasn't quite so beautiful.

Defensively, we held Braddock to the outside.  Rarely, if ever, did they pose an attack from the center of the field.  All of their opportunities came from outside crosses.  Their second goal came on a low cross right in front of the net, which was tapped in by a lone striker at the far post.  On a similar play, they were denied a third goal because the striker advanced into an offside position just prior to the cross.  But their play from the flanks was superb in this regard.

In the last 20 minutes of the game we lost Tedd to injury and Ben to a social commitment.  Yet we were able to hold on to the score line and retire the fixture with only a 2 nil defeat.  Doug played those last 20 minutes like a man possessed.  He was all over box.  Time and time again breaking up ball after ball that was
delivered in as we were under siege by Braddock.   As a result I award Doug "Man of the Match" and honor I've been slow to bestow on anyone this season. The Orangemen should be proud of this  result... we've suffered some lopsided results in recent weeks, losing a handle on the game in the second half.  Yesterday we proved we can ride out the storm and create goal scoring opportunities at the same time.  Well played match to all.

Not all Orangemen are Orange...or Men

Please extend congratulations to one of our very own Orangewomen! Ann participated in the inaugural Ms. Veteran America Competition. The purpose of this event is to showcase “The Woman Beyond the Uniform”.  And paraphrasing from their website, "As a Female Veteran, some of their femininity becomes lost when they wear the uniform, because the  have to blend in with the boys.  Their grace, poise, beauty and talents become camouflaged during their military service"

 Ann made it into the top 10 but more importantly was crowned Mother of the Year...a category that recognizes her honorable service but all the sacrifices she makes not only for her country but for her children as well.The event was held to raise money for Final Salute Inc which provides transitional housing for female veterans and their children for up to two years. They are now listed in the CFC catalog as a charity you may donate to. They are opening their third home on Veterans' Day Weekend in Alexandria.  We expect Ann to fully commit to Orangemen soccer so she will stop missing games for these great causes in the near future.

The Eye of Mooch

Gents...thank you for all your concern for my well being.  And sorry if I scared anyone for leaving the field without telling anyone.  New rule for all Orangemen...if you are injured, don't just up an leave.  Tell someone first.

OK, so basically I've got two bruises on my retina, ruptured some of the ligaments that hold the lens in place, and have some bleeding inside my eye...which is what caused me to lose sight for a period of time. 

What happens is your eye doesn't have to fill with blood, any amount will begin to cloud the fluid in your eye. I thought I was looking through a dirty contact lens...but no I was looking through my own blood. WHat was really weird was by the time I got to the ER I was completely blind in my left eye. Over time the body absorbs the blood back out and the fluid turns clear again...and that didn't take too long.  By the morning I could see almost clearly again.

I'm on bed rest through Weds...with a trip to the Ophthalmologist every day.  Any activity can cause the eye to rebleed and since you can't stop the bleeding with pressure you just have to hope it heels and stays healed.

The rupture to the ligaments that hold the lens in place will never heal and shouldn't really effect much unless I require eye surgery sometime later in my old age.

I'm not in any pain...worst part is the eye drops.  They have to paralyze the eye muscles so they don't move...so the eye can heal.  Those eye drops hurt...sting and burn.  The drops have Boric and Hydrochloric acid in them.

Not much for me to do...just sit around...can't lift or bend or do much that could shake the eye etc.  Which is probably just as well since I've got a mild concussion that will just heal on its own.

This one's really got me thinking about how quickly an injury can be career ending...  However, it looks like I'm gonna make it through this one.  I will not be at the game this weekend...but I'll send out the Evite shortly.

v/r

Mooch

You Don't Have to Be a Pirate to Lose an Eye

Due to my premature departure from the pitch on Saturday night, on account of handling the ball with my eye,  Gooch stepped in as official sports reporter and composed this summary.  Thanks Gooch.

The night began with much promise.  As we arrived at the field, under the lights, on a cold October night, we assembled as 14 Orangemen and one Orangewoman.  Among the sea of orange stood the strongest mid-field seen in years with Ted, Ben, and a returning John Hamner returning to the pitch with us while TDY to D.C. from Ft Riley, KS.  Our attack seemed assured with Jose Smith back from a spate of injuries and travel.  The defense looked strong as well with Doug and guest player Andy anchoring the perennial stalwarts Sam, Karl, and Nate.  The reserves also portended a steady stream of fresh legs and skill mix.  The brilliant formation Mooch envisaged seemed custom made for the impending contest.  Nothing could stop the Orangemen tonight – victory will be ours was the premonition.

The Orangemen controlled the game from the beginning.  Holding possession of the ball and moving with beautiful flourishes of precise passes.  The opponents reverted to kick-and-run tactics which resulted in numerous goal kicks to the Orangemen.  In one of these hopeful long-balls, Doug dropped back deep on our left side while his teammates urged him to “let it go”.  Uncannily, the ball’s spin resulted in a high backward bounce and into the path of an on-rushing attacker.  Doug was in position to defend any well-taken shot; however, the attacker sent a wobbly pass attempt across the face of our goal.  Since Gene had come off his line to support Doug, there was no defender to clear the careening, wounded duck that bent in from an impossibly acute angle and into the net for the opponent’s first goal.  A few minutes later another goal came to the opposition in less notable fashion.  That’s when the trouble started.

Jim Muccio entered the game and immediately began to dominate the midfield.  Within 5 minutes of his entry, a stocky opponent shouldered into Mooch at just past the half-way line.  As Mooch kept possession and dribbled right, he leveraged his body position and shrugged the opponent off with a left-handed forearm shiver that would make mean Joe Green happy.  The opponent careened backwards and somehow recovered precisely in the path of Mooch’s through-ball to an on-rushing Orangeman.  This off-balance opponent slammed the ball hard and high, catching Mooch directly in the left eye at point-blank range.  It was difficult to tell if the blast was deliberately malicious or clumsily unlucky; nonetheless, the ref had no offense to call as Mooch doubled over on the pitch, seeing stars, the label of the ball on his retina, and wondering what the hell just happened.  Appling John Wayne’s style of injury care, Mooch made his way off the pitch, drove himself to store one-eyed, bought saline solution, then returned during the second half sporting a swollen, blood-shot, and bruised left eye.  The whereabouts of his contact lens remains unknown.  The vision was deteriorating in his eye and at that point Nanney convined him it was time to go to the ER.   But Mooch was not the only casualty of the game.

During one of many, trademark, blazing runs that shreds opponents defenses like hot shrapnel, Jose S sprinted well-past the fastest of the opposition players.  As he was nearing the goal line, he contorted his body to send a goal-ward pass to his teammates.  His considerable momentum created a violent meeting with the synthetic surface and Jose was slow to get up.  He left the game holding his side and did not return with possible bruised or cracked rib(s).  With the score 2-nil, two Orangemen down, and time running out in the first half of play, perseverance and superior skill finally paid off for the Orangemen.

The ball sailed through the crisp night air toward goal from a throw-in, Ben jockeyed for position through an ocean of white jerseys.  As the ball lost all velocity at the zenith of its parabolic trajectory, Ben soared above the fray and aggressively snapped his neck and torso forward with enough force to send the ball bouncing past the defenders and a very skilled goalkeeper.  The ball rocked the net for the Orangeman’s hopeful climb back to parity.  The half ended 2-1.

The second half was a new game.   Unfortunately the Orangemen succumbed to fatigue, the two key injuries, and a dearth of fit substitutes while the opponents threw a mix of youthful runners and crafty veterans.  The opponents scored three well-deserved goals, and another cheap fluke or two to finish with 6 or 7 (it’s easy to lose count).  The resounding defeat was punctuated with a few sparks of brilliantly beautiful soccer.  The most notable came right through the heart of the opponent’s defense.  Ted and Ben where surgically dissecting the center midfield and Ted called so all could hear “Ben, give-and-go”.  Even though English was the second language of the opposite team, I’m sure they knew exactly what was coming.  Undeterred, Ted and Ben executed a maneuver typically seen when Real Madrid plays Barcelona resulting a legitimate goal-scoring opportunity thwarted only by an extraordinary goalkeeper.

Ted and Ben’s mastery of the game was matched by Doug’s strong-hearted defense as he repelled countless attacks from a determined and talented side.  Karl also had a great game: it seemed he was always in the perfect position and his passes were crisp and deadly accurate which started many attacking opportunities.  If you subtract the “luck-riddled” goals against, our defensive performance was good.  The defense set the tempo for a possession-themed, short-pass, game of control.  I attribute this to the new formation.  It is perfect for the Orangemen game and I think will always give us a fighting chance.  The defense is more organized and composed.  Multiple, vertical lines allows short passes into a successive wave of Orangemen.  The depth also allows overlapping runs so that fresher legs can charge forward while others cover-down on the defensive third. 

The first missing ingredient was a consistent, legitimate attack -- a goal-scoring forward (after Jose left).  The second missing ingredient was fit and fast mid-fielders to supplement Ted and Ben’s possession game.  The third missing link was quality substitutes.  Ted, Ben, Greg, John, and Doug played almost all 90+ minutes and it showed in the second half.  We were a few players (and in-game injuries) away from making this a close game.  Another positive note last night was referee interaction.

There were many calls that could have gone either way (hand-balls, off-side, ball over touchline, etc..).  The ref was fair and consistent.  More importantly, when calls did not go our way, we maintained composure and the kept the game from getting ugly despite a disappointing score line.  As a reminder from those of us who have refereed soccer, it is nearly impossible for one man in the center of the field to see every off-side angle, ball completely over touch line, and the myriad subtleties of our beautiful game and her sometimes subjectively-interpreted laws.  So let’s continue to ‘shut up and play’ since our own efforts will be the only decisive factor we can ever control.    

We also showed a never-give-up attitude late in the game as well when a scrappy Orangemen midfield won possession and Greg and/or Ben fired a great shot toward goal.  Bob battled for position and hammered the deflection in what appeared to be guaranteed second goal.  Alas Bob was denied by the woodwork as his rocketing volley ricocheted off the cross bar. 

In closing I hope all Orangemen readers keep their heads high, wish our teammates speedy recovery, and believe that we will continue to play good soccer.  We will not will all games; however, quality soccer, determined effort, and a family-like camaraderie will continue to be hallmark Orangemen soccer traits and the reason we all come out to play week-after-week and year-after-year. 

Enjoy v/r Gooch

Orangemen vs de Agosto FC

Too bad all soccer games don’t last only 45 minutes.  As halftime approached the Orangemen kept pace with  DE AGOSTO FC on Saturday night to a score of 1 to 1.  The Football Club of August was frustrated to say the least.  The ref even approached Mooch and commented that the Orangemen were doing a fine job shutting down their attack.  For everyone present to witness the new formation, 2-3-2-2-1, became a believer.  It wasn’t until the second half, that DE AGOSTO took off with the game and left management and players alike, scratching their heads as to whether the new formation was of value. By the end, the Orangemen conceded 5 more goals during the last 45.  And despite the standing ovation that Jim Landoll received from the visitors, based on his tenacious pursuit in the midfield, the Orangemen scarcely mounting an additional attack.

Nevertheless, the new formation showed enough promise, particularly in the defensive third, to warrant a few more games.  In fact,  had the Orangemen be able to sustain the energy of play they had in the first half, by having a few more sets of fresh legs on the bench, who’s to say they wouldn’t have done better.  The Orangemen started with 1 sub and by half-time, when Floppy arrived, they were up to 2 subs. 

The defense seemed to work.  The formation calls for 2 sweepers.  Andy and Sam were instructed to start as sweepers and to work out their communication, each backing up the defenders on their half of the field.  Also, Andy instructed Sam that they would not try to play a strong offside trap, at least until they go comfortable.  Ahead of the sweepers, Karl started on the right side, with Nate on the left, and Mauricio playing in the center, stepping in for a position custom made for Ben, who had to take the evening off.  Luke was expected to show by half-time but unfortunately was a no show.  Greg Z arrived and would sub in for Nate and Karl as the game moved forward.

Tedd and Mooch started in the midfield leaving B to play center forward, with Bob and Jim  on the flanks playing the point positions to the left and right.  Mooch has borrowed the point position from his time playing ice hockey.  When the offense advances the two defenders grab the outside lanes near mid-ice to intercept the puck if it is slung out along the boards.  In similar fashion this position can be used to pick up a loose ball angling out of bounds or break up an attack starting from one of the flanks.  When the play switches to defense the outside forwards play in a similar position to fight for the puck at midfield if, again, it is played out along the base of the boards.  Stepping just inside allows for these players to be key to linking the ball forward.  It is vitally important,  however, that these player come to the ball when in position and not run forward on the attack.

In the end, the formation seems to have merit so stay tuned this week as Mooch provides more explicit instruction on how each position should be played.

New Formations

Orangemen --

Here is the new 2-3-2-2-1 formation I've been considering.  Option 1 includes the strong single striker in the central forward position.

Option 2 includes two strong attacking midfielders on the flanks. 

In both cases the system demands that the team play in position and move as a unit on and off the ball.  Please provide your thoughts.  If you click on each map you should be able to expand your view.