Orangemen vs Arlington Oct 2013

After a very cold day by 4 pm the temperature was peaking as we assembled at Gunston to play Arlington.

Final score was 3 to 8, however, uncharacteristically, we actually won the first half, 3 to 2.

In fact, we went up 3 to 0 during the first half and it felt good.  But then we broke completely down.  It’s hard to figure out what happened...other than moving our guest player, Richard, out of the defense, and breaking up the speed of Kendall and John H by asking John to play sweeper.  Chris also departed at half-time.  Perhaps fatigue also played a factor...our passing was exceptional during the first half, including the assistance of Jim Lister Sr. who talley an assist early on to earn our first goal.

George scored a very nice goal that required him to bully his way into the box and aggressively see through to the finish., Kendall scored an classic goal from the outside as a clever thru ball was played just between the defender upon which Kendall sprinted onto it.  Approaching from the right he had the golden opportunity to strike it near post or far post with his left foot.  He waited for the keeper to protect his near post and with the outside of his left boot he was able to go far post and easily beat the keeper.  

Those first three goals were so easy it seemed as if we were running away with the game.  Then, it’s my belief, that out passing broke down.  The passes eventually came but we were holding the ball too long waiting for a better opportunity.  If the first pass opens up for you make the pass.  Stop waiting to either beat your man or for another opportunity to open up.  Control the ball, then pass the ball. 

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Regardless of the outcome It was a fun game...we did play end to end and had plenty of opportunities.  

The referee was one of the worst we have had in a while...it definitely seemed like the calls were going against up and he was detached from the game.  We will keep this particular ref under observation and if we experience further problems report him to the league if appropriate.

Orangemen vs Casuals Oct 2013

We played the game against Chantilly at Arrowhead Park at 8 pm.  The field at Arrowhead has changed considerably since it was arguably the best kept grass field in NVA.  It’s now a typically hard grass field with sketchy grass cover and divots.  Nevertheless, it’s good to occasionally play on a grass field.

Pulling up numbers for Saturday was somewhat problematic.  The Orangemen have got to get a little bit better at responding to the eVites.  I know some of you have not be receiving the eVite..but to date, I’ve never missed sending on out.  If you don’t get one by Weds night send me an email.  In most cases recently you have been on the eVite so the technical difficulty is on your end.  Nevertheless, send me an email if you are uncertain.

So, as the game started we were still short on numbers.  Even Chantilly was having trouble getting to eleven despite the fact that each us thought we would be in the 12-13 range.  Nevertheless we started 9 v 9.  But those numbers went to 10 v 10.  Nanney made a crucial decision 10 minutes in to move Chris, the new arrival for Chantilly, onto our side, while he picked up a position for Dick on the Casuals.  The result was a fairly balanced 10 v 10 game.  Despite the final outcome, 4 to 6, it was a great game, and two of the Chantilly 6 were own goals.  Both were spectacular.   Gooch put one in net off his head,  and Ben cleared one into the side netting.

On the scoring table Ted score 2, WIll scored 1, Chris scored 1.  Karl, also pulled off late in the game leaving us with 9 on the pitch.

Really fun game Orangemen...

Orangemen vs Springfield Oct 2013

First, a word on safety.  The Orangemen allow slide tackling, that is our default position.  If you are not explicitly told at kick-off, that we are not sliding, the assumption is that we are sliding.  Until such a time as the league changes it’s stance on sliding we are a sliding team.  Springfield is also a sliding team.  We don’t arbitrarily decide at kick-off that we are becoming a non-sliding team for the night.  The only thing that makes us a non-sliding team is a request from the other team that we do not slide.  This is decided by the two managers at the center circle.  Springfield is a sliding team as well.  Many teams are not.  Everyone needs to know at the start of the game if we are sliding or not sliding.  Any confusion when it comes to sliding is a safety risk.  Guest players do not make that decision for us.  The manager makes that decision. For the most part, thanks for everyone staying up last night...given the confusion of ruling at kick-off.  Unfortunately,, against a fast team like Springfield, a slide or two would have worked in our favor.   

We had trouble making our numbers last night but many thanks for the extra’s who showed up to play.  Bernie and George showed from the Pentagon team.  Charlie from the Turtles came to the wrong “Arrow” field and stayed to play with us.  And James the manager of unReal Fairfax asked both Mooch and Robie if he could join as his team withdrew for the remainder of the season.  Pete also made the drive down from Baltimore to join us.

Gene was in goal and made several outstanding saves during the first half.  Saves that he simply shouldn’t have been able to stop.

Tedd ran the midfield with Bernie and James up top. John Hamer was sweeping and kept us in it with his speed.  Man on man John was the fastest on the field last night.  He demonstrated he could outpace all of their attackers last night.  The problem was, he couldn’t outpace all three at the same time, although he tried on several occasions. Springfield remains the team with the highest per capita speed.  It’s amazing the Robie was able to field so many really fast players when most team can only come up with one or two.  But it’s his players speed that really define Springfield terrific run of form this year...as they still have won most of their matches.

Bernie scored two… first half Steve H was playing left winger.  Steve took the ball at his feet, used his body to keep the defense away, turn inside and used the outside of his right foot to put a square ball inside directly onto Bernie’s path. Bernie to one touch to set  up the shot moving into on his right and the hit a terrific bender high in the top right corner.

On his second goal in the second half Tedd place a terrific through  ball to him straight up the middle Bernie used a sudden burst of acceleration to run through the middle and straight into the box.  He touched it toward goal and made a last second lunge at the ball to sweep it past the keeper into the left side netting.

Tedd scored our third goal in very fast paced flurry of passing in front of the Turtles net.  Ultimately Tedd settled the ball about ten yards out.  He hit a hard shot to the right side of the goal with his left foot.  It look like a goal but it gonged the right post and bounced straight back in the direction it game, just as fast.  Tedd used instinct alone to reach out at the ball as it raced back toward him to redirected the ball into the left side of the net.

Final score, first half Turtles 3 Orangemen 1.  Second half, Turtles 3, Orangemen 2.  It was a fantastic game.   Although we came up short, everyone played their hearts out and it was a fair competition.

At the end of the match, one of the Orangemen did question the age of a few of the Springfield players, but Robie assured us the two players who were called out, were 33 and 34 respectively.  Nevertheless, it will be important to the Orangemen to make the age distinction since we have been burned by underage players just about every way possible.  Underage players have been brought in against us, we have had underage players brought on to our side.  We have been called out by other teams and found wanting.  The coaches league, being non-competitive, has never required the use of ID cards and age verification. From time to time, when the age issue gets out of hand, the league brings it back up.  It’s pretty simple...we simply tell the truth.  There are two exceptions.  One, there is room for a player in their  30th year, to come out and play, and see if this is the team, league for them.  Two, Son’s or Daughter’s of Orangemen, provided they have turned 18, are welcome to play with their parents.  The League has accepted off-spring as the exception to the age rule since it’s inception in the mid-seventies.

We do not bring underaged players onto the Orangemen in order to win games. We must seek a competitive advantage according to the rules.  Cheating to win is not winning…it is cheating.  Just like we’ve made great advances in our sportsmanship to not take a throw-in when we know we kicked it out.  Or not to intentionally use our hands to score a goal.  We have a zero-policy for cheating on the Orangemen, and if you are caught cheating, you will be sanctioned.

Orangemen vs FC Valpo - Sept 2013

Sporting their Manchester City, Light Blue, the Orangemen took-on FC Valpo underneath the lights at Lake Fairfax and a chilly fall evening at the end of the match the temperature had dipped below 50.  FC Valpo is the best passing team in the league.  They are a little Barcelona with their ability to pass pass pass.  They beat us as the final score was 2 to 4.  However, that doesn’t tell the entire story or the effort we put in during the second half.  Valpo scored three of their four goals in the first half, and we did not have an answer.  But Mooch made a single change to the defense, putting Matt’s wheels in the stopper position, and we only allowed a single goal in the second half.  So the fIrst half 0 to 3  but in we won the second half 2 to 1

Jermaine scored the goals in the second half, scoring 1 during run of play and the second on a PK  when he was fouled in the box.

Jermaine and Will H both got yellow cards during the match and had to sit out for 5 minutes.

Jermaine brought Pre, his girlfriend, with him,  how played for George Mason in the Central midfield.  Her skills were apparent.

Winning the second half, or at least doing much better, has become one of the Orangemen signatures.  It still sucks to lose, but drawing out a positive from the experience still feels a lot better.