Orangemen vs FC Valpo August 2014

It was another solid Orangemen performance in challenging conditions.  The first challenge was to make it to the field - Fox Mill-Fred Crabtree is in the middle of nowhere Reston and various app maps take one to various park related destination, but seemingly few directly to the field.  Fortunately, by 6:30 we all made it (we think!).  At game start, we had 10, FC Valpo had 9.  Once we determined that the pitch was surfaced by what appeared to be living grass, and that it had been subject to a fair a mount of rain, we checked the field closure list on line and by phone, sent Jose to check the pitch, and, finding good grass with no mud puddles or other standing water, elected to proceed with the game.  

The Orangemen dominated for the first 45 seconds and then got a taste of FC Valpo's ball skills and passing.  We also learned that our defense (once we had a full compliment plus two subs) comprising George and John in the middle with Forrest and Greg on the wing backs (with solid participation from Mauricio and Kurt), could blunt the attack, win the ball, and start the counter attack in good form.  Jose Smith proved to be a much better keeper that we could have hoped, and he readily stopped the few attacks that got past the defense - either as a last defender, or proper keeper.

After 5-10 minutes of play, B, took a beautiful feed from Favian (as I recall) and drilled it from outside the 18 into the upper left 90.  Not too long after that Tom finished a solid Orangemen attack to put us up 2-0.  With determined effort from Scott, Alfredo, and I, we held that lead into the second half.  But the challenges overcame those efforts in the second halftone the final score was FC V 4, Orangemen 2.

During the second half the challenge of the field conditions, coming darkness, injury/cramping/fatigue, and persistent strong attacks from Valpo proved too much.  As one point a single Valpo player single handedly carried the ball from outside 40 to the end line and back to I front of the goal where he scored their go ahead goal.  They cracked at least three solid shots of the crossbar.

Not to long before their first goal, an Orangemen thrust was blunted when a Valpo defender sprawled on the ground grabbed the ball as our striker collected the ball and had free access to the goal supported by three other Orangemen.  The properly assessed red card, drew dissent from the FC Valpo manager, who with repeated dissent and foul language earned a red card of his own.  At that point, in an attempt to keep the game semi-sportsman like, I offered to let Valpo only play down one man.  I still think it was the right call, but apologize to those who disagree as it may have effected the final score.

With limited exceptions it was a safe, friendly, fun game in the face of substantial challenges.

Thanks to Tedd for running the team the past two weeks and  for this terrific Blog Post.

Orangemen vs Arlington August 2014

While Mooch is enjoying the beach (or perhaps the traffic!-), I'll send out this brief recap from today's game. With numbers short at game start, we began the game with one volunteer from Arlington and still a player short. We were out matched and on the defensive and we down 0-2 early - perhaps it was 0-3, but the final score was a very respectable 4-5. Solid defense by John Hamner (welcome back John!), Doug, Greg, and George, plus adding Rafael, Alfredo, and Steve H got us back on track. It was 4-4 until late in the game. Arlington had a skilled side. Rafael gets game honors with three (or four) well earned goals supported by rock solid midfield control by Michael and Mauricio. (John H a close second). Bernie kept the Arlington defense on their toes and got as close as one can get to a hat trick without scoring by knocking the ball off each post and the cross bar on separate offensive thrust. After the first ten minutes or so, we were that close to besting Arlington. Gene was his usual solid self in the net, but only saw modest action. Could have been the huge field - seemed like it took a long time to work from one end to the other. Well played - all. See you next week! Tedd

Orangemen Play Pickup

Nanney on Fire- Courtesy Floppy Studios

Orangemen Play Pick-up For two solid weeks in a row, as the never NVCL league play gets going, the Orangemen have been forced into short sided matches. Both situations have been forced on us by the City of Herndon closing Arrowbrook Park, our homefield for the Fall Season. They built an incredible soccer venue there in Herndon and to close it for other activity is just an amazingly example of classic weirdness by the Herndon City Council or whoever has made that decision. It's a soccer field, it was built to be a soccer field, soccer teams should recieve the right of first refusal on all events...it would be different if it was just a park, set up to be a park, and the soccer field was incidental. It is one of the only fields in the entire county of Fairfax, established as only a soccer field. There is already a shortage of soccer fields in Fairfax...it is inexcusable that a dedicated soccerfield is booked every Saturday night over the summer for a non-soccer event. This firmly establishes Herndon management as either asleep at the switch, or, more than likely, willing to bend to the wishes of those desiring to use the field for other purposes. When something this egregious is allowed to happen we need only look to the influence that's being weilded. A lounder and stronger voice, than that of a few soccer teams, is making it through. Typically that means...wait for it...yes that's right...money. OK...enough of my rant...there is more ranting to come but more related to the games themselves. In the first match both managers agreed that the field was Arrowbrook and the game time was 8 pm. At 4 pm on Saturday the email went out saying the match was moved to Lake Fairfax. With 4 hours to divert two teams the Orangemen responded and got the word out. That didn't happen for the Internationalze. In fact they canx the match for the stated reason, "His team didn't want to play at Lake Fairfax". That's got to be the strangest excuse in the history of excuses... At 8 pm the Orangemen assembled...and we had at least 16 players show. So we got started on a shorted sided, small field game, 8 v 8. It was awesome...we played for over 2 hours...everyone was tired at the end. Dave Nanney was on fire, and will be forever memorialized in the photo above. The very next week it was rumored that the field would once again be diverted. Mooch didn't want to add confusion to the set up but he wanted to get he word out on the game. So he set out the invite but made sure it was clear the field had not been selected yet. Options would be Lake Fairfax, or Herndon High School. To make matters even more confusing the manager of the Referees Assignors emailed to inform Mooch that he had scheduled a Ref for their game at 8 pm at Arrowbrook. I told him no...we would not be playing at Arrowbrook. Because the schedule went out with the wrong field, Springfield emailed to confirm the game at the wrong field. With numbers short, and not wanting to canx the game Mooch was busy drumming up numbers...it was a home game and the Orangemen would have to pay. The league didn't provide the field information until Thursday late morning...Mooch had a little over 24 hours to confirm at least14 to play, and to redirect the ref and the other team to the new field. From Mooch's perspective this was a managers worst nighmare week. Low player numbers -- and a last minute change of venue with both the other team and the ref thinking they are going someplace else. None of this caused by Mooch...just to be clear. The league published the wrong info and despite queries from Mooch, didn't respond until Thursday. With all this going on...and with Mooch getting more feeble in his older age...he sent out an email to his players saying we play at Fairfax High School in Herndon. And sent the link to Herndon High School. Only one Orangemen player, made the mistake and actually went to Fairfax High School. The ref and Springfield, went to Fairfax High School. Which to me, is very strange, because no question was raised...despite the fact that Fairfax High School has never, ever, been a league field. Well...long story short...the Ref came after Mooch for the money to pay the ref, even though they didn't play, citing all the regulations of the league, etc. Mooch sent this nasty email to the ref letting him know never to schedule a ref without his permission. Peter, No problem, I'll pay the fee, it was my mistake. However, as you recall there was tremendous confusion this week. Not the least of which occurred when you went ahead and scheduled a game for me in advance of my direction. Per your previous email...for whatever reason, you suggested we split the fee... I really didn't understand why...but your actions added to what was an already confusing situation with the league this season.. Also, neither the ref nor Springfield attempted to initiate contact with me...at game time. There is blame on all fronts here. I didn't have the assistant managers name or number, etc. And clearly he didn't have mine. But all managers should know who to call and the refs in particular should know who the home team manager is and have a cell phone number. I've been called when a ref is going to be late, for instance. This is two weeks in a row there has been serious league confusion...I should have just canx the game when we didn't have a field until Thursday morning. Thursday morning I had 2 players. I spent the next two days scrambling to get a team...I was paying attention to that...and not the other important details. But you can see how easy it is to go from Lake Fairfax or Herndon High School to Fairfax High School. However, I also said Fairfax High School to my team...and 16 out of 17 when to Herndon HS. I don't know exactly why...probably because Fairfax High School isn't a league field and Herndon is a league field...just say'n... I've attached your email where you offer to split the fee...it's pretty clear what you are saying...although I'm not sure why you even suggested such an arrangement. however, if your offer still stands I'm OK with that...or I'll just pay the $90 and be done with it. v/r Jim OK...enough of a second and third rant... So we played 8 v 8 again at Herndon HS. This time we moved the small goals onto the middle of the stadium pitch. Again we ran ourselve ragged and played for over 2 hours. Thanks for all the Orangemen who showed up...without 16 players we wouldn't have had such a great run on a great night.