Orangemen vs Turtles -- November 2015

We beat the Turtles 3 to 2 in an outstanding game...

Players

Gene in Goal

Golden Sweeping

Greg right fullback

Karl left fullback

Mauricio Stopper

Tedd Central midfield

Mooch rover

Pete defensive Halfback

Javar ?

Alfredo striker

FAHM Striker

With no subs we played the full game but it was a cool night so everyone ran their butts off.

Turtles scored first fairly early in the first half on what was clearly an off-sides call, at midfield, that somehow the Ref missed.  He was calling us for off-sides but not the Turtles.  Mooch had two magnificent touches to FAHM, over the top.  One with the outside of his left foot and one with his right...they were short looping balls directly into FAHMs path. In both cases, when he kicked them, FAHM was even with him, so how the ref judged those to be off sides I will never know.

FAHM returned the favor.  At halftime it was 1 to 1

Mooch opened the scoring in the second half when he received the ball at the top of the box...it was the a deflection from an errant shot by J.  I trapped the ball and with time and space, and  the ball sitting up nicely, it was all his to finish into the right side of the goal to an outstretched Tony.

But the Turtles came back to tie at 2 2 to make for an interesting finish to the game.  Tensions flared as a loud mouth on the Turtles kept complaining that FAHM was obstructing him.  His anger got the better of him and he took down Alfredo in a vicious tackle that earned him a yellow card.  Strange because he was taking down players left an right...so this speaks to the ability of the Ref to control the game.  He was losing control...on another night vs another team not as well behaved as the Turtles there could have been a different out come.  Way too much yelling from that loud mouth.

And speaking of loud mouths...Mooch did his sharing of yelling too.  But it was, of course, to get his own team to pass the ball.  Whereas we did win the game, and we did create plenty of opportunities...with the right pass at the right time we could have put the game last night away really early in the evening.  If Orangemen continue to hold the ball one, two, three, even four touches past when they should have passed, Mooch will continue to yell.  And he apologizes for any profanity that he might have used last night.  For the record it goes like this...

Pass the ball first touch - Great praise by Mooch

Beat the first player with first touch, then pass the ball - Praise by Mooch

Beat the first player, get ball stolen by second player - Mooch admonishment

Beat the first player, beat the second player, lose ball -  Strong admonishment by Mooch

Beat the first player, beat the second player, beat the third player, lose the ball...  Mooch goes apoplectic and who knows what will come out of his mouth, it's not his fault...

So the game winner came from FAHM...he received the ball just out side the box on the right side.  It set up nicely...and he hit a rocket with his left foot.  No spin, I could see the seams on  the ball as it went left into the side netting, Tony had no chance.  Definitely the goal of the game and the game winner.

Great play by all, including our defense that was left alone deal with a decent Turtles attack all too frequently. Golden was running down every ball even with a tight (insert medical term here) tendon in his back that was making his knee sore...or something like that...  Whatever it was he seemed to work it out as he was getting more distance on his goal kicks then he ever has.

Special thanks to Peter for making the long haul down from Baltimore to give us sufficient numbers.  Also, Peter played a lot of defense last night, most I've seen in a long time.  That was helpful too ensure our win.  I think Peter specifically didn't want to Turtles to beat us last night and made sure of it.

Orangemen vs Internationalze Halloween 2015

Due to Halloween falling on a Saturday night, and very few folks actually wanting to play, I think I had 1 confirmed, we were able to reschedule the game for Friday night.  Strangley it all worked out well...too well in fact.  In the end we had too many fields and too many refs show up for the game.  And, at the last minute, Cris and Rahbi came out of retirement to augment our side.

It was a nice cool fall night, perfect temperature for soccer.  Orangemen wore black and the Internationalze, decked out in their Brazilian National kits, with bright yellow shirts and bright blue shorts, all of a sudden began to resemble minions...coincidence?

At the end of the evening the score was 1 to 1...a tie.  It was the best around game we have played in a long time...this is how the side looked.

Rahbi and Dave Nanney starting up top

Cris, Mooch, Q, and George in the midfield augmented by Alfredo

Golden, Ned, Karl, and Maurico providing an almost impenetrable defense, with Steve H showing up to lend a solid hand.

Gene, of course, was in goal.

Internationalze brought their standard solid line-up.  They played fast and in control.  But we stayed with them.  We were able to bring pressure forward and control the ball in their half of the field to allow our defense a reprieve so when they did attack, we shut them down nicely, and didn’t grow tired.  Scott could be heard calling for the midfield to return to shore up the defense, and we did.  Had we not been willing to play defensively through the midfield, they might have had more breakthroughs.  Unfortunately, with so much defensive minded play, we didn’t create enough chances up top.  But we certainly created some chances..most, when we passed the ball with composure through the midfield.

Cris would lead off the attack, but gaining control of the ball, making a move to get out of trouble, and then completing a pass.  As always, it never works if that initial control then quick distribution does not occur.  

Our goal came on a free kick.  Rahbi took the kick from outside the box.  The ball looped in nicely and the keeper jumped to get his mitts on it.  It beat him but hit the crossbar and bounced down, it hit the ground, but big man Q was right in front of the keeper and was able to stop the ball with his body and then finish with ease into the top of the net.

We had to keep the pressure on to keep from losing as Internationale pressed hard in the remaining few minutes to score.  We kept our heads and kept the score a tie.  We have lost too many times in those last minutes this year.  This was a great turn of fortune and something we should strive for in the future.

Orangemen vs Sterling Sting

Toward the end of the game last night...for reasons unknown, Golden made the loud statement on the field, “What Would Mooch Do?”.  Mooch yelled back, “Mooch would pass the ball”.  And so it was yesterday, when we got tired in the second half, gave up the fight we were so fully engaged in, and stopped passing.  The result, after having a spectacular first half, where we initiated the scoring and kept the Sting on their heels, having ended the half tied at 3 3, we fell apart and Sterling scored another four goals in the second half, with us answering with only one.

Back in December 2012 I wrote this blog for the Orangemen, perhaps we should review what I said…

http://nvaorangemen.blogspot.com/2012/12/its-why-soccer-ball-is-round.html

This after a 1 to 10 shellacking by the Metros…  Granted our passing since Dec 2012 has greatly improved...but, as new players join the team, and we get tired, we tend to forget, that the ball is round for a reason.  Also, a passed ball travels a lot faster that a dribbled ball.  We showed some great passing skill last night...stringing 5 passes together in a row...it’s not clear why we stopped.  But it was a combination of deciding to go it alone out there...or picking a bad pass too late.  It’s better to pass early then to wait until you get into trouble...because then the pass is rushed and inaccurate, or it’s the wrong pass.

That’s plenty for my soap box this morning.

Onto the game…  Thanks for those who came to play at 3 knowing we had to get to RFK by 7 pm...we would be rushed.  Thanks to Sterling for hosting us early so that we didn’t have to canx.

Fabian made an appearance...first time in about a year.
George, who ran 10 miles in the morning
Greg
Gene who brought his boy Nate with him
Karl
Alfredo
Maurico
Mooch
Dave N
Tedd
Golden
Matt

With one more sub, and the Harvin, the Harvin was a no show, I think we would have won the game.

Scoring wise, Fabian struck first blood with a great header from a corner kick supplied by Tedd.  George scored twice, once with a great and silky smooth shot that fooled the keeper at his near post that he hit with the outside of his left boot.  He could have crossed it as well, as Golden was ready to pounce, but the fact that he made it look easy, and he scored, atoned for the play.  He also collected a ball that Mooch served over that top that Fabian got to first and took a stab at it, the ball came back out and George was able to place it where it belonged.

Our fourth goal game from a PK by Mooch.  Since his dad was in attendance, he had to show off.  He hit the ball low and left, hard, and full of confidence.  The Keeper got his filthy paws down to meet it, but alas the strength in the shot was too much for him to handle and the ball carried into the net.

Despite George’s two goals, I think player of the match has got to go to Golden today.  Playing his second match as our Sweeper, proves he is a fantastic replacement of Johnny H.  He did fantastic work in the back, shutting down Sterling...for the first half.    Once we got tied and the onslaught was one, Golden saved us time and time again...the scoreline would have been far worse without him tireless running down every ball.

Those of you who failed to pass last night...I will not call you out by name...but here is the tell tale sign that you need to pass.  When “Mooch” turns his back, throws his hands skyward, and rips off a number of profanities that would make and Naval aviator blush, it’s time to start passing.  And I say Naval aviator because our Air Force aviators, other than Tedd, failed to materialize yesterday...and Tedd left early...just sayin’.

Orangemen vs Chantilly Aug 2015

With the transfer of John H the era of the military attorney playing for the Orangemen has come to an end.  Joshua remains as our soul attorney who will play occasionally but the juggernaut that was free legal advice on the Orangemen has come to an end.  In it’s place, an unlikely source.  Or at least I wouldn’t have believed it it had I not seen it here on this day.  Here was our line up.

Gene in Goal

Karl at right full back

Golden (F-18 pilot) as sweeper

Greg at left full back

Tang (F-16 pilot) as stopper

Mauricio at left half

Ogre (F-16 Pilot) as central midfield

Floppy at central midfield

Alfredo at left midfield

FAHM (F-22 pilot) as striker

Dan (A-10 pilot) as striker

Q - first sub

Nanney - second Sub

Mooch - third sub

Derek - arrived for 10 pm game

Note the trend?  That’s five fighter pilots starting in the Orangemen line-up last evening, on a beautiful August evening at Gunston Middle School.  Of course we were not lined up against ISIS we were lined up against the Chantilly Casuals...at team that is fast and skilled.  With so many new players in our line-up we had some trouble early in the first half and Chantilly kept us pinned down for the first 25 minutes or so.  Within which time they scored their first goal. The goal amounted to a great shot by the Chantilly striker from the right side of the box.  Gene was maybe two feet too far forward off his line allowing the well struck ball to rise and curl under the bar as Gene deflected it up and back.  After that the Orangemen started to gel and we were able to begin making runs on their goal...and get the ball out of our side of the field.

From that point on the game was fairly evenly matched...going back and forth and turning into a fun competition.  We had plenty of opportunities at their end with FAHM, Dan, Golden, and Mooch winding up for shots that either went wide or were too soft and easily collected by their large keeper.  After the Chantilly number 1 fullback, Dick, left the pitch due to injury, the Orangemen pressed even deeper into their end.  A corner kick, delivered by Mooch, carried to the far post, Dan had a free header.  He headed it down and away from the keeper, but the vertical upright got in the way and the impact rung out into the night sky letting Mooch know he would not get the assist.

Back at our end, Gene was having an outstanding night in net.  He was diving and punching the ball clear on more than a few shots.  

Unfortunately, toward the end of game with only minutes to goal, floppy produced an errant pass that was intercepted by Chantilly.  The goal amounted to a great individual effort by the Chantilly striker who ran down the left side driving all the way to the end line.  Most on the field believed the play would end, but the striker was able to get round our final defender and cross the ball low and slow through the goal box for a simple tap-in on the far side.

Peter our ref, turned to me at full time and asked if we should go another 3 minutes for unjury time, I said of course.  So we continued to play. We continued to pressure and in a melee in their box, Dan stepped into a weakly cleared ball and finished into the top of the net.

Final score, was 1 to 2.  Chantilly.  But it was well played all around.  We only needed a few more minutes more and we would have equalized.

Well played by all.  Gene had an outstanding match in goal.  Greg played an incredible game in his left fullback position...I’m not sure he got beat last night.  Golden, has stepped into the position as sweeper, a position he now confesses he’s played his entire life.

Stay tuned for the match next weekend Orangemen, as the plan is to go to the DC United game…the plan is to play an early match before hand.

Orangemen Play Langley AFB in Change of Command Game

The Orangemen traveled to Langley AFB, VA to play the an Air Force team on the celebration of our very on, Coach Pete, assuming command of the 1st Fighter Wing on 10 July 2015.

Rich P who has been playing soccer for years in the Tide Water area set up the match at Langley...he set up a very young team and we were a little intimidated to go down an play.

Orangemen vs FC Valpo May 2015

On a warm night the Orangemen faced off against FC Valpo at the South Run Complex.  After installing the nets, turning on the lights and paying the ref, it was time to get down to business.  Orangemen were wearing orange and FC Valpo were wearing light blue.

In goal for the Orangemen was Gene.  Karl, Greg, and John H were on-board as full-backs.  Coach was recently back from flight requalification at Tyndall.  With Tedd away, Mooch started Bryan in midfield.  Jose came as Bryan’s visitor.  Mauricio and Alfredo started in midfield, leaving Mooch and Wil to start up top.  Matt would come just at kick-offf and would have to wait a few before stepping on as a stopper.

Within minutes FC Valpo scored an amazingly soft goal...culminating in a run down the left side, a ball cross low and slow across the goalmouth, with Walter P running in from the right for a simple tap in.  Mooch has switched the defense to our two sweeper formation, one which we haven’t used in a while.

As the first half continued, it was clear that FC Valpo was getting the better of us...a severe lack of passing allowed Valpo to pressure in our end and take shot after shot..  A lack of passing up top and through the midfield inhibited us from putting any type of offense together.  We had several set pieces right in front of Valpos’ goal which all fell flat.

Valpo’s third goal came just minutes before the end of the first half, a ball with hit the post and as Gene closed for it, bounced off him and back into the net.  A very soft goal but one which sent the Orangemen to the locker room fairly dejected.

On Wil’s insistence, Mooch moved Bryan to striker with him and Mooch trading off and stepping into the holding midfield position.  Almost immediately Bryan was making an impact up top.  His speed enabled him to blast by the defenders with the ball.  Wil was constantly playing the ball over the top to Bryan who would run onto to it and then go one on one with the keeper.  His first goal game on his third run.  As the keeper came out Bryan easily chipped it over him into the far right side netting.  His second goal, however, he was on the right, and Mauricio played to ball up to him.  From outside side corner of the box, Bryan turned on the ball, and struck a rocket to the far left corner of the net.  The Orangemen had pulled two back.  Bryan’s hattrick game on just another break away run.  The Orangemen were even.  

Then a series of unfortunate events befell the Orangemen.  With only one Sub Mooch was trying to make sure we rotated through the positions to give everyone a breather…  However, an injury, or how should I say, a fantastic defensive block, by Coach, resulted in his removal from the pitch and the dry heaves behind the bleachers.  His challenge to shut down a Valop shot resulted in him receiving a line-drive directly to his family heirlooms dropping him to the deck like a lifeless g-suit discarded post flight and lying on the ops room floor.  The ref called for a stop in action and when Pete regained his feet to hobble off the pitch where he assumed the aforementioned dry heave position behind the bleachers.  Maurico stepped in to play stopper.  In the last 5 minutes of the game, John H came out of the back to break up a play just outside the box,  Unfortunately the ref judged John to have put more of his foot on the striker then the ball and awarded John a yellow card for breaking up the play.  With less than 5 minutes to go, John would have to sit the yellow card suspension and the rest of the game.  With no other subs Coach had to catch his breath an hobble back onto the field.  

With two minutes to go it looked like the Orangemen could hold the tie.  A ball came looping into the box and Karl ran onto it in the center of the box.  I assess Karl would but the outside of his right boot to the ball to clear it, but instead, believing Wil was close by him, let the ball bounce and run in behind.  Wil, who was behind him, was thinking more about the 8 ouch Heinichen's out in his cooler for after the game, then the danger.  A Valpo player sprinted in behind, collected the ball, drove into the box and scored.  Valop went up 3 to 4 and it looked like it was over.

The Orangemen had a surge of adrenaline as the kicked off.  The ball came forward and Mooch had a play on it.  He won the ball from a defender who was giving him fits, due to his speed all game… but lost the handle on it… The ball dropped back a yard and as Mooch turned for it he saw Alfredo charging in to take a shot.  Mooch stepped to the side and Alfredo struck the ball from 22 yards out toward the goal.  The keeper scrambled backward and the shot curled into to the tippy top right corner of the net.  Goooaaaaaall!  Alfredo had scored in the last 30 second of the game saving a well played second half and a 4 to 4 tie for the match.

Nice return to form Orangemen!  You always know you did well if Mooch is inspired enough on a Sunday morning to right down the notes!!  We then enjoyed the refreshments Wil brought for our post game enjoyment to talk about the game and Mooch's new ride (pictured top).  We also talked about what we are going to do with both Coach and John H, our entire central defending staff, leaving in about a month.

The Last Five Games...All In One!

The Last Five Games

I’m now thinking back at least 5 games but it’s hard to remember.  Sorry for the delay for my avid readership...

Away against Arlington

On April 18th we played Arlington in an early match at Virginia Highlands.  Jim Lister showed up to the match and Jim Landoll made a guest visit as a spectator all the way down from Leesburg.  We had a good day.  We crushed Arlington by a score of 9 to 4 and what was special on the day, at least for one Orangemen, was a hat-trick.   That individual will go nameless. But the recall is pretty clear in at least this writer's mind...it went something like this…  

First goal.  Alfredo crosses the ball in from the right, the scorer is coming in from the top of the box.  The cross drops short and a defender rises to head it clear.  The ball is too high, so it  skims off the top of his head, it continues across the top of the box into the path of the scorers run. He catches it with his left thigh and it drops majestically into  the path of his run.  He touches  it once forward, running straight through the defensive line into the box. He lowers his head, and gets his left knee over the ball, and strikes it hard, keeping it straight and low beating the diving keeper on his right.

Second goal.  The ball, again comes diagonally in from the right, low and on the ground to Alfredo. The striker screams for Alfredo to play it through to him.  Everyone closes on Alfredo but he doesn't touch the ball.  Instead he lets it roll straight through his legs to me.  The striker steps back as it rolls in with his left foot drawing it back from the defense about one yard.  He strikes it perfectly with his right boot, curling it up and across the box toward the upper right corner of the goal.  It follows the exact path of his strike, curling just above the gloves of the jumping keeper into the top corner.  The absolutely sweetest feeling when a ball behaves exactly like as he planned. 

Third goal.  Last minute of the game Dan beats the left fullback and carries the ball to the goal line.  The scorer come just behind him running into the center of the box screaming for him to touch it back to the 18.  He still has time to touch it back, but goes it alone to the keeper.  But the striker continues his run.  Dan strikes at goal, but shanks the ball.  He misses the goal and the keeper and the ball comes rolling across the goal heading for the end line behind the far post.  Since the striker continued his run, and everyone closed on Dan because he was clearly taking a shot, He is alone as he reaches the far post.  But by the time he is on the  ball it is wide of the post.  Instead of trying to strike it in with his left foot at a fairly impossible angle, he draws it backward with his left...opening up the angle...and as the hordes of defenders adjust and come charging at him he takes his time, making sure to hit it hard and low with his right foot, beating three defenders and the goalkeeper as they dive at his feet.  Hat Trick...

At home against Fairfax FC

The following week the favor was repaid as Fairfax FC crushed us by a similar score line...perhaps 3 for us and 9 for them.  Fairfax showed up with 9 players and we had 11 so we provided them one player to even out the sides and we played 10 v 10.  Mooch played first half with Fairfax and Alfredo played second half. Mauricio played keeper due to Gene vacation duties overseas.

Away against Braddock Road

The next week we played away and took on Braddock Road. Numbers were short but Braddock grabbed on player from Sterling and took us on with 10.  We were right at 11.  This time Bryan took his turn in goal with Gene being away.  Q also played his second game with us and did well.  I don’t remember the score but with Bryan’s speed coming out of the goal I think it was a pretty even game...not many goals were scored on either side.  I think the final was 1 to 1.  Braddock served up a cooler of beer after the game…Wil also made perhaps his final Orangemen appearance before returning to Boliva to raise his cattle.

Away against Springfield

Mooch did not attend and Tedd took care of managing the game.  He reports, “Decent game tonight, although we lost 5-4 or so.  Q gets honors with two goals.  John H, however kept us in the game with his usual unsung hero sweeping and Matt had a solid time at stopper.  The rest of us, Gene, Karl, Greg, Alfredo, Mauricio, Peter, Bryan, and Johnnie (second half guest that Peter recruited from their sideline).  Bryan owes Fairfax County $ for a rocket he hit square in the post - must have bent it!

And then from text Peter reported the following...slightly different take on the game…”I scored huge powerful upper right corner that even the ref gave me a high five...the shot was a game change to some degree...we were losing 3 to 1 (Q scored) then it was 3 to 2(i scored) then 3 to 3matt i think scored) then 4 to 3 (them) , then tied 4 to 4(they had a own goal).  Peter also gave a lot of credit to Q who he said played very well.

At Home Against Vienna Metros

Final score 2 to 4.  David (Metros Manager) played full game with us...and another one of their players, Karl in first have and Craig in second half, were necessary for us to field 11 on the pitch.  Not sure where Bryan and Mauricio we absent. Peter came in from Baltimore to play.  It was a very well played match...the score doesn’t quite reflect.  The Metros first goal was soft, as Gene thought it was over, and practically ducked his head to get out of the way, thinking it was going high.  It wasn’t, it went straight in.  There other three goals were fairly solid.  But we scored two and had some great pressure in their end most of the game.  Defensively with John H and Matt in the center we were really putting up a fight.  John H was sprinting after ball after ball and making the intercept.

Matt was charging forward with Josh coming out of central Midfield.  And David from the Metros was putting in a full shift.  Opportunities came from multiple corner kicks...but the goals game from a cross Alfredo up in that was headed off the line back to me where  I'm in the center of the box.  The ball is arching out from the left hand side of the goal line and drops right in front of me.  I swept it with my left foot, all cleats to a very open right side of the goal  Low towards the far right post.  My first thought is  I swept it wide but the gods were smiling and it caught the inside of the right post and slipped into the net.

Second goal came late in the game, the ball was played to David’s feet who controlled it and kept the defense to his back.  He turned and played to to Josh who was in the box and still on side.  He played it perfectly into the left post for number two.  

Although we only scored two we have numerous opportunities that had the gods been smiling on us, could easily have turned the game our way.  It was a fun match.

Orangemen vs Chantilly 4 April 2015

Great match last night Orangemen.  Even though we built the team from 7 visitors last night.  We held Chantilly to a draw final score 0 to 0.  The warm temperature throughout the day dipped into the forties but luckily the wind died down completely so if was  a very comfortable match.  Players last night included:

John H

Cheverz (Baltimore)

CJ (Chantilly)

Cesar (Open)

Tedd

Luke

Craig (Metros)

Zapata (Open)

Pete Z (open)

Karl

Carli (Orgre)

Mooch

Gene

Alfredo

In the first half, Luke played sweeper and our last minute arrival from the Metros (Craig) played stopper in front of him.  In the second half, Johnny H returned to sweep in his signature position.  However, the defense wouldn’t have been solid, without Gene having a very good night.  Gene had at least four saves, with one of them being a kick save as good as any NHL Hockey goalie, ala Dominik Hasek could have produced.

Although we had an all star offense last night, we failed to produce a single goal.  One more pass, in the final third, and I think we would have been there...I’ll resist going back to my mantra just based on last night, and the great job we did considering we were playing with a lot of different players last night...but...one more pass…

Special thanks to Tedd’s daughter Carli who played as much of the game as anyone and who did a tremendous job stepping into play, breaking up attacks, and moving the ball forward.  When she was in an attacking position on the left, and wide open, her dad, who collected the ball a the center circle, needed only to punch the ball through to her for a clear 1 v 1 run on goal.  Rather than trust the pass to his right leg, he poked the ball through to Ceasar who was making a crossing run on his left.  The pass was read by the defender and was easily picked off, leaving Carli to throw her hands skyward exclaiming to the soccer gods, why oh why didn’t my dad play me through?  She didn’t actually do that, but I’m sure Tedd heard about it on the way home.

Man of the match honors last night clearly go to Gene for keeping us in the match with his saves...

Awkward moment of the night honors go to Wil H, who we found moonlighting for another team in the White Division as we walked up to start the match!!

The End is Near: Total Futbol or the Apocalypse at Poplar Tree Park

So the Doomsday clock was moved  forward. It’s now three minutes from Armageddon. A friend of mine, with a knack for colorful descriptions, pointed out that the Doomsday Clock, which OBTW has been maintained by a group of ultra left leaning scientists for 50 years, is about a useful as a steamy pant load. Point taken, but all I have to do is look around for myself, and if it’s me reading the signs, I see major changes all around me.  Take for instance the price of gas.  I filled up at $1.99/gallon yesterday.  I almost caused an accident as I swooped into the parking lot, fixed and bewildered by the price showing on the sign.  As was the other guy.  At the pump, the friendliness of the customers was almost giddy.  Are criminals giddy?  We were all pumping gas like we were stealing together, chatting it up and wondering what we were gonna do with the extra cash in our pockets since we were getting free gas this month.  I had a big smile on my face but in the back of my mind, I was also thinking, this can’t be a good sign.  There is no silver lining here, or is there?

Last night, the Orangemen defeated the Uno Mas (the team formerly known as the Great Pretenders) by a score of 4 to 0.  Was that a fluke or has something disturbed the space-time continuum?  We played a marvelous game against a good side who were at full strength with with plenty of available substitutes.  

We had basically our standard squad, with the exception of Bryan arriving as a regular (he turned 30 just a few short days ago which I personally verified on his official government recognized ID).  And traveling Peter Z, who brought a quality friend to the match...Pete evened out Jamal's quality so it was a wash....

The line up included

Wil, B, Bryan, Dave N, with Jamal up top

Cris, Ted, Peter Z, Alfredo, Mooch in the midfield

Greg, Gene, Karl, Matt, Josh, Matt with a late arriving John H defending.

Christian playing keeper for the entire match

The difference in the game last night is that we played the stopper well into midfield.  Cris, when he was stopping, and Matt as well, stepped forward and had the speed to get back if overran, even before Josh had to step forward to clean up.  But Josh was as solid as a brick wall...he had the quality and control when the ball got to him early to stay composed and move the ball out of danger, and he also had to speed to run down a number of balls and had the wherewithal to play the ball back to Christian who was ready for the back pass.  Christian, playing the full game, made some great saves, but because of his speed coming out, and good hands on the ball, none of the shots that came in were exceptionally challenging...or he just made it it seem that way.

Playing with 3 strikers and 3 midfielders last night, with a stopper pushing up and actually adding to midfield, gave us enough pressure forward to control the ball and keep our defense from being over powered.  What was incredible about our play in their end was the number of passes we put together and our movement.  All six of us rotated forward and side to side, moving into open space, and receiving the pass and then passing again, and then running back to regroup behind the ball to start the process again.  It was the closest thing to total futbol that the Orangemen have ever played.  If the six players who are in those positions in the future, continue to play in that manner, it’s almost unnecessary to assign positions.

We scored 4 goals, three of which came from a series of passes.  The fourth goal was fabulous banana kick from Wil on a corner kick that curled right into the net.

The first goal was from Bryan who hit a fantastic strike with his left foot from the top of the box after a series of passes too numerous for Mooch to count.  B scored goal number 2 from inside the box in similar fashion.  I can’t remember who scored our third goal...I’m not used to counting that high.

Anyhow, something strange is going on.  Normally, strange anomalies come in threes...everyone should stay safe, not go out in a Thunderstorm for a few weeks, and definitely look both ways before you cross the street.

I’m going to split player of the match tonight between Josh and Christian.  Those two kept a clean sheet tonight and gave the 6 attacking players the confidence to keep the pressure on down the field allowing us to play total futbol on the eve of the apocalypse!

Orangemen in Vegas

Jose Smith and Scott Black in Las Vegas.  Jose is out there to play in an annual soccer tournament.