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.