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.

Pinball Wizard Bags Three - Orangemen Defeat Mt. Vernon - July 2014

Ever since I was a young boy,

I've played the silver ball.
From Soho down to Brighton
I must have played them all.
But I ain't seen nothing like him
In any amusement hall...
That deaf dumb and blind kid
Sure plays a mean pin ball !

When Tommy stepped on the field last night he didn’t know he would be driving home with a hat-trick in his pocket and man of the match honors.  Due partly to Rancher Willie arriving late, having to drive to Alexandria from Gainsville, Tommy got the call to start up-top as a striker.  After a stern lecture at midfield for a three-touch game, all passing and no individual heroics, the first goal came in what can be described as Pinball.  The ball was passed forward, backward, and out the right flank, back to the center, then back out to the right again with George B providing the a final pass inside to Tommy who played it back to George, who scored the opening goal.  Text book...but with that assist Tommy was just getting started.  

On the field last night Tedd returned to the match after an long convalescent to run the midfield.  Gene was in net with Marcus visiting from out of town (George Guest) stepping if for Karl.  Jorge would come with Mauricio and play sweeper for us, running down every ball now that we lost Jan to the summer move cycle...Jan will be trying to play soccer down with the alligators and crawfish in Louisiana…not likely he will find a match.  Greg started as right fullback.  Luke arrived just at kickoff and had to wait his turn to enter the match.  George B started as right half-back, Alfredo was left half-back leaving Mooch to play in the mid-field with Tedd and Dave N to start up-top with Tommy.

Playing Mt Vernon is never easy, Jon and Tasso take the game seriously and you’ll never see Mt Vernon backing down from a challenge even though we did take the slide tackle off the table.  Their big defenders, including Alex, were all on hand for the battle.

Orangemen settled into the match and controlled the first 15  minutes with really good passing and then we got tired early or Mt. Vernon stepped it up.  They pressed hard for the next twenty minutes but were unable to break through our defense, in part because we let Luke join the game and he’s like a defensive Hoover Dam when he steps into a challenge.

But after those fifteen minutes of pressure Mt. Vernon backed off a little and we were able to break out of our end.  Tommy played a exceptional ball straight up the middle to Mooch who  found himself alone with the ball running straight at the keeper.  At the top of the box he looked up and saw the keeper still on the line.  He was still alone and had precious nano-seconds to make a decision.  Because the keeper was still on his line the entire far post was becoming so instead of throwing any feigns the keepers way, Mooch just put his head down and struck the ball far post.  The keeper read every intention and has sufficient position to make the save,  but only to block the ball down in the marauding straight line run of George, who unfortunately used is adrenaline to crush the ball high and over the net.  But the stage was set as Mt Vernon realized they would have to defend and couldn’t commit so many men forward into the attack because we were too strong through the midfield and could easily counter.

We continued to push forward and had several more breaks.  Another one came through the center with the ball being played forward to Wilie’s feet(who joined us from his ranch finally) and then back to Tommy.  Tommy had the option to play it wide to Mooch but choose instead to have a strike.  He played the perfect shot which he floated to the far top right post corner with most on the field thinking it would go over the crossbar, but it drop just over the keepers fingertips and into the back of the net.  Tommy would score one more just before half time, again with a series of passing that found in the box, his first shot the he scuffed, but the ball was deflected bounced into space, which Tommy found he had a second chance to finish, and this time he did.

Mt Vernon was able score their first goal before half-time but we took the break being up 3 to 1.

Second half Mt Vernon demonstrated they were not gonna go down without a fight and threw everything they had at us.  The bagged one off a set piece after a Luke left his feet and the ref felt he was sliding.  The shot came in and Gene deflected it and the Mt Vernon played scored an easy goal, however it was called back because the Mt. Vernon player was in an offsides position.  We got lucky on that one, but Mt Vernon wasn’t finished.  They clearly had momentum and we need to alleviate the pressure.  We had several opportunities but the goal came off a corner kick.  There was a scramble the ball came into Tommy at the top of the 6 yard box.  It bounced up and Tommy turned on it and buried it in the net.  Mt Vernon called out for a handball saying Tommy controlled it with his hand.  The Ref was hearing none of it.  Mooch who was looking straight at the play didn’t see Tommy control it with his hand but ran up to Tommy to ask him if he handled the ball given the thunderous appeal coming from Mt Vernon team members.  As Tommy was telling him that the ball brushed the back of his hand, and indicated that to the Ref as well, Tasso issued a few choice words out of frustration lodged at Mooch for his complete lack of integrity.  Mooch immediately turned to Tasso and told him what he thought in no uncertain terms.  The ref had to intervene, however made the decision that the goal would stand because there was no intentional handling of the ball, it was inadvertent and didn't change the direction of the ball, it was just bouncing straight up and even with no hands, Tommy was going to make that shot.   Tasso, apologized for his outburst and him and Mooch hugged into out as they went back for the kick-off. 

Orange was not up 4 to 1, but Mt Vernon was still not through.  They were coming for us and were able to score a second and then a third as the Orangemen committed numbers back to defense to try to preserve a victory.  Special thanks to Willy who recognized a tiring defense and came all the way back to help Jorge in the box.

When the final whistle came the Orangemen had defeated Mt Vernon on their home field 4 to 3.  A well fought victory which was a fun and fair match...which was even acknowledged by Mt Vernon in a very sportsmanlike manner.  Well done Orangemen.

Orangemen vs Braddock Road June 2014

Well Orangemen, it's rare that we are not on the opposite end of a game like this last one.  We beat Brddock Road by a score of 9 to 0.  Typically we are on the losing side of these routes.  Part of the problem was that Braddock didn't show up with a full squad, and those that did come were their older players.  That sounds familiar.  Meanwhile, we showed up with full strength including a Frank, a neighborhood friend Ben recruited, he's play with us before, to join the fun.

During this game Rabih scored 4 goals  making him the player of the match once again.

Mooch instituted and three touch rule during the second half to make it more challenging for the Orangemen and to work on our passing.  It was a good drill and I hope all Orangemen continue to think about a three touch limit...trap, make space, pass.  It's that simple.

Special thanks to the Orangemen who filled in for Braddock and had to take the thumping...including Gooch.

It was Ben's last game as he will be moving his family to Atlanta.  I'm glad that we went out winners for Ben's sake and the last game he will remember with the Orangemen is our domination.

Mooch Host's World Cup Party and Willie BBQ's the Meat!

Mooch hosted a World Cup party at his house so the Orangemen could gather to watch Team USA play Portugal.  Willie offered to bring the beef and we took him up on his graciousness.  At the time I was unaware that he also planned to stand over the grille and cook the meat for us.  He brought sausage, ribs, steak, and burgers and stood behind the grille from 4 pm to after 8 pm cooking a Brazilian style meat festival even though he hails from Bolivia.

Willy cooked and cooked and I believe there was no way we could get through the mountain of meat he brought...but somehow, he cooked it all.  And it all disappeared.  Most of us fell into a food coma later that night.  The soccer game was secondary to the amount of food that was available...there was also plenty of beer and wine.  Karl brought a cake from the Swiss Bakery that was also off the hook.

Orangemen friends and family who showed up for the party included the Luke T with his two oldest, Karl, Gene, and Dave N, Chuck, Steve H, Floppy, Jim L Sr, Greg, and the Gooch's, Mike and Anne, as well as Kent T.  The Booher family also showed up in force.  Mooch set up a TV outside so Willie wouldn't miss the action...but because the weather was so nice many used the deck as their viewing venue. Other's watched the indoor big screen.  Kids, too numerous to mention, were also on hand.  Most simply enjoying the petting zoo...and the rabbit's just hoping that Wil brought enough beef and no one would still be hungry and start looking their way.  All in all, despite the last second goal set up by Ronaldo, which tied the game for the US, the Orangmen had a great time and we will look for other opportunities to have this type of fun off of the pitch.

Orangemen vs Arlington 21 June 2014

Saturday was a beautiful night and we had a game scheduled against Don's Arlington side at Arrow brook.  It turns out Arrow brook is such a nice venue the City of Herndon has usurped it in June and July to conduct their Summer Concert series.  OK...let's talk about this a minute.  It's a soccer field with some added basketball courts.  There are rest rooms and picnic pavilion to support the soccer field.  However, someone had the bright idea that if they roll up a truck and a stage they can have concerts at the soccer field and kick the soccer players off the field.

As we rolled up we were not aware that we wouldn't be playing soccer at the soccer field.  We thought we would be serenaded with music...when there was no power to the lights we realized something was wrong.  Anyhow, the lights never came on...we played a good 45 minutes before the darkness really came...and the ref let us go another 15 minutes until we couldn't see a hand in front of our face.

So...I'll get to the game in the second...but first I will be writing to the City of Herndon to tell them that if they build a soccer venue they shouldn't be kicking soccer games off the field.  This is the stupidest move in in the history of stupid moves.  Or, at least, let the two events share the venue...it's not like the performance was on the field.  OK...maybe a one time special occasion, but to take the venue every Saturday night for the months of June and July is just a load of crap.

Onto the game.  The lights never came on and  we played 45 and then another 15 in the dark.  At half time we were up 4 to 2.  We wanted to stop, Arlington wanted to play on.  They got two back in the dark, but before we started to half I advised the Orangemen to lay back a little.  Arlington didn’t lay back, they came in hard in what was almost pitch black conditions.  

After they scored two and tied the game, all of a sudden they wanted to quit...fancy that.

Highlights...Alfredo scores a hat trick, but he third goal is called back on an off-sides.

After the shortened match we said good bye to Jan after many years as our sweeper.  He’s going down the the Bijou...he promised to return in a few years.