Sometime a win doesn't feel like a win. When it was all said and done, it seemed that the win wasn't nearly as important as the consequences of what happened inside the lines. But more about that later in the continuing saga called "Angola". And let us hope that Athletic Director Sellers will be able to find us another opponent instead of this team that pretends to play soccer.
FIRST HALF
The Panthers came out to play today. They took the game to the Purple Hornets right from the Angola kick off. In the second minute, Taylor took the ball into the box on the left flank and took a shot at Keeper Big Mouth. In the same minute and the third minute we were able to cross the ball in the box where the "men" in purple did not do a great job clearing it. It was also becoming obvious that their keeper was better at his talking game then his soccer game. His inability to move laterally would give us some opportunities later on.
In the 16th, Lincoln went to his left from about 20 out and took a nice shot with his left but just missed the frame. A few minutes later, a long pass from the midfield went towards the Angola Big Mouth. He came out as Taylor tried to get close. Big Mouth got he ball and proceeded to lower his right shoulder and run into Taylor, who went down. When we did not get a call on that, we knew we were in for a long afternoon. Officiating had not been too bad this year but this afternoon's performance falls in a category of its own.
In the 29th Lincoln saw a header go over the goal. On both this header and his last shot, Big Mouth wasn't even close.
Just before that, Trent went up for a header in the purple box and made contact with the opponent with his cleats. The Angola coach went nuts over the fact that all they got was a free kick. He demanded more ("red or yellow" he screamed)and even started an argument with Coach Duerksen and challenged him to a fight.The Angola coach stayed upset throughout the game. I guess his room mate at the institution accidently took his meds this morning.
In the 37th, a Connor Beckwith free kick resulted in a corner after an Angola deflection. Every time the ball was in the box, the Panthers were dangerous.
HALF TIME
The focus was on keeping the ball on the ground and get the ball in the box. The Panthers had the majority of the possession in the first half and we felt the second half would be much of the same. Angola was way too much pre-occupied with things other then soccer and we suspected that to continue. And it did......
SECOND HALF
We knew it would only be a matter of time until we would score. We were trying to take advantage on the left side on offense where their #17 was a little on the slow side (plus it looked like he had stolen the teams breakfast and ate it before getting off the bus). We only had to wait until minute 52, when a ball in the penalty box came out high. Trent Jacobs volleyed the bouncing ball to his left and Big Mouth's right side. But the keeper was not even close and the ball hit the ropes in solid fashion for the first goal of the day, 1-0. At half time we had talked about forcing a second goal after scoring the first. Seven minutes after the goal, Ryan got another chance from a pass to him inside the box, the shot was good but Big Mouth stopped the ball. In the 67th, Ryan (he had a nice game and was very strong on the ball) got hacked from behind by the Hornet's #10, the result was a red card. The purple shirts were down to 10 "players". But things would get worse, now that the official really seemed to have no clue what to do. We have had this referee many times and most times he is ok at best, but today was one of those days where he probably would have gotten a big fat F had there been an observer. A performance that makes me feel sorry for whatever team he refs in the upcoming Sectionals.
In the 78th, Jason got tackled and then assaulted near the circle, in a reaction to that he punched the idiot from Angola. Not that it was the right thing to do and the ref probably did not have much of a choice but to issue a red to Jason (hard red) and a soft red to the hack from Angola. Now there were only 20 players left (soft red can be subbed). But what I view as a failure to understand this game and the consequences for Sectionals, a senior, as a result, potentially might have played his last game for NorthWood. And my point is, that if you keep this game and the Angola coaches and thug acting players under control, it would never come to that. We did however get a call from the ref on a foul on Ryan in the box. Beckwith had no problem with the ensuing PK and the 2-0 would stand. Another solid win for the Panthers who have lost only once in the last 7 games. Fortunately, this Panther team is probably the deepest in history and Jason will be back Saturday for the Finals. We now shift our focus to Thursday's 5 pm match against Bremen.
NOTES
Varsity improves to 9-4-2. The team has played well and had little difficulty in the back since the ball was hardly there. Very few if any shots on goal, but despite that, Kyle records another clean sheet and he and his team now have 8 for the season. That surpasses Mike Schmitt's record of 7 in a season.
The JV tied 0-0 (again) and ended their season at 6-6-3, a pretty darn good season. Congratulations to Coach Cat Smasher.
Jacob Smith diagnosed the Hackers' keeper with "Statue Syndrom" as he did not move too much inside the goal due to being to arrogant and absorbed in himself.
The JV will meet at the practice field after school Monday to take down the nets at the boys practice field.
Varsity will practice at the game field Monday (and the rest of the week).
If Coach Duerksen would have taken the Angola coach up on his offer to fight, the entire team would have put their money on coach Duerksen.
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