2011 Argos Invitational

SUBWAY BETWEEN GAMES



GAME 1

GLENN-NORTHWOOD 0-3 (0-2)

The focus for NW would be to get another shutout while containing their #6 and #19. Glenn plays a very direct style of soccer and likes to take shots from just about anywhere.

The game started about 15 minutes late. The first half didn't start out well with an almost own goal from a deflection off Clay but Kyle was alert and averts a disastrous start. But right away, NW turns the tables on Glenn, Noodle creates a nice opening on the right side near the box and pulls a quick trigger. The shot hits the post! In the tenth, Kyle's long punt gets to Taylor who takes the ball to the Glenn goal, his shot bounces off the keeper and ends up in front of Noodle who volleys the ball in for the first lead of the day, 1-0. Six minutes later a nice Eusebio cross finds Conner who shoots and hits the crossbar.In the 33rd, a Taylor to Connor to Vitor combination gets crossed in the box where Bennet Parker connects perfectly to his left for a 2-0 lead.
In the second half, NW creates chances right from the get go. Eddie takes a nice free kick to Noodle in the 47th. Noodle's volley (again) finds the net, 3-0. In the 63rd, Noodle takes a great shot with a lot of pace that barely misses the goal. The 3-0 win puts the Panthers in the 8 pm Finals against host Argos (who beat Garrett 3-2).



CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
ARGOS-NORTHWOOD 1-3 (1-1)A second full game in one day would test the level of fitness. Josh "Red" Ailes would start this game fully fit since he sat out the Glenn game, serving his one game suspension. NW did not come out very strong early on. Argos took control of the game and created some problems near our box. In the 6th, a Dragon weak side run has a bad ending for the Panthers. A switch pass to the weak side results in a close range shot for the 1-0 lead for the hosts.
An attack on the NW right side of the box gives an Argos forward a 1v1 opportunity on Kyle but Kyle saves the shot from very close range to make sure we don't get farther behind. That stop seems to wake up Panthers. From that moment on we get a little bit more control of the game. In the 22nd, Taylor takes the ball in to the right corner and crosses it back hard across the box to Noodle. His shot off the cross to the right side of the goal, finds the ropes to tie the game.

At the half it becomes clear that no one came to Argos for 9 hours to lose and the desire to work hard and bring home some hardware becomes obvious right from the kickoff in the second half.

Only three minutes into the last half of the day, Taylor again takes the ball in the far right corner and again drills the ball hard into the box. The ball ends up in front of Connor who keeps the ball low and with composure, scores his 8th goal of the season. Score 2-1 NorthWood.

In the 57th, "Red" Ailes peppers the goal but his shot finds the woodwork. All together, NW would find the pipes five times today.
In the 72nd minute, NorthWood gets awarded a free kick from about 25 out. Eddie Salinas lays the ball off to his left to Josh. Josh shoots the ball in the upper right 90 for the final score: 3-1.

So the Panthers come home with some nice hardware by winning the 2011 Argos Invitational. Congratulations!

NOTES:
The team played a solid 40 minutes in the second half of the second game. The fitness level of the Panthers was very good. Easily outrunning and outperforming their opponent in the Championship game is an important ingredient of the succes for this tournament.To quote Coach Duerksen "we look fit and Argos is draggin' (Dragon)".

NW has now won five games in a row, getting shutouts in three of them. The record improves to 7-2-0 (1-1-0 NLC).

Next week will be a tough one with games against Warsaw, Goshen and Riley.