#20 Goshen-NorthWood 3-3 (1-0)

So far, this week is getting better all the time. And just think if we would not get PK's called against us when we play Northridge, Warsaw and Goshen......... While the JV played, the varsity got to enjoy the conveniences of a nice locker room that was utilized for the game plan talk prior to kick off. FIRST HALF. It takes NW a while to figure out the marks and once Coach Duerksen notices where we lose our mark an adjustment is made and it almost instantly improves our defense. Weak side runs are now few and far between. In the early going however, Goshen comes up the field often with a lot of attackers. The first dangerous spot requires a save off the line by Beebe. Kyle has to come up with several saves early on and defend more then just the 6. The only time we let a mark slip away, Goshen's #10, Torres, takes the ball at the top of the box to his right and takes a hard clothesline shot in the upper 90. Kyle dives but the ball hits the ropes. But it seems that after the goal, NW settles down and starts playing our brand of soccer, a little possession, a lot of tight defense and quite a bit of counter attacks. This team is turning into NW's best counter attacking team, period. In the 29th, a shot from Taylor and Clay, require saves from the Goshen keeper. The bow legged AR on the benches side fortunately does not have to make to many calls which benefits both sides. Two minutes before the tea, Taylor takes a free kick from outside the box and Bennett Parker tries to get the ball over the goal line after the rebound but kicks the ball over. HALF TIME. Some minor adjustments are made, the main threat will now come from #23, Huerta, who has been dubbed one of the areas better players (15 goals going into the NW fixture). The overhead door in the locker room is not closed and it is a little hard to hear the coaches but Tad has a solution for that. The concession stand is right outside the locker room and that is the originating source of noise. Tad steps outside the locker room and tells everyone to be quiet since "we are having a meeting in here!!!". SECOND HALF. NW coaches have to put up with the screaming of the Goshen coaches who try to tell their players every move and pass they have to make (creativity obviously not an important factor in Goshen soccer). Coach V. (the one with the voice that sounds like he has been sucking on helium too much according to coach Shields) never stops, the assistant coach Sabo does after a while but that is out of necessity (two yellow equals red in soccer math). In the actual game, NW plays well right from the second half kick off and Eusebio sets the tone when he picks the ball off Huerta's feet right in front of the main stands. In the 52nd, Huerta does get his (only) goal to extend the Redskins' lead to 2-0. But this game has a different feel to it then the score that is displayed on the scoreboard. NorthWood is relentless in the counter attacking and keeps going at the Goshen goal. In the 62nd, NW is awarded a free kick from about 20 out. Clayton Seitz takes a great shot (low and to the right) which goes thru the wall and into the goal, 2-1! And NW finds itself on the Redskins half more often then not. Only two minutes later, Taylor gets fouled in the box and gets to take his first PK of the season. He hammers the ball in between the pipes and ties the game. Five minutes later (after all the screaming and protesting over the NW free kick from the Goshen coaches has died down} does the center ref give Goshen a pk (make up call, who knows?). Edson Trujillo sends Kyle the wrong way and gives Goshen the lead again. Besides the fact that coach V. wants his players "to hit ball siways", it is again NW who takes control of the game with additional counter attacks. The seniors all stepped it up a notch and all seemed to be deternmined to not walk off the field with a loss against 20th ranked Goshen. It is a game where the coaches feel that we are never out of the game. All 14 players who play, contribute with hard work and good solid soccer. With 300 seconds left on the clock, Bennett Parker passes the ball on the ground to Clay on the left side of the field. Clay goes in the box, goes around the Goshen right defender on the outside and takes a shot from what looks to be an impossible angle to the near post side of the goal. The ball hits the back of the net hard for the tying goal and final score of 3-3! This week and really, it all started last Saturday in the tournament, the Panthers have played very entertaining soccer and it is good to see us come off the field with a nice result! NOTES. Today's practice will be short and we will be done at 4:30. The Varsity's record is 4-5-2. Tomorrow's Varsity's game is at 10 @ South Bend Riley. The JV plays in the NLC JV Tourney at Goshen High School.