Lakeland Christian Academy - NorthWood 0-10 (0-5)

FIRST HALF-After finding out we will only have two referees (turns out it would really be only one and a half), the prayer and announcements are made using the bullhorn. The sound system might be a grade below ours, the scoreboard is not. The scoreboard looked eerily similar to our 1971 model. The count before the game was 19 spectators and 29 cars (with the tinted windows on most vehicles, an accurate account of occupants was impossible). Hopefully the attendance here will be one of the lowest for the season. The announcer wishes everyone "a great game" but that is all it would be, a wish. NorthWood starts the game with ball possession and really never stops possessing the ball, ever.We find out very soon that LCA has more fright then bite. With a possession rate of well over 90%, it is by far the most possession any NW team has ever displayed in any "competitive" game. It is clear, very early on, that this LCA team is no match for the Panthers. In the 3rd minute, AC pushes the ball on the ground to Isaac who connects with a fine shot for the early lead. It will take another 6 minutes before senior Ethan Craven accepts a pass from AC (Mr. Assist) and dumps it into the net. It is Ethan's first goal since his memorable goal in the 2013 pre-season tournament and actually done in very similar fashion. In the 13th, Eli crosses a ball in the box but Ethan misses for what looks to be an easy finish. In the 22nd, Brayton gets fouled in the penalty area but the ref on the far side does not see it that way. We only have to wait another four minutes for the third goal of the game. It is once again a combination between AC and Isaac but in reverse this time; the assist comes from Bowser and Aaron makes the dust come off the ropes, 0-3. David decides now that he needs to be part of the attacking action and serves Dylan, who in turn, decidedly puts the ball past the colorful LCA keep. Not even the goggles can help him catch up with the shot. AC sees a great opportunity to take a shot in the 28th. The shot hits the woodwork (inside post) and the ball flies back in to the field of play.With four minutes to spare in the first half, Barahona decides that he needs a piece of the action and sends a splitting pass to Craven. Ethan wants more glory and places the ball to the goalkeeper's right on the ground for the 0-5 score. It might be time to rename the field Craven's Cottage (EPL fans will get this reference). HALF TIME-Work rate and focus on first touches are areas that are addressed. The ref on our side of the field talks to us about the pk missed by the other ref in the first half. We tell her it is okay (0-5 is good enough for a half time score). SECOND HALF- 120 seconds into the second act, a make up call gets NW a PK. Brayton Taylor is selected to take the shot from the dot. The execution is poor and goes straight into the rainbow warrior's gloves. In the 48th, Brayton grabs a LCA defender, the ensuing free kick by the Lakeland Christian #7 is toe balled about 30 yards into the center of the field (impressive) only to go back to the Panthers who posses the ball for almost 6 minutes straight. The 55th minute of play sees a NW attack go near the box, the ball bounces around. David attacks the ball and places it hard into the back of the net, 0-6. About a minute later, NW is awarded a free kick. The shorter referee stops play to measure the distance between the spot of the free kick and the spot where the wall is allowed to creep up to. I realize then that I probably need to re-read the rule changes for IHSAA soccer for the 2014-2015 season. This official takes 8 (!!!!!) very short steps to determine the location for the players that want to form a wall, a distance of (at most) 6 (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) yards. Luckily for LCA we manage to squander this opportunity (probably because the wall is too close). In the 64th, Brayton's worst shot of the night, rolls over the keepers gloves and slowly into the goal, 0-7. All night, the keeper has had Brayton's number but the GK's luck seems to have run out. Despite the fact that LCA's last man has 20 saves at this point, Brayton comes at him again in the 68th when his right foot meets up with the ball. The shot turns into a goal, 0-8. In the 69th, we witness the nicest goal of the night when a cross in the 18 flies towards David who takes the ball on his shoe in the air and puts it behind the keeper but the goal is disallowed for off sides. The nicest goal that is, until Dennyz crosses the leather from the right to David who heads the ball hard into the net in the 71st for NorthWood's 9th goal. Only one minute later, Brayton Taylor decides to make up for some missed opportunities by scoring his third goal of the night (hat trick) by slaloming through the LCA defense like a hot knife through butter after an AC assist. The execution is good, 0-10. This lopsided win by NorthWood was even more dominating then the score indicates; LCA was unable to fire off a shot at Cody. Cody had a quiet night and most of his ball touches came from balls played back from our defense or midfield. Before the game the goal was to not allow any goals and give Cody a shut out and that feat was accomplished. NOTES- This was our last ever game against the Cougars. They have opted out of playing us again in the future. Today's practices are split; JV at the High School and they will stop early so players can re-take concussion tests and then go to the team dinner. The Varsity will play at the game field until 5 pm and then go to the team dinner. The dinner will be done by 6 pm. NW is 1-1-0. The next game is the first home game of the season against NLC rival Northridge (HM)tomorrow. JV at 5 pm and Varsity at 6:45 pm.